InterMat Staff

Richard Perry (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) A GoFundMe page has been established for Richard Perry, U.S. men's freestyle national team member who was seriously injured while training earlier this week at the National Team Training Camp in California. The online fundraising site has been created by friends of the Perry family, who are seeking support for Richard's family for expenses related to the accident. He and his wife Gina have three young children. "Last night (Monday), Rich suffered a terrible accident," according to the GoFundMe page author Jessa H. Miller. "He was at the national team training camp in San Diego. His eye was impaled causing brain trauma. He is in the fight for his life right now. He was (flown) to one of the top neurological hospitals in California." "Currently, the doctors have to wait for the swelling to go down before they can perform surgery. Even after surgery there will be many hurdles to overcome. He will have to remain in California for at least 3-6 months for recovery and rehab. His wife Gina was on the first plane from Pennsylvania to be by his side." In addition to help with medical expenses, the Perrys will need income to replace what Richard would normally earn on the job, and could use help with travel costs between their home in Pennsylvania and California, where he is receiving treatment. Richard Perry, currently ranked No. 3 on Freestyle Team USA at 86 kilograms/189 pounds, competes for the New York Athletic Club and trains with the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center. In college, Perry wrestled for Bloomsburg University, and before that, Middletown High School in Connecticut. In addition, Perry is a leader within USA Wrestling, serving on its Board of Directors and its Executive Committee.

Edmond Ruth has won two PIAA titles (Photo/Tom Elling) When it comes to wrestling, Edmond Ruth appears to be right at home in Pennsylvania. The two-time PIAA state champ plans to complete his high school mat career in the Keystone State ... and continue his collegiate career by making a verbal commitment to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., according to multiple news reports Monday night. Finishing what he started at Susquehanna Township High ... Despite media reports to the contrary, Edmond Ruth -- ranked 67th in the nation overall by InterMat -- will wrestle this season as a senior at Susquehanna Township High School near Harrisburg, where he has won back-to-back state titles in 2017 and 2018. During the summer, there have been news stories that the rising senior would be finishing his prep career at Clovis North High in California. Those stories were fueled by the fact Edmond spent much of the summer in California, where his older brother Edward "EZ Ed" Ruth -- an undefeated Bellator MMA fighter and three-time NCAA wrestling champ for Penn State -- now trains. Thanayi Ruth, mother of both Edward and Edmond, pinned the story on her elder son, in this explanation to PennLive.com. "Edward is an anomaly," Thanayi Ruth said. "He challenges the gray area, so he put it out there. I said, 'Why would you do that?' He said, 'Publicity for Edmond.' So, that's what that was." "At that point, we were deciding he would leave Pennsylvania and go finish up in California with his brother," Thanayi Ruth continued. "But the things that were supposed to be put in place, as a mother, I didn't feel comfortable. I said, we'll try it in the summertime to see if it works and if the things get done and if I'm comfortable with it. "I gave it a chance. I was not comfortable. He had to come home." ... then, on to Lehigh The storied wrestling program at Lehigh University has landed a verbal commitment from Pennsylvania native Edmond Ruth. The Bethlehem-based school served up an offer the Ruth family could not refuse. "They came out of the woodwork," Thanayi Ruth told PennLive.com. "They came to visit us and we were like, 'Whoooo.'" In reporting on Edmond Ruth's verbal commitment to Lehigh, PennLive.com's Dustin Hockensmith wrote, "For Edmond, he saw post-graduate opportunities and a chance to master one of his big interests, video production, and the business behind it. That's all in addition to a wrestling program that crowned three All-Americans and finished last season as the No. 10 team in the country, according to InterMat." In exchange, the Mountain Hawks will be getting a wrestler in Edmond Ruth with an impressive mat resume, with two Pennsylvania state titles at 152 pounds as a sophomore and 170 as a junior, going into his senior season with a 103-10 career record, and 72-match win streak.

Arizona State hosts Ohio State on Nov. 18 (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) School has just started, which means that the start of the NCAA wrestling season is basically around the corner. While titles are decided in March, there is plenty for fans to watch and enjoy during the first half of the season. The following are the top 10 dual meets of the first semester presented in chronological order. Nov. 1: Wisconsin vs. Buffalo This upcoming season will launch a new era for the Wisconsin wrestling program. Former South Dakota State coach Chris Bono has taken over the program and his debut match will come against Buffalo. The Bulls boast multiple NCAA qualifiers including Kyle Akins, Bryan Lantry and Jake Gunning. The Badgers have some solid talent the Wick brothers, along with transfers Tristan Moran and Connor Brown. Nov. 3: Navy vs. Ohio State at McDonogh School A few seasons ago, Ohio State wrestled Maryland at Kyle Snyder's high school alma mater, Good Counsel. This year, the Buckeyes will once again wrestle a dual at a Maryland high school. They will head to the McDonogh School where Myles Martin wrestled as a prep. The homecoming for Martin will likely lead to a victory for his squad. However, Nicholas Gil and Jared Prince both represented Navy at the NCAA tournament last season. Nov. 16: North Carolina vs. Arizona State In the fall, Arizona State will head to North Carolina with one of their better lineups in recent memory. Highlighted by returning NCAA champion Zahid Valencia, the squad will also feature Anthony Valencia, Ryan Milhof, Brandon Courtney, Mason Smith, Josh Shields and Tanner Hall. The Sun Devils have a much deeper team, but the Tar Heels feature some exciting young wrestlers including Kennedy Monday and Austin O'Connor. They also added Gary Wayne Harding via transfer from Oklahoma State. As the wrestling in the ACC and the Pac-12 continues to improve, fans will be treated to more interesting cross-country matches. Nov. 16: Michigan vs. Lehigh Last season, Lehigh scored an upset dual victory over Michigan in November. The Wolverines came in as the favorites, but Lehigh took the match 27-8. The bout should end up being competitive once again this year. At 125 pounds, Connor Schram will face Drew Mattin after transferring in from Stanford. The two met last season with Mattin taking the win in sudden victory. At 174, Jordan Kutler and Myles Amine split a pair of one-point matches last season. Nov. 17: South Dakota State vs. Oklahoma State The expansion of the Big XII in wrestling has led to interesting duals every season. This year, the perennial power Oklahoma State will head north to take on South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits will be in their first season under new head coach Damion Hahn, but the lineup will still feature returning NCAA champion Seth Gross. Depending on how the Cowboys put together their lineup, he will likely face either Nick Piccininni or Daton Fix. Either way, that will likely be the main event of the dual. Nov. 18: Arizona State vs. Ohio State The Buckeyes will likely take a step back this season after losing a strong trio of seniors. However, this will still be a very competitive dual. Depending on how the weights shake out, fans could be treated to a match of NCAA champions. Zahid Valencia is rumored to be moving up to 184 pounds this season. If that is the case, he will likely take on former champion Myles Martin. There is some history at 157 pounds as Josh Shields and Micah Jordan split a pair of matches last fall. Nov. 18: Minnesota vs. Oklahoma State These two teams are very familiar with one another. Due to some lineup shifting there will be some new matches as well as the continuation of some long running rivalries. Both Mitch McKee and Kaid Brock are expected to move up to 141. Brock has won the last four meetings in folkstyle, while McKee has done much better in freestyle. The match will also likely be one of the first tests for super prospect Gable Steveson as his opponent would likely be returning Big XII champion Derek White. Nov. 20: Fresno State vs. Stanford "Battle on the Midway" For the second straight year, Fresno State will host a dual on the deck of the USS Midway. Last year, the Bulldogs fell 24-12 against Air Force on the museum ship docked in San Diego. The unique environment can create some interesting outcomes. The level of moisture can cause a slippery mat similar to the most recent Beat the Streets event. On paper, Stanford is favored and led by Gabe Townsell, Nathan Traxler and All-American Paul Fox. However, the Bulldogs could make it interesting with some returning starters who had solid years during the program's return season including Khristian Olivas and AJ Nevills. A statue of Dan Gable sits outside Carver-Hawkeye Arena where Iowa and Iowa State meet on Dec. 1 (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com) Dec. 1: Iowa vs. Iowa State This year the Cy-Hawk rivalry moves back to the first semester after it took place near the end of the season last year. Even though Iowa has won the last 13 duals, the annual match remains one of the highlights of the wrestling season. Iowa State is still in the midst of a rebuild under second-year head coach Kevin Dresser, while Iowa will have one of their strongest teams in the last few years. Last season, Iowa won the dual 35-6 with the Cyclones only earning points via forfeit. The Hawkeyes will almost certainly take home the win this year as well, but the match could possibly be much closer. Dec. 16: NC State vs. Nebraska Last year, the Wolfpack went into Lincoln and put it on the Cornhuskers. This year, Nebraska will travel to Raleigh to try to get the win back. However, it might end up being a bridge too far. NC State has become a perennial strong team and returns a solid core group. The big two bouts of this dual will likely be the matches at 157 pounds and 197 pounds. At 157, Hayden Hidlay knocked off Tyler Berger twice last year, but Berger closed the gap in their second meeting. At 197, Nick Reenan will return this season for NC State. In this meet, he will likely take on Taylor Venz who had a very strong freshman season.

Troy Heilmann and Joey Ward CHAPEL HILL -- Former All-Americans Troy Heilmann and Joey Ward have joined the North Carolina wrestling coaching staff, head coach Coleman Scott announced Tuesday. Heilmann begins his coaching career as the program's first director of high performance and operations, while Ward will serve as the team's volunteer assistant coach. Heilmann capped his UNC career last spring with an ACC title and a podium finish at nationals. A native of South Plainfield, New Jersey, Heilmann went 32-6 as a senior at 149 pounds, and his fourth-place NCAA finish matched the highest by a UNC competitor since Justin Harty took second at heavyweight in 1996. "We are very happy to have Troy join the staff as director of high performance and operations," Scott said. "Troy was one of the first to buy into our system when we got here. He brings a tremendous work ethic to our staff that will make him a superstar in the coaching world down the road." A 2017 Carolina graduate, Ward was a four-time NCAA qualifier who took seventh at 141 pounds at the 2016 NCAA Championships. The Cincinnati, Ohio, product had at least 20 wins in each of his four seasons, finishing his Tar Heel career with 98 total victories. "Joey is a huge asset to what we are doing," Scott said. "He wants to start his coaching career, and I am confident he will be a very good coach. It was one of our goals as a staff to keep our alumni involved, and Joey is extending our Carolina coaching tree that we want to grow as big as possible." The UNC wrestling team opens its 2018-19 campaign at the Hokie Open in Roanoke, Virginia, on Nov. 4. The Tar Heels will host Nebraska at Carmichael Arena on Dec. 15 for their first home dual of the fall.

Anthony Cassioppi (Photo/Jim Thrall) Earlier this month, Iowa incoming freshman Anthony Cassioppi picked up gold medals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the Junior Pan American Championships. The event appeared to be an end to a busy summer for the heavyweight, but with his schedule it is really hard to tell for sure. Since finishing his high school wrestling career, Cassioppi has competed in eight tournaments and 57 matches by our count. He has competed in all three styles, freestyle, Greco-Roman and folkstyle, while maintaining a high level of performance. Out of 57 matches, Cassioppi has picked up 54 victories. His only three losses came against the top recruit in his class Gable Steveson (Minnesota) and the second-highest ranked recruit in this year's class Colton Schultz (twice). In those 54 wins, the Iowa wrestler picked up 24 falls, 25 technical falls and only five matches went the full distance. During this summer, his average victory lasted only one minute and 34 seconds. *Note: The dataset is missing time for three matches at the Illinois Freestyle Club Cup which only published limited results. In freestyle and Greco, Cassioppi was an offensive powerhouse. He averaged 9.37 points per minute. In freestyle, he outscored his opponents collectively 192 to 20, while in Greco, he outscored them 166 to 25. The following tables includes points scored in matches that ultimately ended via fall. While many incoming freshmen compete sparingly prior to getting on campus, Cassioppi decided to go a different route. Since he will likely redshirt his first season, he will have plenty of time to rest and recuperate.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Brown University wrestling has promoted Matt Meuleners to its top assistant coach position and hired Darrius Little -- a former volunteer assistant coach at Lehigh University -- as an assistant coach, Brown head coach Todd Beckerman announced on Tuesday. Matt Meuleners"Matt did a tremendous job mentoring our upper weights last year and earned this promotion. We expect that Darrius will have a similar impact with our lower weights this season," Beckerman said. "Coming off our best season in the last decade, both Matt and Darrius will help our student-athletes continue to achieve at the highest possible level." Meuleners joined Brown prior to the 2017-18 season and helped the Bears tie for second in the Ivy League standings, their highest finish since 1997. Little has served as a volunteer assistant coach at Lehigh for the last three seasons (2015-18) after earning NCAA All-America honors as a standout at North Carolina State University. "I would like to thank Coach Beckerman for trusting me to handle additional responsibilities within our program," Meuleners said. "Last year was a great start to my time at Brown, and I know that we are all excited to keep this program on its upward trajectory." Last winter Meuleners helped Brown post three Ivy League wins, its most since 2009, total three NCAA qualifiers for the first time since 2008, and tally six EIWA placers, its most since 2010. Prior to Brown, Meuleners acted as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Nebraska from 2013-17, helping the Cornhuskers post four top-12 finishes at the NCAA Championships. As a student-athlete, he won back-to-back NCAA Division II national titles at Northern State University. Darrius Little"I cannot wait to get started at Brown and would like to thank Coach Beckerman for providing me with this opportunity," Little said. "From my time in the EIWA at Lehigh, I have seen firsthand the improvement that Brown has made over the last few years and look forward to joining a program on the rise." Little played a major role in the development of Lehigh's lightweights, helping Darian Cruz finish his career as a 2017 NCAA national champion, three-time NCAA All-American, and three-time EIWA champion at 125 pounds. Prior to Lehigh, Little served as an assistant coach at Gardner-Webb University during the 2014-15 season. As a collegiate student-athlete, Little wrested at NC State, earning NCAA All-America honors in 2012 and concluding his career as a three-time ACC conference finalist. He registered a 102-58 career record, ranking third in the Wolfpack's record book for all-time victories.

New Jersey law enforcement officers are conducting a manhunt for the murderer of Davontae Randall, a 2015 Paulsboro High School graduate who placed sixth as heavyweight at the state championships as a senior. Police found the 21-year-old former mat star in the area of 205 West Buck Street in Paulsboro after he had apparently been shot just before 7 p.m. Saturday night, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Davontae RandallVarious police agencies conducted a search of the area but were unable to find the shooter. Police believe Randall may have been involved in a fight with the shooter beforehand, and that the two knew each other. "We do not believe it was a random act. We do not believe there is any imminent danger to the community. We are aggressively investigating this homicide and we are doing everything possible to bring justice to the individual who carried out this act of senseless violence," Gloucester County Prosecutor Charles A. Fiore said. An autopsy conducted the following day found that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was homicide. In addition to placing sixth at the New Jersey state wrestling championships in 2015, Randall was a two-time district champion, and earned a pair of first-place finishes at both the Vogeding Tournament and the Mustang Classic. In addition, the wrestler affectionately known as "Bump" compiled a 110-52 overall record at Paulsboro. For these accomplishments, Randall was named Colonial Conference Wrestler of the Year by media website NJ.com in 2015. Randall's wrestling coach at Paulsboro, South Jersey's all-time wins leader Paul Morina, told NJ.com, "Davontae was always a good kid, a polite young man. You know, he was always respectful, never really had any issues." Juan Rivera, a former wrestling teammate of Randall's from Paulsboro High School, said, "He just always wanted to see people succeed, not only just in sports, but in life as well," Rivera told NJ.com. "He was loved by all. That's why this community is so heartbroken about his loss," he said. Investigators believe there are witnesses who may help solve this crime. Anyone with information on the murder of Davontae Randall are urged to contact Det. Michael Bielski of the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office at 856-649-9716 or Det. Michael Minniti of the Paulsboro Police Department at 609-352-3919. Information can also be e-mailed to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office at tips@co.gloucester.nj.us.

Coby Stevens, an upstate New York high school wrestler just starting his junior year, was killed in a single-vehicle crash last Thursday afternoon. Coby StevensThe 16-year-old Stevens of Canastota, N.Y. had wrestled for the Canastota Junior-Senior High School varsity wrestling team since seventh grade. Madison County Sheriff's deputies said Stevens was driving a pickup truck southbound on Lewis Point Road near the Town of Lenox when he swerved off the east side of the road and struck a tree at approximately 1:15 p.m. Thursday. When first responders arrived on the scene, they found two occupants in the truck. Stevens was pronounced dead at the scene; a passenger was taken to Upstate University Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The crash is still under investigation. June Clarke, Canastota Central School District superintendent, issued the following statement: "The Canastota Central School District family is devastated by the sudden and tragic death of junior Coby Stevens. Our deepest condolences go out to Coby's family in the face of what can only be described as an unimaginable loss. Coby was an integral part of our Raider family. He was a member of the football and wrestling teams and had been wrestling at the varsity level since the 7th grade. Coby loved to hunt and fish and was an avid outdoorsman. He always had a smile for his classmates and teachers and he will be remembered as a loyal friend and teammate. We will have crisis counselors available at the high school Friday for all students and staff. We ask that everyone keep the Stevens and Appler families in your thoughts and prayers." Funeral services for Coby Stevens have been announced. Calling hours will take place Tuesday, Aug. 28 from 2-7 p.m. at Campbell-Dean Funeral Home, 300 South Peterboro Street in Canastota. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Contributions in Coby Stevens' memory may be made to the Canastota School Athletic Scholarship, c/o Community Bank, Canastota Office, 104 South Peterboro Street, Canastota, NY 13032.

Photo/David Peterson, Minnesota/USA Wrestling The oldest and greatest sport is seeing greater participation numbers at the high school level, especially among females. The number of individuals participating in high school wrestling grew in the past year, with increased numbers of both boys and girls involved in the sport for 2017-18 compared to the previous school year. The statistics were tabulated by the National Federation of State High School Associations for its annual High School Athletics Participation Survey, presented in a news release. According to the NFHS, a total of 262,126 student-athletes participated in high school wrestling in the U.S. -- 245,564 boys, and 16,562 girls -- for the 2017-18 school year. These statistics reflect an increase in participation levels for both boys and girls in high school wrestling over the previous school year. During the 2016-17 academic year, a total of 259,391 high school students wrestled nationwide -- 14,587 girls, and 244,804 boys. That translates into an overall increase of 2,735 more athletes involved in wrestling this year vs. last year, with 760 more boys and 1,975 more girls taking to the mat. The number of schools with boys and girls participating in wrestling has also grown this year vs. last. During the 2017-18 school year, 2,351 schools had at least one girl wrestler while 10,775 schools had at least one boy wrestler ... compared to 2,091 schools with girl wrestlers and 10,629 schools with boys in wrestling for the 2016-17 school year. Boys' wrestling remains seventh in terms of the total number of participants nationwide at the high school level. Girls' wrestling is seeing tremendous growth at the high school level. During calendar year 2018, six states have announced the addition of separate state wrestling championships for girls for the 2018-19 school year: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Oregon. These are in addition to the six states which already have separate state championship competition for girls: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Tennessee, Texas and Washington State. Growth rates for high school wrestling are especially impressive when one looks back nearly 50 years. According to statistics compiled by the NHSF for the 1969-70 school year, 228,681 boys wrestled in high school back then ... with 6,870 schools offering the sport. There were no girls involved in wrestling back then. Overall participation rates for all high school sports has increased for the 29th consecutive year, according to the NHSF. However, some individual sports -- such as boys' 11-man football -- have experienced some reduced numbers in recent years.

Sen. John McCain, U.S. military hero held captive in Vietnam, long-time politician who ran for President twice, and wrestler in high school and the U.S. Naval Academy, passed away Saturday after a year-long battle with brain cancer less than a week before his 82nd birthday. John McCainThe senior senator for Arizona had learned in July 2017 that he had what the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix described as a "primary brain tumor known as a glioblastoma." John Sidney McCain III was born on Aug. 29, 1936, in Panama at Coco Solo Naval Air Station, arriving into a prominent military family with his father, John McCain Jr., and grandfather, John McCain Sr., who were the first father-son admiral pair in U.S. Naval history. A 1954 graduate of Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., McCain's senior yearbook describes him as "infamous as one of our top-flight wrestlers." While a student at Episcopal, he also participated in football, drama, and yearbook staff, among other activities. "As a wrestler, Johnny was good, not great," wrote Robert Timberg in his 1999 book "John McCain: An American Odyssey." "Competing at 127 pounds, he could be counted on to win when he was supposed to and sometimes spring an upset. In one match he pinned his opponent in thirty-seven seconds, setting a school record. McCain and his teammate, Richey, seemed like peas in a pod, small, tough, cocky." "Maybe Napoleon was like that when he was young," said Riley Deeble. "But a lot of people who are small physically do seem to, certainly in the school atmosphere, become a little extra aggressive to make up for it. They create a little more space around themselves so they don't get stepped on." Deeble, who coached the wrestling team for a time and remained an avid fan thereafter, discerned an indomitable quality in McCain and Richey. "They might be up against somebody a lot more knowledgeable or stronger or tougher and they might be getting knocked all over the mat," he said, "but they never backed off." John McCainAfter graduating from high school, McCain entered the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, M.D., following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. The 5'7", 127-pound midshipman participated in both wrestling and boxing. McCain graduated from Annapolis in 1958, launching an enduring military career as a naval aviator and a pilot. While flying in the Vietnam War in 1967, he was shot down and captured by North Vietnam. He remained a prisoner of war for five-and-a-half years - enduring physical and mental torture -- eventually being released in 1973. In his 1999 autobiography "Faith of My Fathers," McCain shared the details of his time as a P.O.W. McCain has been awarded several military honors, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Navy Commendation, and Prisoner of War. Just last fall, he was presented with the Liberty Medal. McCain launched a political career that spanned four decades, first serving as the Navy's liaison to the U.S. Senate beginning in 1978. From 1983 to 1986, McCain served in Congress as the U.S. representative for Arizona's 1st Congressional District. His career as a U.S. senator for Arizona began in 1987, a seat he held until his passing. McCain has run for president twice. In his first campaign, in 2000, he withdrew from the race against Republican rival George W. Bush. In his second campaign, in 2008, he lost the election against Democratic rival Barack Obama. UPDATE Funeral arrangements have been announced for John McCain. His body will like in state inside the Arizona state capitol building in Phoenix on Wednesday, and then in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. on Friday. A private burial will take place on the grounds of the Naval Academy on Sunday.

Nodirjon Safarov battles Thomas Gilman at the World Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) The Hawkeye Wrestling Club announced the additions of four athletes: Nodirjon Safarov, Forrest Molinari, Kayla Miracle and Michaela Beck. "It's exciting to add four world class athletes," said Mark Perry, head coach of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. "All four are here for the right reasons. They are here to win titles. It's that simple. Landing in Iowa City was an easy decision for them because they know what we are about and the dedication it takes to win at this level. I expect them to make a big impact on the program as a whole. Their passion and energy for wrestling will cross over like many other great examples we have throughout the program." Iowa coach Tom Brands said Hawkeye Wrestling Club member Alli Ragan played a role in attracting Molinari, Miracle and Beck. "The quality of athletes we are adding to the HWC is in line with the philosophy of the entire program. We want the best partners for the best wrestlers in our wrestling room. Alli Ragan reached out to Forrest, Michaela and Kayla and the three of them were excited to join the quest to be the best wrestlers they can be in Iowa City. The same is true of Nodirjon. He adds to what we are doing." Safarov will compete for Uzbekistan at 57 kilograms in Budapest while also attending Kirkwood Community College. He finished eighth at the World Championships last year. He fell in the quarterfinals in Paris to Thomas Gilman. Safarov has placed third and fifth at the Junior World Championships as well. "The Hawkeye Wrestling Club is known to the world as having some of the top wrestlers and top lightweights on the planet," said Safarov. "My experience alongside Thomas Gilman, Cory Clark and Spencer Lee, along with the other great workout partners in the room gives me the best chance of achieving my lifelong goal of winning an Olympic title. I'm grateful for being able to compete under the HWC banner and ready to prepare with these studs for Budapest in October." Molinari is a member of the 2018 U.S. World Team member at 65 kilograms. She is ranked No. 3 in the World Ranking Series by United World Wrestling. Molinari will also compete for another world title in November at the U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania "I am very excited to be joining the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. This is an amazing opportunity for the girls and me. We are grateful for the coaching staff opening up their program to us. I think making the move here before Worlds is going to give me the competitive edge I need to bring home a medal. I love the energy in the room from the team, the Brands, Mark Perry, and Morningstar. Everyone, really… The coaching staff here is phenomenal and so is the amount of knowledge they have about the sport. They have been so welcoming and helping us jump right into the mix. I can't wait to represent team USA and HWC in Budapest." Kayla Miracle (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Miracle won her fourth WCWA national title earlier this year. She won a U.S. Open title and fell just short of making the U.S. team, losing at Final X. She is currently ranked No. 1 in the UWW World Ranking Series at 62 kilograms. "I'm expecting this room to be very technical but also intense at the same time. Iowa has a style that not many rooms in the world can match. The passion and drive that all the athletes bring to practice is just incredible to be part of. The HWC coaches are World Class and I can't wait to start picking their brains. The men's side of the HWC is obviously filled with studs, but now we have a strong team of women as well. I cannot wait to start the journey to the Olympics with my new teammates. My dad Lee Miracle has been my college coach, and its been quite a ride. No words will be able to express how much he has done for me in the wrestling room or in life. He has shaped me into someone I am proud to be today. I've been at Campbellsville University for four years now and have seen some success, especially on the college scene. Now that chapter of my life is over and all my focus needs to be on the World and Olympic Championships." Beck finished runner-up at both the U.S. Open and World Team Trials at 57 kilograms. "I have always been an Iowa wrestling fan and especially fans of the Brands brothers," said Beck. "But after seeing the room in person and working out in the room, I knew right away it was a special place and the place for me. The mentality of the program training and competing wise is everything that I believe in. I believe it will get me to reach my goals. I also thrive being around intense and passionate people like Coach Perry, the Brands and the overall environment of the team. I know this team and staff will push me to my limits and help me develop into the person and wrestler that I need to be to become successful at the highest level."

The Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame has announced its inductees for the Class of 2018. Frank PopolizioSix individuals have been selected for Lifetime Service Awards: Mike Conners, Mark Faller, Scott Freischlag, Michael Hogan, Frank Popolizio, and Gene Tracy. In addition, Patrick K. Greene will receive the Outstanding American Award, while Michael Wilcox will be presented with the Volunteer Award. Betsy Veysman has been named recipient of the Stanbro Media Award. Frankie Gissendanner has earned the Feldmeier Outstanding Wrestler Award, and Haley Finn is this year's Tricia Saunders Award nominee. These honorees will be inducted into the Hall of Fame's Upstate New York Chapter on Sunday, Sept. 23 at the Double Tree Hotel in East Syracuse, N.Y. A social hour begins at noon in the Crossroads Ballroom; dinner will be served at 1:15 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom. Lifetime Service Award honorees for 2018 Mike Conners: As a wrestler at Baldwinsville High School, Conners won back-to-back New York Section III titles and earned the New York state championship as a senior. Conners then played football and wrestled at St. Lawrence University, where he was a four-time conference champ and a three-time NCAA Division III All-American, winning the D3 national heavyweight title in 1984. Conners was a long-time mat coach at Fulton High, compiling an incredible 510-44-1 record with six state championship team titles and numerous other honors. Mark Faller: Faller wrestled at Port Jervis High, then at Harvard University, where he was a three-time NCAA Division I championships qualifier. He returned to his high school alma mater where coached the Banach brothers - Steve, Ed, and Lou - among others, taking his teams to League Championships from 1975-80, and Section IX between 1976 and 1980. Faller taught and coached at Pennsylvania's Franklin & Marshall College, crafting a 122-104-1 record… then coached the wrestling club program at University of Georgia, then at various mat clubs in Alaska. Scott Freischlag: Freischlag won the 1981 Section VI title as a wrestler at Lewiston-Porter High. He then headed off to Ohio to wrestle at Ashland College (where he was a Heartland Conference championships runner-up), then returned to New York to continue his academic and athletic career at Cortland State, winning a SUNY championship. Freischlag began his coaching career at Ridgewood High in New Jersey, then moved on to Wayne Central High, where his teams tallied a 243-47-2 overall record, with five New York state wrestling champs. Michael Hogan: Hogan wrestled at Peru High where he was a multi-time Section VII champ. He then headed to Hofstra University, where he was a three-time East Coast Conference champion and qualified for the NCAA championships three times as well. Hogan launched his coaching career at Saranac High in 1985, then returned to his high school alma mater in 1998 where he remains today. In his coaching career, Hogan mentored 42 state placewinners and nine individual state champs. Frank Popolizio: The brother of Pat Popolizio, former coach at Binghamton who now heads up the wrestling program at North Carolina State, Frank Popolizio wrestled for Joe Bena at Niskayuna High. After graduating from Springfield College in Massachusetts, Frank Popolizio returned to his high school to serve as Bena's assistant from 1995-2003, then moved on to Shenendehowa High School as an assistant coach where he remains, being part of program that can claim 12 Section II titles and four New York state team titles, as well as nine individual state champs. In 1999, Frank Popolizio launched Journeymen Wrestling to promote, teach, advocate and showcase wrestling throughout the northeastern U.S. Gene Tracy: Tracy was introduced to the oldest and greatest sport at Fulton, then returned to his community as a wrestling official. He was instrumental in the development of the Friends of Section III Wrestling, and very active in the New York State Wrestling Officials' Association. Tracy concluded his long and successful career as an official at the conclusion of the 2017-18 season. Outstanding American Award Patrick K. Greene: Greene built an 88-6-1 record as a wrestler at Cicero High, twice placing third at the state championships. He then continued his mat career with the now-defunct program at Syracuse University, where he was an NCAA Division I qualifier. Greene later became a Wall Street lawyer, then relocated to the Albany area where he was a founding member of Friends of Section II Wrestling. Volunteer Award Michael Wilcox: Wilcox wrestled at Oneonta High, then returned to the sport as a volunteer coach at Greene High School, where he developed the Greene Wrestling Booster Club, serving as the organization's president for 15 years. In addition, Wilcox has officiated wrestling in Section IV since 1985. Stanbro Media Award Betsy Veysman: A three-sport high school athlete, Veysman launched her sportswriting career at Cornell University. Writing for the Cornell Daily Sun, Veysman developed a passion for covering wrestling which later morphed into helping the Big Red mat program with its newsletter to keep fans informed. More recently, Veysman has launched the New York Wrestling News website. Feldmeier Outstanding Wrestler Award Frankie Gissendanner: In six years as a varsity wrestler at Penfield High School, Gissendanner crafted an incredible 267-11 overall record, with six Section V titles, and four New York state championships. Tricia Saunders Nominee Haley Finn: Finn took up wrestling at age 10 or 11, joining the Journeymen Wrestling Club founded by fellow Upstate New York Chapter Class of 2018 honoree Frank Popolizio. In March Finn was crowned New York Cadet women's champ. She is an eleven-time All-American at Fargo and the Folkstyle Nationals. This fall Finn will be taking her mat talents to the women's wrestling program at Life University in Marietta, Georgia just outside Atlanta.

Thomas Gilman (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) What can the United States possibly do for an encore? The U.S. men's freestyle squad is coming off one of the most memorable performances in American wrestling history. The 2017 World Championships in Paris came down to tournament's final match between Olympic and world champions Kyle Snyder of the U.S. and Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia. As you likely recall, Snyder rallied in the final minute of the match to earn a clutch and dramatic victory that enabled the U.S. to edge perennial power Russia for the team championship. It was the first U.S. world team title in men's freestyle wrestling in 22 years. So just what can the U.S. do for an encore? It's really quite simple. Win another world team title. The United States is expected to put another very strong, hungry and experienced team on the mat for the freestyle portion of the worlds this October in Budapest, Hungary. With the number of weight classes growing from 8 to 10 this year, the U.S. brings in even more firepower with Kyle Dake and David Taylor joining the loaded American squad. No doubt, Sadulaev and his Russian teammates will be determined to rebound from 2017. Who knows? It may all come down to another match between Snyder and Sadulaev this year. Here is a breakdown of where I see the medal chances of each of the 10 USA wrestlers who will compete at the 2018 World Championships. 57 kilograms: Thomas Gilman Gold: 35 percent Medal: 65 percent Gilman loves proving people wrong and he did just that last season by earning a surprise silver medal in his first trip to the World Championships in 2017. He also proved me wrong. I only gave him a 30 percent chance to win a medal last year. Gilman had his share of detractors after struggling at times this season, including in the World Cup. But many people also didn't realize he was coming off an injury he suffered during training. Gilman looks healthy now and that was evident when he won the Yasar Dogu tournament this summer in Turkey where the ultra-confident lightweight put his share of points on the board. Gilman believes he's the strongest 125-pounder in the world, and he may be right. If Gilman can continue to improve and evolve, he will be a legitimate world title contender this year. Being able to finish for takedowns is another key when he fires in with his effective single-leg attacks. Gilman scored a combined 34 points in his four matches in Turkey, including 10 in the finals. That's an excellent sign for him. Gilman also is in excellent shape, so the deeper he goes in the tournament the better he may become as fatigue become a bigger factor. Japan's Yuki Takahashi is a very slick and skilled wrestler. He proved that by winning worlds last year and by beating Gilman again in the World Cup. Gilman now has an opportunity to learn from those matches. He is definitely eager for another shot at Takahashi. 61 kilograms: Nahshon Garrett Gold: 10 percent Medal: 30 percent I'm giving Garrett the same odds for winning a medal as I did Gilman last year, so maybe that will be a good sign for him as well. Garrett, as we know, is a tremendous talent who is tough to stop. He's also a wrestler foreign wrestlers haven't seen a whole lot of. The U.S. has a long history of wrestlers making a big impact in their first World Championships and Garrett certainly has the capability to do that. Garrett can light up the scoreboard with a flurry of points, but he also has given up his fair share of points in his matches. That was evident when he dropped a 14-7 decision to Hasanzada Mircalal of Azerbaijan in the Yasar Dogu event in Turkey. The 61-kilogram division is a non-Olympic weight, but that class was one of the toughest at the 2017 Worlds. Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan downed Gadzhimurad Rashidov of Russia to win his third world title last year. Aliyev has been wrestling up at 65 kilograms this year. Standout veterans Vladimer Khinchegashvili of Georgia and Yowlys Bonne Rodriguez of Cuba are the returning bronze medalists. Khinchegashvili won Olympic and world titles the two previous years at 57 kilos. 65 kilograms: Logan Stieber Gold: 25 percent Medal: 45 percent Stieber won a world title at 61 kilograms in 2016 before making the world team again last year at the same weight class. The big weight cut seemed to take its toll as Stieber went 1-2 at the 2017 Worlds, losing to eventual medalists Rashidov and Khinchegashvili by technical fall. Stieber has bumped up to 65 kilograms this season and won the world team spot with 2017 world teamer Zain Retherford not competing in freestyle this season. Stieber looked good in the World Cup and earned a big win over Aliyev in Iowa City. Georgia's Zurabi Iakobishvili is the returning champion in this division. Stieber is an excellent wrestler who obviously has wrestled at a high level in his career. The biggest question will be how he adapts to wrestling bigger and stronger opponents at 65 kilograms. 70 kilograms: James Green Gold: 40 percent Medal: 65 percent Green is a proven performer here, winning world bronze in 2015 and world silver in 2017. With world champion Frank Chamizo of Italy bumping up to 74 kilograms, this may be Green's best opportunity to win a world title this year. Green is an explosive wrestler with excellent leg attacks, but his defensive abilities are also very good and underrated. The key for Green may be opening up and not getting stuck in close matches where one mistake can cost you the match. When Green opens up and pushes the pace, he's definitely at his best. His performance in Budapest could be one of the keys to the U.S. in its chase to win another team title. 74 kilograms: Jordan Burroughs Gold: 65 percent Medal: 85 percent Burroughs had his share of detractors after falling short of the medal podium at the 2016 Olympics. But Burroughs doesn't have many now after coming back to win his fourth world title in 2017. Now 30 years old, Burroughs is still at the top of his game. He's still an explosive athlete, but he also has a strong work ethic and the confidence that he's still the best guy on the planet. His resolve has been tested this year after splitting a pair of close matches this year with the Cuban-born Chamizo, a two-time world champion who moved up to 74 kilograms this year. Their most recent matchup, at the Yasar Dogu, ended in a 10-10 deadlock with Chamizo prevailing on criteria. Burroughs has been wrestling at an extremely high level since his stunning setback in 2016. The challenges and reviews in the match in Turkey seemed to benefit Chamizo, who was able to rest and catch his breath. And there were definitely some calls that were puzzling that went against Burroughs. But you have to expect that at this level and Burroughs knows that as well as anyone. You can bet Burroughs will respond in a huge way in Budapest. He will be more than ready to meet Chamizo again. Kyle Dake competing at the World Cup (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 79 kilograms: Kyle Dake Gold: 40 percent Medal: 60 percent Dake is another tough wrestler who has waited a long time for this opportunity. And now he finally receives it at the new weight class of 79 kilograms. Dake is a legitimate threat to win the gold medal after destroying the field at the World Cup and the Yasar Dogu. Dake is another tough matchup at 174 pounds. His defense is impressive, he's very powerful and he's adept at scoring points in bunches with his ability to lift and turn the opposition. He's also become better offensively and he's always been supremely conditioned. One question for Dake will be can he score on offense if he needs to late in a match? The way he's been wrestling he may not need to. I wouldn't bet against him. He's as hungry, driven and motivated as anybody on the planet to win a gold medal this year. 86 kilograms: David Taylor Gold: 45 percent Medal: 65 percent Like Dake, Taylor has waited a long time for this opportunity while being stuck behind Burroughs and J'den Cox. Taylor has had a phenomenal season, starting with his big win at the Ivan Yarygin event in Russia. Taylor also was dominant at the World Cup and the Yasar Dogu. He wrestles at a high pace that opponents simply can't match. He's also a relentless, offensive-minded wrestler who is now strong enough to compete at 86 kilograms. He also is one of the few guys who has beaten Olympic gold medalist Hassan Yazdani Charati of Iran, the returning world champion at 86 kilos. Taylor pinned Yazdani Charati in the 2017 World Cup in his home country of Iran. I love Taylor's chances to win a world title. It's his first trip to this stage, but he is a veteran who looks equipped to handle anything that comes his way. He's been working his entire life for this opportunity. J'den Cox (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 92 kilograms: J'den Cox Gold: 35 percent Medal: 55 percent Cox has shown he can deliver on the big stage, capturing back-to-back bronze medals at the Olympics and World Championships. Cox was a tough matchup at 86 kilograms where he looked bigger than nearly everybody he wrestled. Now he's moved up to the new weight class of 92 kilos, where he's had a solid season. With Russian standout Abdulrashid Sadulaev moving back up to 97 kilograms after wrestling at 92 earlier this season, Cox may have his best shot at winning gold. Cox appears to be healthier this year after missing time last year with injuries. Plus, he isn't cutting as much weight which could also work in his favor. 97 kilograms: Kyle Snyder Gold: 65 percent Medal: 90 percent How do you bet against Kyle Snyder? All he did was win two world titles and an Olympic gold medal before his 22nd birthday. That includes his dramatic win over Sadulaev in the finals of the 2017 World Championships. Snyder did suffer a loss at the Yasar Dogu, but all that did was add even more motivation for him to come back strong at the World Championships. The powerful, technically sound Snyder is the complete package with a work ethic and confidence to match. He's definitely at his best when the stakes are highest. Sadulaev now has more matches under his belt at 97 kilos and he's also highly motivated to avenge his crushing loss to Snyder from last year. Here's hoping the rematch happens and that it's in the finals. That obviously would be exciting for everyone to see. 125 kilograms: Nick Gwiazdowski Gold: 30 percent Medal: 50 percent Gwiazdowski was another surprise medalist last year after winning a bronze medal at his first World Championships. Gwiazdowski has carried that momentum over into this season where he has wrestled really well. He is a very mobile heavyweight with a big gas tank. His biggest issue was battling heavier and stronger guys, and he's addressed that this season by becoming more physical. Gwiazdowski lost by technical fall to Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion Taha Akgul of Turkey at the 2017 Worlds. He rebounded from that setback to win a bronze medal. Gwiazdowski has improved considerably since that loss to Akgul and that could bode well for him in Budapest. He definitely has an opportunity to improve on his finish from last season. Craig Sesker has written about wrestling for more than three decades. He's covered three Olympic Games and is a two-time national wrestling writer of the year.

Kyle Ruschell coaching at the NCAA Division I Championships (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) New Chattanooga head wrestling coach Kyle Ruschell joins The MatBoss Podcast. Host Chad Dennis talks to Ruschell about leading the UTC program, his coaching staff, recruiting, Barry Davis, importance of drill partners and more. 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 | Stitcher | Spreaker | Google Play Music | RSS

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Maryland wrestling head coach Kerry McCoy announced two changes to his coaching staff for the upcoming 2018-19 season. Jimmy SheptockAssistant coach Jimmy Sheptock has been promoted to associate head coach after serving in his previous role for two seasons. "Jimmy has been a huge asset to our program since returning to Maryland," McCoy said. "We are very excited to have him in this new role and we know he is ready to do a great job." McCoy also announced the addition of Shelton Mack as an assistant coach. Mack coached at Virginia for the past three seasons after completing his collegiate career at Pittsburgh. "Shelton will have a big impact on our program," McCoy added. "He has had excellent success as both a wrestler and a coach, and his presence will help us reach our goals as a program." During his time on the Maryland bench, Sheptock has assisted in producing multiple NCAA Qualifiers and Big Ten placers. Ryan Diehl (141), Alfred Bannister (149) and Youssif Hemida (285) have all placed in the conference championships and qualified for the NCAA championships during each of Sheptock's first two seasons. Hemida was an NCAA All-American in the 2017-18 season. One of the most heralded wrestlers to ever don the Terrapin singlet, Sheptock was a three-time ACC Champion, three-time NCAA Qualifier and a two-time All-American during his collegiate career. He amassed a 129-20 overall record as a Terrapin, which included a perfect 51-0 mark in dual meets. Sheptock's 2013-14 season was one of the greatest individual runs in Maryland wrestling history, as he finished 32-1 and as the NCAA finalist, ACC Champion and Midlands Champion. He became the first-ever Maryland wrestler to obtain the No. 1 seed at the NCAA Championships and earn a No. 1 national ranking. Sheptock became just the fourth Terp to finish in the top-two in school history, and the first since Gobel Kline won the national championship in 1969. Mack's success at Virginia included developing NCAA All-Americans Jack Mueller and George DiCamillo. During his collegiate career, Mack was a three-time NCAA Qualifier at the University of Pittsburgh. He recorded 84 wins while wrestling at 133 pounds for the Panthers and qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Mack reached the round of 12 in 2012 before falling one win shy of All-American status. He earned a career-best 26 wins during his senior season and went 2-2 at the NCAA Championships, where he took eventual national champion Tony Ramos of Iowa down to the wire before narrowly falling, 3-1. In 2014, Mack finished third at 133 pounds at the ACC Championships. He previously recorded back-to-back runner-up finishes at the EWL Championships in 2012 and 2013. A native of Meadville, Pa., Mack graduated from Pitt in 2015 after double majoring in sociology and history. He is currently competing with hopes of representing the United States at the World Championships and Olympics. He is also on pace to complete a Master's Degree in Sport Administration.

Mark Branch (Photo/Wyoming Sports Information) LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Wyoming wrestling coach Mark Branch has signed a contract extension that will keep him in the Brown and Gold through the 2022-23 season. "I'm excited to have the opportunity to continue what we started here," Branch said. "The commitment that the University of Wyoming has made towards the wrestling program has given us the tools to be successful, and I'm excited about what the future holds." Having just wrapped up his 10th season at the helm of the Cowboy wrestling program, Branch has amassed a 100-49 overall record and a 49-14 mark in conference action. Under his watch, Wyoming has sent 51 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships with 12 returning as All-Americans. Branch was named Big 12 Wrestling Coach of the Year in March, following a season in which the Cowboys went 13-3 overall with a 7-2 mark against Big 12 opponents. The Pokes' 13 dual wins go down as the fourth-most in a season in program history and their winning percentage of 81 percent is the sixth-best in one season. Branch's Cowboys have finished in the top five at the Big 12 Championships each of the last three years, which includes a fourth place finish in 2018. At the tournament, seniors Archie Colgan and Bryce Meredith were awarded the program's first two Big 12 individual titles. At the 2018 NCAA Championships, Meredith was able to claim national runner-up at 141 pounds for the second time in his career while redshirt freshman Montorie Bridges earned All-America honors for the first time in his career. As a team, Wyoming tallied its best finish under branch as the Cowboys placed 17th. It was the 20th top-25 finish and third in a row for the Brown and Gold. Prior to the program joining the Big 12, Branch was named Western Wrestling Conference Coach of the Year for guiding the team to stellar seasons in 2010, 2011 and 2012. From Branch's arrival in Laramie in 2009 to the program's departure to the Big 12 in 2015, he oversaw six WWC team championships and 24 Cowboys taking individual conference titles. Before coming to Wyoming, Branch was the associate head wrestling coach at Oklahoma State where as a student-athlete he was a four-time NCAA finalist and a two-time NCAA Champion. As a member of the OSU coaching staff, Branch was named the NWCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2004. He helped coach OSU to seven Big 12 Championships, four NCAA Championships and three Dual Team Championships.

Austin Gomez (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) AMES, Iowa - Iowa State redshirt freshman Austin Gomez will sit out of the 2018 Junior World Championships. Gomez, who had previously held the spot at 61 kilograms, will look to mend a minor knee injury to prepare for the upcoming wrestling season. "Austin, his family and our staff have decided to pull him from the upcoming Junior World Championships in Slovakia," Iowa State head coach Kevin Dresser said. "He injured his knee earlier this summer and it continues to be a nuisance so we are going to get that cleaned up. We expect Austin back and ready to roll at the beginning of October." Earlier this summer, Gomez qualified for the Junior World Team at the Trials held in Rochester, Minn. There, Gomez defeated Cornell's Vitali Arujau in a best-of-three series for the spot at 61 kg. He qualified for the JWT Trials by taking first at the US Open UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals in April. The Carol Stream, Ill., native redshirted his initial season at Iowa State. While wrestling unattached, he compiled an 8-0 record and claimed titles at the Sioux City Dave Edmonds Open, Duhawk Open and Willie Myers Open. Gomez and the Cyclones are set to open the season on Nov. 3 in Hilton Coliseum at the annual Harold Nichols Cyclone Open.

Want to start an argument among amateur wrestling fans? Ask them to name the five best wrestlers of all time. Another way to get fans fired up: let them weigh in on greatest wrestling movies of all time. WIN Magazine columnist Kyle Klingman weighed in with his picks for the top five mat movies in the publication's August 15, 2018 issue. Klingman took a look at 16 films which incorporate amateur wrestling as a major aspect. (Note: For his list, Klingman makes it clear that he did not consider documentaries, nor Hollywood movies such as "Born on the Fourth of July" which have a wrestling scene but focus on other issues.) WIN's winners Kyle Klingman's five greatest wrestling movies: 1. Win-Win: This 2011 film stars Paul Giamatti as a lawyer/high school wrestling coach, and 2010 New Jersey state wrestling champ Alex Schaeffer. Klingman writes: "The film works on a variety of levels. The wrestling scenes are realistic and the storyline is plausible ... The film doesn't force a happy ending, either. Rather, it asks the viewer to face the harsh reality of the decisions we make and why we make them." 2. Dangal: A 2016 film from India about two female wrestlers who are forced into the sport when their father -- a former wrestler himself -- does not have a son. "No wrestling movie treats the sport with more respect than "Dangal" which literally means wrestling in English," said Klingman. "The wrestling scenes are fast-paced, and, for the most part, accurate." 3. Vision Quest: The 1985 film -- based on the novel by Terry Davis -- tells the story of high school wrestler Louden Swain (played by Matthew Modine) and his quest to beat undefeated state champ Shute (Frank Jasper) while pursuing "older woman" Carla (Linda Fiorentino). "The book of the same name is still the best piece of writing fiction, but the film doesn't quite live up," according to Klingman. "The iconic characters in the movie -- Louden Swain, Shute and Kuch -- are still part of the wrestling culture, which is a tribute to the staying power of the film." Klingman adds that "Vision Quest" is the most motivational of the films on his top five list. 4. Foxcatcher: There was considerable buzz surrounding this 2014 film version of goings-on at the Foxcatcher Olympic training facility outside Philadelphia, starring Channing Tatum as wrestler Mark Schultz, Mark Ruffalo as his brother Dave Schultz, Steve Carell as crazed millionaire owner John duPont, and featuring a heavyweight cast of real-life wrestlers and officials. "Foxcatcher" premiered at the prestigious Cannes film festival, where director Bennett Miller won "Best Director" honors. It earned three Golden Globe nominations as well as five Oscar nominations. Here's Klingman's take, in a nutshell: the film had "numerous historical inaccuracies ... Nevertheless, the wrestling scenes are real because of the people who execute them." 5. American Wrestler: The Wizard: IMDb -- Internet Movie Database, an independent, go-to online reference -- described this 2016 film thusly: "In 1980, a teenage boy escapes the unrest in Iran only to face more hostility in America, due to the hostage crisis. Determined to fit in, he joins the school's floundering wrestling team." Here's how Kyle Klingman described it: "Based very loosely on a true story, 'American Wrestler' wraps every single sports cliché into one movie. However, with George Kosturos as the lead, this movie more than makes up for its predictable and implausible plot. The wrestling is good and the story ... is surprisingly relevant to the happenings of today." After reading Kyle Klingman's column in WIN Magazine, we got to thinking: what have others said? FivePointMove.com offers its top five mat movies In April 2016, Timothy Hands of FivePointMove.com -- an amateur wrestling website with the focus on Greco-Roman -- shared his list of the top five amateur wrestling films of all time, opening his feature article with these thoughts: "We all love amateur wrestling movies. For one, there's just not enough of them. "Sure, football has plenty, boxing always translates to cinema very well, and even baseball and basketball show up on the big screen. But wrestling? More specifically, amateur wrestling? The well is pretty dry. "Even despite that, there are enough of them out there that deserve some mentioning. We should note that while this list is not all that serious, we do stand by any reasoning for a movie's inclusion ..." As with Klingman's list, Hands said of his compilation, "We're not focusing on documentaries, so please save your Dan Gable SportsCentury complaints. This is a different deal." (That said, Hands did include one documentary.) However, unlike Klingman, Hands presents his list in reverse order ... saving the best for last, so to speak. 5. Win-Win: "Win-Win takes an 'okay' storyline and turns it into the most surprisingly entertaining 90 or so minutes you'll encounter," according to Hands, who provides a rather detailed description of the movie's storyline ... how it incorporates wrestling ... and makes the most of the actual mat talent of Alex Shaffer, "an actual legitimate stud who took home an NJSIAA state title for Hunterdon Central THE YEAR BEFORE THE FILM CAME OUT. So director Tom McCarthy, who was a wrestler himself, nailed that s*** down. Give credit to casting, give credit to Shaffer, whomever. But he was awesome as Kyle. Shaffer perfectly played a laid-back, monotone teen who looks kind of like a burn-out and smokes cigarettes no less, but also turns into a destroyer on the mat." 4. Legendary: This 2010 film is produced by WWE and features one of its superstars, John Cena, in the role of a former amateur wrestler who seems to have messed up his life after stepping off the mat. However, his younger brother, a "nerdboy" (as Hands describes him) seeks to stop being bullied by high school classmates by going out for wrestling, and reconnects with big brother Cena for lessons. Hands has issues with various elements of the movie; however, he admits, "If we're judging this based on attributes good amateur wrestling movies should have, such as an internal conflict, desire for achievement, and decent character play, Legendary hits on all of them." 3. Reversal: In describing this 2001 small-budget film focused on a Pennsylvania high school wrestler and his contentious relationship with his coach/father, Hands states: "For this masterpiece to work, it had to deliver big on other fronts. Father/son conflict? Check. Oddball girlfriend? Check. Badass kid from another school coming to take your spot? Check." Hands goes on to write, "So why is this movie on the list? The dynamics between the characters, for one ... And most importantly, the wrestling is really, really good, thanks in large part to (actual wrestlers Danny) Mousetis and (Jeremy) Spates actually scrimmaging somewhat in the climactic scene. If you haven't seen this one, you are seriously missing out on some decent choreography and 'WTF' dialogue." 2. Takedowns and Falls: This film chronicles the 2006-07 season of the Central Dauphin Rams, a top high school team based in Harrisburg, Pa. Yes, it's a documentary. "We swore we wouldn't include documentaries, but this is an easy exception," Hands says of his decision to include "Takedowns and Falls." "This is about amateur wrestling movies, not amateur wrestling documentaries. But the thing is, 'Takedowns and Falls' was actually produced and released like a motion picture, so it meets the criteria on a technicality." Hands goes on to say, "The actual wrestling in Takedowns and Falls is obviously, all real. And since it's a high-level team with high-level kids, the action is easy to watch. You get some match highlights, practice room battles, and even glimpses of what it's like for the Pepplemans (Walter and Marshall) working out at home ... It might not be a 'fun flick', but the film is as engrossing and motivating as it gets." 1. Vision Quest: "'Vision Quest' is wrestling's version of 'It's a Wonderful Life'" according to Hands. "There is no equal. It is the king of all amateur wrestling movies. No other film has approached its status. And even if you have seen VQ 200 times, you never, EVER get sick of it ... The reason why this is the standard bearer for all amateur wrestling movies is because the arc is just untouchable. It slowly builds. Even if you have never seen Vision Quest before and have an idea how it ends, the story doesn't plod. There might be a lot going on, but it's never complicated. You might have expected Louden to wind up sleeping with Carla, but how and why it goes down is a nice surprise. You, the viewer, feel validated in your own right. VQ has that going on for you all day long. Just when you figure the goal is to make weight to wrestle Shute, it switches to having a shot at Carla. And then it switches back. It's incredible." The Wrestling Insider Facebook group poll It's a safe bet to assume there have been countless discussion threads in wrestling forums -- and "official" polls -- which have allowed wrestling fans to weigh in on their favorite movies featuring amateur wrestling. One of the most recent was set up at The Wrestling Insider group on Facebook in mid-August 2018. As of Monday evening, Aug. 20, "Vision Quest" was the top vote-getter -- and runaway favorite -- with 302 votes. In a distant second was "Foxcatcher" with 28 votes, followed by "Legendary" with 21 votes. In fourth place was "Pinned", a documentary on Lance Palmer's high school wrestling career, with 8 votes. "Spooner", a Disney film about an escaped forger who blends into society by becoming a high school wrestling coach, had 3 votes ... and "The Hardest Six" -- a 30-minute wrestling film from 2013 now available for viewing online -- with one vote. The debate will never end ... There will always be lists, polls, articles -- and discussion and debates -- about which amateur wrestling movies are "best." Each of us has our own criteria as to what makes a wrestling movie "great." For many of us, it's the authenticity of the action on the mat -- does it look like an actual wrestling match? Is the plot plausible ... and believable? If it's based on a true story ... how true is it? (In his WIN Magazine article, Kyle Klingman described a biopic with a thrilling Hollywood ending that was pure fantasy, with a championship match had had no resemblance to what really happened to the actual wrestler.) Or are there basic "issues" that would earn any movie a "thumbs down" -- bad acting, bad script, irritating soundtrack? Even though wrestling movies are rather rare, every so often a new one emerges. As of this writing, "The Last Champion" may be about to be released to eager amateur wrestling fans everywhere. Here's how this new movie is described in at its official website: "Inspired by films such as 'Hoosiers', 'Rudy', and 'Rocky', 'The Last Champion' is a story of redemption, courage, love, and forgiveness. "For years my co-writers (wife Hallie Todd and daughter Ivy Withrow) and I have wanted to do a project like 'The Last Champion'. As collaborators, we were able to bring our individual perspectives to the piece while sharing a common vision for the final product. We've always been moved by films with great underdog characters and wanted to write something that entire families could watch and enjoy together." -- Glenn Withrow, Director If you're like me, you'll be eager to see "The Last Champion" and see where it ranks among YOUR favorite amateur wrestling movies ... thus continuing the discussion and debate and ranking.

The NWCA All-Star Classic will be held at the National Western Complex MANHEIM, Pa. -- The National Wrestling Coaches Association's 53rd Annual All-Star Classic is coming to Denver, Colorado on Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m. This year's hosts are RMN Events, NUWAY, and the University of Northern Colorado Wrestling who will infuse over $150,000 in production and promotion that will rival any professional MMA event while TrackWrestling will livestream the entire event and help kick off the 2018-19 season in style! Featuring an elevated mat, as seen during the NCAA Division I Finals, surrounded by tables as well as up to 5000 spectators in the stands, this spectacular production promises to be a prime showcase for the best college wrestling talent. For the second year, the event will feature top-tier men's and women's collegiate wrestlers in a dual meet format. Many of these matchups could be a prelude to the national championship finals at the end of the year. The legendary National Western Complex will house "The Classic" on the eve and site of RMN Event's wildly popular Monster Match, a national event that features K-12 youth wrestlers from across the country. Together, RMN Events and NUWAY organize almost thirty large youth wrestling tournaments, each with anywhere from 1000 to 3500 participants from over forty states, in coast-to-coast sites reaching from Atlantic City, NJ to Anaheim, CA, as well as from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Lansing, MI. "The NWCA is thrilled to bring its signature All-Star Classic to Denver," states NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "This event features many of our top men's and women's collegiate wrestlers in an exciting dual meet format. There is no doubt that RMN Events and NUWAY will host a spectacular event." Wrestlers in Business Network (WIBN)-Denver Chapter will serve as one of the event sponsors. Kevin Brooks proclaims: "As the Chair of the Denver Wrestlers in Business Network, we are extremely excited about the opportunity to be a part of the All-Star Classic on November 2nd. We will be supporting Ed Gutierrez and Rocky Mountain National Events for what will be a superlative event for all of wrestling. The State of Colorado Wrestling Community is humbled by the NWCA putting their trust in us to coordinate a national caliber event." Rocky Mountain National Events, under the leadership of CEO Ed Gutierrez, has twenty years of experience hosting top quality and high-volume events, which are superbly entertaining as well as featuring tomorrow's stars who will one day compete as college wrestlers in this All-Star Classic. "Our goal at RMN Events is to inspire, encourage, and recognize the next leaders of our great country," says Ed. "This event will not only highlight the best college wrestlers, but also provide an opportunity for Colorado's elite youth to share some of that limelight." NUWAY's Founder Dave Dean brings his leadership in support of the Classic. "I am truly excited about the production value and knowledge that Ed and RMN Events brings in putting on high level, MMA-style experiences that have revolutionized the sport of wrestling. Through Ed's guidance, we are featuring the best wrestling in a way that most connects with our fans." University of Northern Colorado's wrestling program under the leadership of Head Coach Troy Nickerson will also serve as a host for this prestigious event. Nickerson states: "The University of Northern Colorado is extremely happy to partner with RMN Events and WIBN-Denver in bringing the 2018 NWCA All-Star Classic to the state of Colorado. Wrestling is on the upswing here in the state; by showcasing some of the best wrestling our country has to offer, it is a great opportunity to promote the sport. We look forward to hosting some excellent matches and making this a first-class event." In addition, this event will also feature the very best elementary, middle, and high school male wrestlers in the country. This unique format will pit top-rated competitors from across the nation against their counterparts from Colorado. One high school match-up pairs Dominick Serrano (2-time Colorado state champion, Fargo Cadet 2018 freestyle champ at 126 lbs.) versus Jesse Ybarra (2-time Arizona state champion, Fargo Cadet 2018 120-lb. freestyle champ). Keep your eyes and ears open as the competitors and matchups will be released throughout the Fall in the leadup to the event. Tickets, with several seating options including front row VIP table seating that offers drinks and finger food, as well as seats in the stands will soon be available for sale on the RMN Events website, www.rmnevents.com. Get yours before they run out!

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Mizzou Wrestling head coach Brian Smith announced Monday that Mizzou alum Matt Manley has joined the program's staff as the director of operations. Manley, a two-time NCAA Championship qualifier from 2012-17 under Coach Smith, takes the role which was previously held by Cody Shoemaker, who took a job as Minnesota Softball's Director of Operations earlier this summer. Matt ManleyManley comes to Mizzou after spending the last year as the CEO of the Gladiator Academy in Dallas. "I'm extremely happy to welcome Matt and his wife Alexa back to Mizzou, because I know what our university and program mean to them," head coach Brian Smith said. "Matt was a tremendous competitor during his time with our program and he personifies what Tiger Style is all about. It was exciting to watch him serve as the CEO of Gladiator Academy in Texas and his experience doing that makes him a perfect fit for this position." "I am very excited to be a part of such a prestigious program again," Manley said. "Tiger Style has become a part of who I am, and after a year of being away from the program, I am more than ready to do everything I can to see that this program reaches its goals." As the CEO of the Gladiator Academy, Manley maintained valuable relationships with coaches and athletes along with a variety of duties that are similar to ones he will be in charge of at Mizzou. He scheduled employees, camps and practices, monitored budgets and employee salaries while also coaching. He led the Texas National Team in 2017 and mentored 12 All-Americans in the Junior Freestyle/Greco Nationals. He had one wrestler earn a state title with three more earning a spot in the 2017 state finals. As a wrestler at Mizzou, Manley posted a 68-28 overall record in four seasons, earning bonus points in 22 of 62 career wins, including 10 falls. His best year came as a redshirt junior, starting for Coach Smith at 141 pounds. He went 28-8 and qualified for the NCAA Championships for the second time in his career. He was awarded the "Iron Man" Award at end-of-the-year banquet for his courageous effort to wrestle through injuries all season. He also earned the Courage Award at the annual Mizzou Athletics ROARS Awards Ceremony. Manley was part of five MAC Championship teams and was twice named the league's Wrestler of the Week. A two-time NCAA qualifier, he ranked as high as fifth nationally during the 2015-16 season. He was also part of the 2015 Mizzou Wrestling team that took home the National Duals Championship. For all the latest on Mizzou Wrestling, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MizzouWrestling).

Desmond Green, UFC fighter and two-time MAC (Mid-American Conference) wrestling champion for the University at Buffalo, suffered minor injuries in a multi-vehicle crash in south Florida that killed two others. Desmond GreenGreen, 28, lost control of his Dodge Durango while driving northbound on I-75 near Davie, Fla. at about 6 a.m. Saturday morning. His SUV veered into the path of a semi tractor-trailer, causing a chain reaction crash that involved three other vehicles. Two women who were passengers in a Toyota Yaris -- Emelina Morfa, 67, and Emma Suarez Hernandez, 76 -- were killed. The driver of the Toyota, 64-year-old Mily Vita-Vega, was seriously hurt in the crash and is being treated at a hospital in Hollywood, Fla. The driver of an Acura 3.2 TL, Armando Alvarez, 23, suffered minor injuries. Authorities shut down the northbound lanes of I-75 for several hours to clear the scene after the crash. All lanes had reopened by 2:45 p.m. Saturday. Prior to launching his pro MMA career in April 2012, Green had been a New York state wrestling champ at Rush-Henrietta High School. He continued his mat career at Buffalo, where he won back-to-back MAC titles at 149 pounds in 2009 and 2010, and was a three-time NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships qualifier. Green trains in Florida with Hard Knocks 365, according to ESPN. The New York native has a 21-7 overall record, having won six of his last eight bouts. Green was slated to face Mairbek Taisumov in Moscow on Sept. 15.

Less than four months after making his successful pro debut as an MMA fighter, former Oklahoma State wrestler Kyle Crutchmer has revealed that he has a third bout lined up for next month. Kyle CrutchmerThe two-time NCAA All-American and Big 12 champ posted the following message on Facebook Sunday afternoon: "BREAKING! September 29th I'm back at Tulsa, Oklahoma at the River Spirit! This fight will be live on UFC Fight Pass! One step closer to my dream! #letsgoo #oklahomaboy #TULSA #918 #MMA #FIGHTCAMP #STOKED #WHOSREADY" Crutchmer told InterMat he does not yet know who his opponent will be. However, the former Cowboy mat star isn't waiting around for more information, saying, "I will start a fight camp tomorrow that will allow me to train all aspects of MMA." Crutchmer has had two pro fights in his young MMA career, both at middleweight (185 pounds). The Tulsa native made his debut in early June, scoring a technical knockout over Ron Beasley at one minute, 23 seconds of the first round of what was scheduled to be a three-round bout at Xtreme Fight Night 348 at Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla. In his second bout at Xtreme Fight Night 350 at Tulsa's River Spirit Casino Resort, Crutchmer submitted Rocky Rosas in the second round of what was only the second fight for both men.

A judge has thrown out multiple counts of a lawsuit filed by a former Bergen Catholic High School wrestler who alleged he had been sexually abused by his coach, NorthJersey.com reported Friday. However, of the 12-count lawsuit filed in April by Anthony Asatrian, the judge allowed two aspects of the case to move forward: that he suffered emotional distress as a result of what he claims to be unwanted sexual advances and texts by Bergen Catholic head wrestling coach David Bell ... and that the school allegedly thwarted the wrestler's efforts to transfer to two other area Catholic high schools. Asatrian -- a two-time district champion for the program ranked No. 2 in the nation by InterMat last season -- had alleged in his lawsuit four months ago that he was sexually abused, sexually assaulted, and sexually harassed during his nearly three years as a wrestler at Bergen Catholic. No date has been set for the next phase of the trial. However, Superior Court Judge Robert C. Wilson urged both sides in the case to try to reach a settlement, rather than go through a public trial. "Emotions run high here," Wilson said. "Both the plaintiff's reputation and the defendants' reputation have been so much placed in jeopardy. It hurts all the parties as to what happened in this situation," adding that it was in the best interests of all parties to reach an amicable solution.

Mack Beggs claimed the girls Class 6A state title at 110 pounds You have not heard the last of Mack Beggs. Beggs, the transgender wrestler who made headlines by winning back-to-back Texas state titles in 2017 and 2018, has announced he plans to continue wrestling in college. Beggs, who graduated from Euless Trinity High School this spring, has enrolled at Life University in suburban Atlanta, and plans to wrestle on the Running Eagles' men's wrestling program. "Next month Beggs will enroll at NAIA Life University with plans to walk on to the men's wrestling team, with the blessing of Life University head coach Omi Acosta," the Dallas Morning News reported Friday. Life University is a private school in Marietta, Ga. with an enrollment of approximately 2,700 students. It was founded in 1974 as Life Chiropractic School. The school's official website states, "We are vitalistic visionaries relentlessly committed to disruptive social innovation. "Life University is breaking boundaries in disciplines across the health and wellness spectrum by impacting and inspiring future leaders to become life-change agents. We encourage our students to think freely and embrace reformative ideas, allowing them to maximize their innate potential ..." "Students with energetic passion in the areas of health, wellness, science and sport will thrive here by having the ability to express their creative potential within our culture of excellence …" according to the Life University home page. Life University's Running Eagles men's wrestling program competes in the Mid-South Conference as an NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) program. Earlier this year Life University announced it was building a new wrestling facilityfor both its men's and women's wrestling programs. The new facility is expected to be completed in time for the 2018-19 season. It appears Mack Beggs, as a student-athlete at Life University this fall, may be among the first athletes to use that new wrestling center. Mack Beggs, who is in the process of transitioning from female to male, was born Mackenzie Beggs. As a student at Euless Trinity High outside Dallas-Fort Worth, Beggs won back-to-back girls Class 6A state titles at 110 pounds, defeating the same opponent each year in the finals. He concluded his high school career with a perfect 92-0 record. Beggs' state championship performance was the subject of articles in publications that normally don't cover amateur wrestling … and generated arguments within the sport, and beyond. After winning his second title, Beggs said, "This year I wanted to prove a point that anyone can do anything. Even though I was put in this position, even though I didn't want to be put in this position, even though I wanted to wrestle the guys, I still had to wrestle the girls. "But what can I tell people? I can tell the state Legislature to change the policy, but I can't tell them to change it right now," Beggs continued. "All I can hope for is that they come to their [senses] and realize this is stupid and we should change the policies to conform to other people in my position." Texas is one of a handful of states with separate competitions for girls and boys. Texas' University-Interscholastic League (UIL) -- the independent body that governs collegiate and high school athletics in the Lone Star State -- had implemented a rule in 2016, requiring transgender individuals to wrestle against the gender listed on their birth certificates. As part of the transition from female to male, Mack Beggs has taken doctor-prescribed, low-dose testosterone injections (currently 36 milligrams per week) since October of his freshman year. This past week, Beggs took another significant step: he had initial gender transition "top" surgery, transforming his upper body by removing breast tissue to make him look more like a man. The UIL's 2016 birth certificate rule is in sharp contrast to other organizations which govern sports competition. For example, in 2011 the NCAA established a transgender policy as requiring a trans male athlete who is receiving testosterone treatment, such as Beggs, to compete on a men's team, while prohibiting the athlete from competing on a women's team. Prior to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the International Olympic Committee issued updated transgender guidelines allowing athletes who transition from female to male to compete in the male category without restriction.

Six outstanding individuals from the state's wrestling community have been selected for induction into the Connecticut chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The Connecticut chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame will hold an induction dinner on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at the MGM Hotel at Foxwoods to honor these men for their contribution to the sport of wrestling and our communities. The six men are: •Colonel Charles Anderson, a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient who has served in the Connecticut Army National Guard for more than 30 years, and as the head wrestling coach at both Trumbull High and Norwalk High •John Bennett, a coach, official and four-time member of the U.S. Veterans World team •Patrick Burns, former New Milford High coach, an official and CIAC wrestling committee member •Carmen DelVecchio, one of the top officials in New England and in the nation •Jason Shaughnessy, the high school coach at Fairfield Warde and Fairfield High and founder and coach with the Police Athletic League (PAL) youth wrestling program in Fairfield •Dennis Siegmann, the former head coach at Bristol Central High for 22 years and an assistant coach at two junior colleges that won four national championships in six years Bennett, Burns, DelVecchio, Shaughnessy and Siegmann will receive a Lifetime Achievement award for coaches, officials, or contributors with at least 20 years of service. Anderson is being recognized as an Outstanding American, a former wrestler who is highly successful in his/her profession. All six men will be permanently recognized in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (Stillwater, Oklahoma) with an embossed name plaque, and each receives a plaque and jacket to commemorate the very special occasion. These six will join 38 other inductees in the Connecticut chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Tickets for the banquet will be available online after Oct. 1.