InterMat Staff

Carl Abell, an Ohio State wrestler and football player in the 1940s who wrestled internationally in the 1950s then went on to establish the Stop'n Go convenience store chain in suburban Cleveland, died this week in Cleveland. He was 88. Carl AbellAbell wrestled for the Buckeyes in the late 1940s, according to the Ohio State Makio yearbooks. He was a two-time Big Ten conference championships finalist, placing second at 175 pounds at the 1945 Big Tens (losing to Purdue's Mike Rajcevich in the finals), then three years later, was runner-up at heavyweight at the 1948 Big Tens (falling to Charles Gottfried of Illinois in the title match). Abell's obituary in the Cleveland Plain Dealer states that he was an alternate on the 1952 and 1956 U.S. Olympic teams, and represented the U.S. in wrestling matches in Italy and Turkey in the 1950s. Another source, "The Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling Vol. 2" by Harris Lentz III, identifies Abell as a pro wrestler in the 1950s. The Medina Gazette reported that Abell "was instrumental in starting the Medina High School wrestling program and was later inducted in Medina's Sports Hall of Fame." Carl AbellCarl Thomas Abell was born Jan. 14, 1927 in Cleveland. In the 1930s, his family moved to Medina, about 25 miles south of Cleveland, where they lived on a dairy farm. Abell owned and operated Elm Farm Dairy, which brought pasteurized milk to Medina County and supplied dairy products to five surrounding counties. He later launched the convenience store chain Stop'n Go in Medina in 1963. Abell served in the U.S. Army during World War II. During his service he was in the Military Police, posted in Washington D.C. as a White House guard, as a relief at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Ceremonial Unit at the National Cemetery, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer obituary. A Celebration of Life service was held Saturday, Oct. 31 at the Medina Country Club. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to The Henry and Blanche Abell Scholarship Endowment Fund (#600007) of The Ohio State Endowment Foundation, 1480 West Lane Avenue, Columbus, OH 43221.

The family of a freshman wrestler at Case Western Reserve University killed in a private plane crash the evening of his first day of classes at the Cleveland school has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against various individuals and groups connected to the fatal flight, according to multiple media reports Friday. Abraham Pishevar II, 18, from Rockville, Md. was killed, along with two fellow Spartan wrestlers -- 20-year-old Lucas Marcelli of Massillon, Ohio, and 18-year-old John Hill of St. Simons, Ga. -- as well as the 20-year-old pilot, William Felten of Saginaw, Mich. when the plane crashed while taking off from a general aviation airport east of Cleveland in August 2014. Pishevar's parents, Afshin Pishevar and Zahra Mohebbi, both of Maryland, filed suit in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Named in the lawsuit is the registered owner of the plane, the club where Felton rented the aircraft, Felton's estate, and both local and national chapters of the Indianapolis-based Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity where their son was pledging. The four were killed when the rented 1999 Cessna 172R crashed and exploded moments after takeoff from the Cuyahoga County Regional Airport in suburban Richmond Heights at about 10 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. The students had planned a nighttime sightseeing trip of the Cleveland area after their first day of classes for the 2014-15 school year. Founded in 1826, Case Western Reserve began as two separate institutions -- Case Institute of Technology, and Western Reserve College -- which joined together in 1967 to form Case Western Reserve University. Based in Cleveland, CWRU describes itself as "one of the country's leading research institutions." The Spartans wrestling program competes in NCAA Division III.

Leaving home for college for the first time can be a challenge for any student ... but even more so for Doyle Trout. The four-time Nebraska high school state wrestling champ who lost a leg in a car accident Easter Sunday is now on campus at the University of Wyoming, making progress towards his eventual goal of wrestling for the Cowboys, Cheyenne's KGWN-TV reported Friday. Trout had committed to wrestle at Wyoming before the one-car accident last spring which shattered his left leg, forcing doctors to amputate just below the knee. Right away, Cowboy head coach Mark Branch traveled to Trout's hospital room in Lincoln, Neb. to reassure his recruit that the school would honor his scholarship. About a month ago, Trout was fitted with a prosthetic leg. He's been acquiring a whole new set of skills -- how to shower, how to get dressed, how to get to class -- all on his own, away from home. Making the transition a bit easier was Trout's welcome from his fellow Cowboy teammates. "When I finally got out here, I was a little, like, scared and nervous but you know, everybody, they welcomed me," Trout told KGWN-TV. Over the past few months, Trout has been actively participating in physical therapy and rehab. More recently, that work has had an ultimate focus of returning to action on the mat. "I'm just doing like stuff to get my hips strong and my glute and my hip flexor muscles so I can start walking without crutches," said Trout. Trout, a Kinesiology major, sees a career in helping others like himself. "I want to get in to physical rehab, but with people with prosthetics, so then I can kind of give that one-on-one connection and I know what their limits are."

Two-time state champion Danny Vega (Ironwood Ridge, Ariz.), ranked No. 80 overall in the Class of 2016, verbally committed to Grand Canyon University. The projected 125 pound wrestler has earned All-American honors in both styles at the Junior Nationals the last two summers in Fargo; sixth at 113 in 2015, and champion at 106 in 2014. Vega also placed third at the Super 32 Challenge and won a Junior National folkstyle title in the 2014-15 scholastic season.

Two-time state placer Michel Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) announced a verbal commitment to the University of Nebraska on Friday morning for the Class of 2017. The nation's No. 20 overall junior has placed twice at the Pennsylvania state tournament, seventh as a freshman in Class AA at 138, and third during his sophomore season in Class AAA at 152. He also finished as runner-up at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals this spring competing at 152 pounds, and was a silver medalist in the AAU Scholastic Duals held at Disney World this summer. Labriola projects as a 165/174 for the Cornhuskers.

MANHEIM, Pa. -- A pair of late scratches at 165 pounds have prompted a new matchup at the 50th annual Hire Heroes NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the Wrestlers in Business Network on November 1 in Atlanta, Ga. The All-Star Classic is also sponsored by Raymond James and will be held at Georgia Tech's McCamish Pavilion at 5 p.m. Both NCAA champion Alex Dieringer of Oklahoma State and All-American Ethan Ramos of North Carolina were scratched this week. The replacement bout at 165 pounds features a pair of NCAA qualifiers, Max Rohskopf from North Carolina State and Clark Glass from Oklahoma. Both wrestlers are ranked in the Top 20 nationally by all major wrestling rankings services. #NWCAClassic50 Matchups 125- Nathan Tomasello, So. (Ohio State) vs. Zeke Moisey, So. (West Virginia) 133- Mason Beckman, Sr. (Lehigh) vs. Rossi Bruno, Sr. (Michigan) 141- Cody Brewer, Sr. (Oklahoma) vs. Dean Heil, So. (Oklahoma State) 149- B.J. Clagon, So. (Rider) vs. Alexander Richardson, Sr. (Old Dominion) 157- Mitch Minotti, Jr. (Lehigh) vs. Cody Pack, Sr. (South Dakota State) 165- Max Rohskopf, Jr. (N.C. State) vs. Clark Glass, Jr. (Oklahoma) 174- Kyle Crutchmer, Jr. (Oklahoma State) vs. Zach Epperly, So. (Virginia Tech) 184- Nathaniel Brown, Sr. (Lehigh) vs. Blake Stauffer, Sr. (Arizona State) 197- Conner Hartmann, Sr. (Duke) vs. Max Huntley, Sr. (Michigan) 285- Adam Coon, Jr. (Michigan) vs. Ty Walz, Jr. (Virginia Tech) Showcase Matches 125: Sean Russell, Fr. (Edinboro) vs. Devane Dodgens, Jr. (Life) 149: Chris Perez, Sr. (Princeton) vs. Derek Arnold, Jr. (Ursinus) 157: Chad Pyke, So. (N.C. State) vs. Kamaal Shakur, Fr. (Chattanooga) 174: Jason Grimes, Jr. (American) vs. Brandon Womack, Fr. (Cornell) 184: Willie Miklus, So. (Missouri) vs. Hunter Gamble, Jr. (Gardner-Webb) 197: Chance McClure, So. (Virginia-Unattached) vs. Chip Ness, So. (North Carolina-Unattached) 197: Bryce Barnes, Sr. (Army West Point) vs. Scottie Boykin, Jr. (Chattanooga) Women's Showcase 123: Jennifer Juarez (Life) vs. Cindy Calixto (Emmanuel) WHAT: 50th Annual Hire Heroes NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the Wrestlers in Business Network Atlanta Chapter WHEN: Sunday, November 1, 2015, 5 p.m. Eastern WHERE: Hank McCamish Pavilion, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Ga. TICKETS: VIP/Social $125, Premium Floor $100, Premium $50, Reserved $25-$35; General Admission $10-$20; Student Rate $15 PURCHASE ONLINE: Click here TV/LIVE STREAMING: ESPNU (Find ESPNU on your cable or satellite provider) EVENT WEBSITE: http://www.theallstarclassic.com About the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) The NWCA brings the wrestling coaching community together to advance the sport and ensure that current and future generations have the opportunity to engage in a safe and educationally based wrestling experience. This is primarily done by strengthening existing programs, creating new programs, and providing coaches with progressive educational opportunities. About Wrestlers in Business Network (WIBN) The Group Wrestlers in Business is a non-profit organization that strives to unite the thousands of wrestlers that have retired from the sport and are now in their respective careers. It started as a networking group on LinkedIn. Since then, the group has evolved into a more prominent, member-focused organization that cares about supporting current & former wrestlers and the sport. Their mission is to establish a community of wrestlers who commonly share in the interest of helping each other in business and in life, while supporting and strengthening the sport that made us who we are today. www.wrestlersinbusiness.org About ESPNU The 24-hour college sports television network airs more than 650 live events annually. ESPNU is available nationwide in approximately 73 million households.

North Dakota State University head wrestling coach Roger Kish announced that former Virginia Tech All-American Jarrod Garnett has joined the program as an assistant coach. A three-time ACC champion and 2013 All-American for Virginia Tech, Garnett spent the past two seasons as a volunteer assistant for Leigh University and training with the Lehigh Valley Athletic Club. He was an assistant coach for Bucknell University in 2013-14. A career 125-pounder at Virginia Tech, Garnett posted three 30-win seasons, and amassed a 126-29 career record, with the 126 wins tying for third most in program history. The 2009 ACC Freshman of the Year, Garnett won ACC titles in 2010, 2011 and 2013 and was the Outstanding Wrestler at the 2013 ACC Tournament. In his senior season, Garnett earned All-America honors with a sixth place finish at 125, rallying from a first round upset loss to win five straight matches. A four-time NCAA qualifier, Garnett posted 63 dual meet victories, 61 career bonus wins, and 24 wins by fall during his time in Blacksburg. He reached the finals at the prestigious Midlands Championships in each of the last three seasons, winning a title as a senior in December 2012 and finishing second in 2011 and 2013. Last year, Garnett competed as a post-graduate. Garnett's freestyle credentials include being a two-time University Nationals All-American, highlighted by a second place finish in 2012. He has also competed at the US Open and the University World Team Trials. A Newark, Del., native, Garnett earned a bachelor's degree in apparel, housing and resource management, with a focus on consumer studies, from Virginia Tech in 2013.

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The 2015-16 Big Ten wrestling season begins Sunday, with five conference teams taking the mat. The Terrapin Duals will feature Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Davidson challenging Maryland at 11:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. ET, respectively. Rutgers is also set to host the Rutgers Duals, with Centenary College, Franklin and Marshall and Binghamton. Duals are set to take place at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. ET, respectively. Sunday will also feature Northwestern and Ohio State in the NWCA All-Star Classic in Atlanta, Ga., while Nebraska travels to Brookings, S.D., to compete at the Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open. The following weekend will mark the season openers for Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State and Purdue, as each travels to the Eastern Michigan Duals, while Minnesota hosts the Gopher Duals at home. Iowa, Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin are set to open their seasons during the week of Nov. 9. Seven teams enter the season ranked among the top 20 in the InterMat College Dual Meet Rankings, including three in the top five. Penn State leads the way at No. 1, followed by No. 3 Iowa, No. 4 Michigan, No. 7 Nebraska and No. 8 Ohio State. Illinois begins the season ranked No. 11, followed by No. 15 Wisconsin.

Northwestern University this week fired head wrestling coach Drew Pariano and appointed assistant coach Matt Storniolo to be the interim head coach for the 2015-2016 wrestling season. The details around Pariano's firing have tended toward soap opera-like rumors more than anything factual. The reason being that Pariano was fired and as in any termination he was advised to not spill details in public. What we do know is that Pariano had a very successful five seasons as a head coach in Evanston, coaching several All-Americans and hauling in top recruits season after season. Before becoming the head coach Pariano was also successful as an assistant, helping Jake Herbert and Dustin Fox win NCAA championships. As for the motivations for termination I can help dispel some of the more eye-popping rumors. There were no major or minor NCAA violations during Pariano's tenure as head coach. There was no precipitating event or altercation with an athlete that necessitated immediate action. Pariano was also not arrested on suspicion of any other type of wrongdoing. Ultimately the reason may not be known for some time, but it's fair to conclude that with a termination this close to the season Pariano had lost the support of the Northwestern administration. For now Pariano seems to be hitting the ground running and looking for new opportunities. Since the reason for his expulsion may never be known, if you fall to the side that believes it was a personality conflict then he may yet enter the NCAA ranks again. With a job like Fresno State open there is certainly room to figure Pariano to be a top candidate. To your questions … Q: What do you think of high level/senior level wrestlers starting a union forcing companies, like FloWrestling, to pay them higher fees to show their matches under their paywall subscription? -- Peter W. Foley: This would be unprecedented and maybe not have much merit. High school sports are still, in most parts of the country, highly regulated and truly amateur. The dollar figures coming out of the sports are nowhere near the invested amounts. The athletes aren't on scholarships and most have a much stricter rules for attending classes, etc. While I see your point, Flo is simply a broadcast company based on the Internet and no difference than any other network showcasing a high school athletic event. With that said, #DeathtotheNCAA Did you see the Big Ten revenue projections … Q: Does Matt Storniolo have a chance to get his interim tag removed and become the head coach of Northwestern following the season? If not, who do you see as candidates for the job? -- Mike C. Matt Storniolo has spent six seasons on the Northwestern coaching staff (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Foley: Maybe … I'm assuming that Northwestern will outperform expectations this season. There isn't much that Coach Storniolo will need to change heading into the season (since plans are laid out well in advance) and with Tim Cysewski still on staff there is decades of head coaching experience and guidance to help him acclimate. That means that the wrestling and mat motivation will be Coach Storniolo's main charge -- areas I know he's more than capable of delivering winning results. As someone I once knew very well and had the opportunity to hang out with again at the World Championships in Las Vegas I do wish Storniolo the best of luck this season. I know he's always wanted to be a head coach, but I doubt this was the way he imagined the opportunity. My instinct tells me that a national search would probably bring out more than a few heavy hitters that Northwestern would need to consider. Storniolo would need a breakout season and detailed five-year plan to stave off the wolves. I for one am pulling for him and Northwestern. Q: I am once again looking forward to the NWCA All-Star Classic and would like to see your picks? Who is going to win and what is the most anticipated match up? -- Jason N. Foley:See predictions below. 125: Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State) dec. Zeke Moisey (West Virginia), 12-5 133: Mason Beckman (Lehigh) dec. Rossi Bruno (Michigan), 4-2 141: Cody Brewer (Oklahoma) tech. fall Dean Heil, So. (Oklahoma State), 18-3 149: B.J. Clagon (Rider) dec. Alexander Richardson (Old Dominion), 9-8 (Match of the Night) 157: Mitch Minotti (Lehigh) dec. Cody Pack (South Dakota State), 11-4 165: Alex Dieringer (Oklahoma State) pinned Ethan Ramos (North Carolina) 174: Zach Epperly (Virginia Tech) dec. Kyle Crutchmer (Oklahoma State), 3-2 184: Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh) dec. Blake Stauffer (Arizona State), 4-1 197: Max Huntley (Michigan) dec. Conner Hartmann, (Duke), 5-2 285: Adam Coon (Michigan) pinned Ty Walz, Jr. (Virginia Tech) MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME Link: The Human Toll of Corruption Every press conference ever Great spot for college wrestling! Q: Can you give us an overview of the Alrosa Cup? -- @wrestlingnomad Foley: The Alrosa Cup is the European Cup of Nations and will feature the top five/six teams in each of the styles from the European Continent. Though competition will be tough in the finals, you can expect Russia to win all three team titles. Freestyle: Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkey Women's freestyle: Ukraine, Bulgaria, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Sweden Greco-Roman: Ukraine, Bulgaria, Russia, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Turkey Q: Why don't more foreigners come to college in U.S. for wrestling? Campbell has a couple. Feel quick way to get good. -- @RobbyHitch Foley: There are some tough TOEFFL requirements for incoming students. Unless the student is already in an American high school, the transferring process can be extremely difficult. Most of the Mongolian students that have come through over the past decade (and Uzbek) have done so through community college. Only Turtogtokh went straight from and American high school to a Division I program. I ado agree. Great way to add energy, and results, to a program that isn't yet recruiting top 100 athletes inside the border Q: What should we expect at the NYAC for the Bill Farrell International Open? Any tips for first-time attendees? -- @JaroslavWrestle Foley: Be sure to wear a jacket and tie if you plan on entering through the main entrance! The NYAC is a bit stuffy, but in the way a prize fight of the 1920's must've felt -- intimate quarters, tons of action, and some upper middle class panache to compensate. The NYAC is back in great hands with Iranian-American Hooman Tavakolian at the helm. A humble and generous family man with a passion for the sport, Mo has been a great ambassador for the NYAC around the world. Expect compelling matchups and great wrestling in a truly unique venue. Also … I'll be there!

Dennis Hastert, former Wheaton College wrestler and high school wrestling coach who later became U.S. Speaker of the House, pleaded guilty Wednesday to evading federal banking rules in an apparent scheme to pay hush money to an unidentified individual. Dennis HastertIn accordance with a plea deal reached earlier this month, Hastert, 73, pleaded guilty in federal court in Chicago to withdrawing funds from several bank accounts in increments less than $10,000 to evade bank reporting rules. The money -- approximately $1.7 million -- was paid to someone from his Hastert's hometown of Yorkville, Ill., identified in federal documents only as "Individual A" but widely reported to be a former student at Yorkville High School. The school, located about 50 miles southwest of Chicago, is where Hastert taught history and coached wrestling from 1965 to 1981 before entering politics. "Why he structured the money is irrelevant," former federal prosecutor Jeffrey Cramer told NPR. "He could've woken up a given day and just decided to start structuring money for absolutely no reason, and that's a crime." As part of the plea agreement, additional charges that Hastert lied about the structured withdrawals to the FBI have been dropped. Although the crime Hastert has pleaded guilty to can result in a sentence of up to five years in prison, prosecutors are recommending the former Speaker serve a prison term of up to six months, though probation with no jail time is also a possibility. Sentencing will take place Feb. 29, 2016. In its coverage of Hastert's appearance before judge Thomas Dunkin at the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago Wednesday, the Chicago Tribune wrote, "The guilty plea marked a dramatic downfall for Hastert, one of Illinois' most powerful Republicans who rose from humble beginnings as a small-town high school teacher to the third-highest elected office in the country." "The 20-minute hearing, however, left more questions than answers," the Tribune story continued. "His plea agreement provided no new details on the sensational allegations underlying the charges; in fact, it used almost identical language as the indictment. Still a mystery is the identity of the person Hastert had agreed to pay $3.5 million to keep quiet as well as the nature of the wrongdoing Hastert was trying to cover up. "Though both the indictment and plea agreement only hint at the alleged wrongdoing, federal law enforcement sources have told the Tribune that Hastert was paying to cover up the sexual abuse of a student from decades ago when Hastert was a wrestling coach and teacher at Yorkville High School." Born not far from Yorkville in Plano, Ill. in 1942, Hastert was a member of the wrestling team at Wheaton College, a private, four-year school in the western suburbs of Chicago, in the early 1960s. He then taught government and history at Yorkville High, and coached wrestling, taking his team to an Illinois state championship in 1976. His coaching record also included three runners-up and a third place finish, according to his National Wrestling Hall of Fame biography, where he was inducted as an Outstanding American in 2000. Four years earlier, Hastert was honored for his efforts and contributions to wrestling as the recipient of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Order of Merit. Hastert had served three terms in the Illinois General Assembly before being elected to the House of Representatives in 1986. In 1999, the six-term congressman was elected Speaker of the House after the incumbent Speaker Newt Gingrich stepped down, and his intended replacement, Bob Livingston of Louisiana, gave up the position before he ever assumed it after admitting to having conducted adulterous affairs. Hastert left Congress in 2007.

Lucas Jeske defeated Rochester Mayo's Brady Nelson to win the state title at 152 pounds (Photo/The Guillotine)Junior National freestyle finalist Lucas Jeske (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) has registered for the 2015 InterMat JJ Classic at 182 pounds. Jeske won six matches in Fargo to reach the Junior freestyle finals at 160 pounds before losing to Joe Smith (Stillwater, Okla.), who would earn the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler award. This past season Jeske won a Minnesota state championship in Class AAA at 152 pounds and finished his junior season with a 21-1 record. He placed in both the UWW Cadet Nationals freestyle competition and Junior Nationals folkstyle competition in the spring. The 2015 InterMat JJ Classic takes place on Sunday, Nov. 8, in Rochester, Minnesota. For more information on the InterMat JJ Classic or to register, visit the event website.

It's not every city that can claim two legendary wrestlers who share a combined six NCAA titles, two Olympic medals, and Distinguished Member status at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Now Perry, Okla. will be honoring hometown mat heroes Dan Hodge and Jack Vanbebber each with a statue in the Perry Wrestling Monument Park, the Hall of Fame announced Tuesday. The Stillwater, Okla. Hall posted this message on its Facebook page Tuesday: "Danny Hodge and Jack Vanbebber, who were inducted as Distinguished Members in the inaugural National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum class in 1976, are going to be immortalized with statues as part of the Perry Wrestling Monument Park in their hometown of Perry, Oklahoma ..." In September, the Perry Wrestling Foundation unveiled a model of the new park, to be located in downtown Perry, on the north side of the town square, with the message, "If all goes well, we will have the grand opening in May 2016." The statues of the two wrestlers are being crafted by Jim Franklin, whose sculptures are on display across Oklahoma. He has a studio on the square in Perry. Current wrestling fans probably recognize the Dan Hodge name, as it graces the Hodge Trophy which is presented each year to the nation's top collegiate wrestler. Daniel Allen Hodge wrestled for Perry High School, where he won the 165-pound Oklahoma state title in 1951. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Hodge enrolled at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, where he compiled a perfect 46-0 record, claiming three Big Seven and NCAA titles at 177 pounds from 1955-57. He won 36 of those matches by pin, earning him the nicknames "Dangerous Dan" and "Homicide Hodge." In addition, Hodge earned a silver medal in freestyle at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Furthermore, Hodge owns the distinction of being the only amateur wrestler to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as an amateur wrestler (1957) in the more than 60-year history of the magazine. Hodge still resides in his hometown of Perry. Jack Francis Vanbebber made his mark on the wrestling mat decades earlier. Despite having been run over by a wagon wheel at age 6 (causing serious injury to his chest), Vanbebber became a wrestler at Perry High, becoming an Oklahoma state champ ... then took his talent to Oklahoma State, competing for all-time great coach Ed Gallagher. Vanbebber put together a flawless 22-0 record, winning three NCAA championships in 1929-31 at 155 and 165 pounds. After graduation, Vanbebber headed west to Los Angeles to compete at the 1932 Olympics ... bringing home a gold medal in freestyle as a middleweight by defeating the defending world champion. After a long career in the oil industry, Vanbebber passed away in 1986 at age 78. His inspirational life is immortalized in the book "A Distant Flame." Hodge and Vanbebber aren't the only native Oklahoma wrestlers to be honored in statue form. A few years ago, 1960 Olympic gold medalists and Oklahoma State mat greats Shelby Wilson and the late Doug Blubaugh were immortalized with statues at their high school in Ponca City, Okla. Wayne Baughman, Olympian and 1962 NCAA champ for the Oklahoma Sooners, displayed his chiseled physique for a U.S. Air Force Monument installed in the mid-1960s in downtown Oklahoma City. Individuals wishing to offer financial support to the effort to honor Hodge and Vanbebber in statue form may make a tax-deductible donation, made out to the Perry Wrestling Foundation, and mailed to P.O. Box 55, Perry, OK 73077.

Over recent years, the Super 32 Challenge has served as a key measuring stick for the high-end high school wrestler. In the 2015 NCAA Division I tournament, ten of the finalists participated in this event during their high school career. That includes four of the ten NCAA champions: two-time national champion Nick Gwiazdowski (North Carolina State), undefeated freshman champion Isaiah Martinez (Illinois), Nathan Tomasello (Ohio State), and Drake Houdashelt (Missouri). Furthermore, of the 330 qualifiers, over one-quarter were past Super 32 Challenge participants; while 32 of the 80 All-Americans had participated in this tournament during their scholastic career. Also of note, Kyle Snyder -- World champion last month on the senior level -- won the Super 32 Challenge in October 2012. This coming year's event should be no exception. The talent level among the approximately 1,500 wrestlers registered to compete is extraordinarily high. More than forty percent of the nation's top 100 Class of 2016 wrestlers, according to InterMat, are in the field; while approximately forty percent of the top 50 in the Class of 2017 and Class of 2018, and a similar amount of the top 25 in the Class of 2019 are slated to be in the event as well. Three of the eight underclassman wrestlers that ended the 2014-15 season ranked number one in their weight class populate this field: Chad Red (New Palestine, Ind.), Alex Marinelli (St. Paris Graham, Ohio), and Jordan Wood (Boyertown, Pa.). Two wrestlers ranked first regardless of weight class in their respective graduating class are in this field -- junior Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla.), along with junior high wrestler Josh Saunders (Missouri). The 2015 Super 32 Challenge field also features 38 wrestlers that placed in the 2014 edition of this event, including three defending champions: Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.), Chad Red, and Thomas Bullard (Archer, Ga.); Diakomihalis is after a third consecutive title in the event. Also in the field are two wrestlers with a past Super 32 high school division title: 2012 champion Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.) and 2013 champion Jordan Wood. The following is an overview of the highlight wrestlers in each weight class based on entrants as of the evening of October 28. Note that there will be scratches and weight changes before the tournament happens. 106: This weight class is led by five wrestlers ranked among the top 25 freshmen (Class of 2019) wrestlers in the country, as well as the nation's top Junior High wrestler in Josh Saunders (Missouri). Cadet National freestyle champion Dylan D'Emilio (Genoa, Ohio), who also represented the United States at the UWW Cadet Worlds in freestyle at 46 kilos, is ranked No. 5 overall in the Class of 2019; Cadet freestyle runner-up Travis Ford-Melton (Marian Catholic, Ill.) is No. 7; multi-time Super 32 middle school division champion Adam Busiello (Eastport-South Manor, N.Y.) is No. 9, he also finished third in Cadet freestyle this summer; Cadet National double All-American Aden Reeves (Albia, Iowa) is No. 13; while past Super 32 middle school champion Colton Yapoujian (Pomona, Colo.) is ranked No. 15. Additional wrestlers to watch in this weight class include a pair of state champions in Rhett Golowenski (Tuttle, Okla.) and Clayton Singh (Kearney, Mo.); Golowenski was also a UWW Cadet freestyle runner-up this spring, while Singh earned Cadet freestyle All-American honors in 2014. Further notables include Nico Aguilar (Gilroy, Calif.), a Cadet Nationals double champion in 2014; along with state placer Jaret Lane (Southern Columbia, Pa.), a Junior Nationals double finalist this summer and champion in Greco-Roman. Also present in this weight class is Mosha Schwartz (Ponderosa, Colo.), a Cadet Triple Crown winner. Predicted top three: D'Emilio, Golowenski, Aguilar 113: Five past Super 32 Challenge placers are among the primary figures in this weight class, led by the last two runners-up at 106 pounds in this tournament: NHSCA Junior Nationals champion Tommy Cox (Deer Park, N.Y.) and three-time state placer Gage Curry (North Hills, Pa.). Other returning placers include Drew Mattin (Delta, Ohio), a Junior National freestyle runner-up, who is ranked No. 47 overall in the Class of 2017; along with Sebastian Rivera (Christian Brothers, N.J.) and Shane Metzler (West Morris Central, N.J.), who each placed sixth at their respective weight class in this event last year. Mattin is joined by five other grade level ranked wrestlers in this weight class. Two-time state champion Ian Timmins (Wooster, Nev.) is ranked No. 46 in the Class of 2017; Tommy Hoskins (Dayton Christian, Ohio), third in Cadet freestyle this summer, is ranked No. 38 in the Class of 2018; Julian Chlebove (Northampton, Pa.), who placed third at 106 in the FloNationals high school division this past spring, is ranked No. 4 overall in the Class of 2019; while Ryan Anderson (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) and Andrew Alirez (Greeley Central, Colo.) are ranked No. 19 and No. 22 in that same group. Additional notable figures in this weight class include two-time state champion Tomas Gutierrez (Pomona, Colo.), state runner-up Patrick Glory (Delbarton, N.J.), FloNationals placer Quinn Kinner (Kingsway, N.J.), Junior National double champion Louie Hayes (Carl Sandburg, Ill.), state champion and Cadet freestyle All-American Jonathan Gomez (Locust Valley, N.Y.), Junior National freestyle runner-up Liam Cronin (Servite, Calif.), along with the Pennsylvania big-school state finalists at 106 last year in Tyson Klump (Nazareth, Pa.) and Cole Manley (Altoona, Pa.). Predicted top three: Rivera, Mattin, Curry 120: Three top 100 seniors lead the field in this weight class, No. 45 Tyler Warner (Claymont, Ohio), No. 78 Devin Schroder (Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Mich.), and No. 85 Brandon Cray (Steinert, N.J.). Three-time state champion Warner is a two-time Super 32 Challenge placer; three-time state champion Schroder is a two-time FloNationals finalist, winning that title in 2014; while state champion Cray placed eighth in the 2013 edition of the Super 32 Challenge. Four other grade-level ranked wrestlers are present here, most notably Cadet National double champion Nick Raimo (Hanover Park, N.J.), who is ranked No. 3 overall in the Class of 2019. The other three are all Class of 2018 wrestlers: No. 27 Alex Thomsen (Underwood, Iowa), No. 35 Joseph Silva (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.), and No. 41 Jake Silverstein (Hauppauge, N.Y.). Thomsen was a Cadet National double All-American, runner-up in freestyle; while Silva and Silverstein both placed at 106 pounds in this event last year. Others to note in this weight class include a pair of wrestlers who have twice placed third at the state tournament, Mario Guillen (Perrysburg, Ohio) and Tyshawn White (Central Dauphin, Pa.); NHSCA Junior Nationals champions David Campbell (Mission Oak, Calif.) and Devan Turner (Dixon, Calif.); two-time state champions Paul Bianchi (Two Rivers, Wis.) and Josh Portillo (Clarion-Goldfield, Iowa); returning Super 32 placers Dane Heberlein (Alexander, N.Y.) and Roderick Mosley (Heritage Hall, Okla.); FloNationals 106 pound finalists Paul Konrath (Connections Acadey, Ind.) and Sidney Oliver (Holt, Mo.); NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion Jose Tapia (Capital, N.M.); along with state champion Allan Hart (St. Edward) and state placer Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township, Pa.). Additional notables in this weight class include, Junior National Greco-Roman champion Dack Punke (Washington, Ill.), along with another pair of FloNationals placers in Evan Carrigan (Westwood, S.C.) and Garrett Rowe (Choctaw, Okla.). Predicted top three: Warner, Raimo, Schroder 126: Eleven grade level ranked wrestlers populate the field in this weight class, including Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla.) and Nick Suriano (Bergen Catholic, N.J.). UWW Cadet World bronze medalist Fix is the nation's top Class of 2017 wrestlers, while three-time state champion and 2012 Super 32 champion Nick Suriano is ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2016. Four additional top 100 seniors join Suriano in this weight class: No. 18 Kyle Norstrem (Brandon, Fla.), a two-time Super 32 Challenge placer; No. 26 Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.), a two-time state champion and 2013 Super 32 placer; No. 72 Ian Parker (St. Johns, Mich.), a Junior National freestyle All-American this past summer; and No. 77 Ethan McCoy (Greater Latrobe, Pa.). Fix is joined by two other top 15 juniors in No. 10 Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.) and No. 15 Kaden Gfeller (Heritage Hall, Okla.); Arujau is a two-time state champion and was a Cadet National freestyle champion this summer, while Gfeller is a two-time state champion and placed third in Junior freestyle this summer. A pair of nationally ranked Class of 2018 wrestlers are present here as well, No. 4 Mitch Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) and No. 21 Jaden Mattox (Central Crossing, Ohio). Moore placed fifth at 113 in this tournament last year, and is a two-time FloNationals placer; while Mattox placed seventh in that same 113 weight class. Rounding out the grade level ranked wrestlers is Connor Brady (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio), who won a Super 32 middle school title last year, and is No. 20 in the Class of 2019. Other notables here include a pair of FloNationals placers in Brian Courtney (Athens, Pa.) and Tariq Wilson (Steubenville, Ohio), along with another trio of Fargo All-Americans from this summer in Tim Kane (Fairfield Warde, Ct.), Brent Jones (Shakopee, Minn.), and Clai Quintanilla (North Central, Wash.). Predicted top three: Fix, Suriano, Arujau 132: Eleven grade level ranked wrestlers are among the field in this weight class, including six top 100 seniors; a group that is led by No. 5 Chad Red (New Palestine, Ind.), champion of both the Super 32 Challenge and FloNationals during the 2014-15 school year. Rounding out the ranked seniors are No. 11 Mitch McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.), No. 38 Hunter Marko (Amery, Wis.), No. 65 Colby Smith (Holt, Mo.), No. 73 Durbin Lloren (Buchanan, Calif.), and No. 88 Kellen Devlin (Amherst Central, N.Y.). Joining Red as a defending tournament champion in this weight class is Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, N.Y.), who has won titles here the last two years, and is ranked No. 4 overall in the Class of 2017. The other nationally ranked junior is No. 25 Ben Freeman (Walled Lake Central, Mich.), a two-time placer in this event. Three nationally ranked Class of 2018 wrestlers are present here, a group led by No. 13 Sammy Sasso (Nazareth, Pa.), a two-time FloNationals placer and winner of a Cadet National freestyle title this summer; who is joined by No. 25 Alex Felix (Gilroy, Calif.) and No. 33 Grant Aronoff (St. Thomas Aquinas, Fla.). Other wrestlers to note in this weight class include a quartet of Fargo All-Americans in Corey Shie (LaSalle, Ohio), Nick Farro (Delbarton, N.J.), Chris Sandoval (Pueblo County, Colo.), and Zach Van Alst (Montgomery Catholic, Ala.); state placer Wade Cummings (Downington East, Pa.); two-time state champion Jake Spiess (Delta, Ohio); and Disney Duals gold medalist Kizhan Clarke (Riverview, Fla.). Predicted top three: Red, Diakomihalis, and McKee 138: Nine grade level ranked wrestlers reside in this weight class, including four top 100 seniors. It's a relatively even group that features No. 58 Ethan Karsten (Platte County, Mo.), a two-time state champion; No. 59 Kanen Storr (Leslie, Mich.), a returning Super 32 placer and UWW Cadet freestyle runner-up; No. 63 Brent Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio), a returning Super 32 placer and two-time FloNationals placer; along with No. 99 Chris Diaz (Archer, Ga.), a three-time state finalist and NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up. Five nationally ranked Class of 2018 prospects are led by Cadet freestyle runner-up Shane Griffith (Bergen Catholic, N.J.), ranked No. 17 in his grade level and a state champion during his freshman campaign. Other ranked wrestlers are No. 22 Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.), a Cadet Greco-Roman champion; No. 28 Brayton Lee (Brownsburg, Ind.), who placed third in Cadet freestyle; along with No. 43 Justin Ruffin (Union Grove, Ga.) and No. 44 Aaron Brooks (North Hagerstown, Md.), a NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion. Others to note include two-time state champions Logan Lacure (Dayton Christian, Ohio), Bo Pipher (Paonia, Colo.), and Sam Turner (Discovery Canyon, Colo.); Junior National double All-American Coltan Williams (Trinity Christian Academy, Tex.); returning Super 32 placer Jake Brindley (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.); Ryan Deakin (Legacy, Colo.), a two-time Junior Greco-Roman All-American; two-time National Prep placer Peter Tedesco (Belmont Hill, Mass.); NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up Jake Douglas (Lake Stevens, Wash.); along with FloNationals placers Josh Heil (Brunswick, Ohio), Mike Van Brill (Clearview, N.J.), and Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny, Pa.). Predicted top three: B. Moore, Griffith, and Storr 145: Only three wrestlers in this weight class have ever placed at the Super 32 Challenge, in the high school division, one of them is Israel Saavedra (Granite Bay, Calif.); the nation's No. 21 ranked overall senior finished sixth three years ago at 113 pounds. He is also a two-time state champion, and was a NHSCA Junior Nationals champion this spring. Saavedra is joined by just one other top 100 senior, No. 97 Michael Murphy (The Baylor School, Tenn.), a three-time state champion who was a Junior Greco All-American this summer. Nine other grade level ranked wrestlers populate this field, including four top 50 juniors. That group is led by No. 11 Austin O'Connor (St. Rita, Ill.), a two-time state champion and runner-up in Junior Greco-Roman this summer. Others include No. 14 Eric Hong (Kiski Prep, Pa.), a two-time National Prep finalist and 2013 Super 32 placer; No. 29 Quentin Hovis (Seton Catholic, Ariz.), a NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion and Junior Greco All-American; along with No. 41 Mekhi Lewis (Bound Brook, N.J.), a two-time state placer. Another quartet of grade level ranked wrestlers are Class of 2018 prospects, and that group is led by No. 7 David Carr (Massillon Perry, Ohio), a UWW Cadet freestyle runner-up this spring at 69 kilos. Others in the rankings include No. 14 Anthony Artalona (Tampa Prep, Fla.), a Cadet National double champion; No. 16 Joe Lee (Evansville Mater Dei, Ind.), a Cadet National freestyle champion; and No. 8 Josiah Rider (Grand Junction, Colo.), a NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion. The other grade level ranked wrestler here is Julian Ramirez (Belen Jesuit, Fla.), seventh at FloNationals in the high school division and No. 16 overall in the Class of 2019. Others to watch include three-time National Prep runner-up Kevin Budock (Good Counsel, Md.), who placed sixth in last year's Super 32 at this weight class; NHSCA Junior Nationals runner-up Jimmy Saylor (Easton, Pa.); as well as additional NHSCA Junior Nationals placers in Tyler Megonigal (James Madison, Va.), Lenny Merkin (Poly Prep, N.Y.), Ryan Peters (Timberlane, N.H.), and Jack Taddeo (Shoreham-Wading River, N.Y.). Predicted top three: O'Connor, Carr, Saavedra 152: There are seven grade level ranked wrestlers in this weight class, including four of the nation's top 30 seniors: No. 14 Hayden Hidlay (Mifflin County, Pa.), No. 15 Mason Manville (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), No. 24 Griffin Parriott (New Prague, Minn.), and No. 26 Thomas Bullard (Archer, Ga.). Hidlay won titles at the FloNationals and in Junior Greco-Roman this off-season, along with placing third in Junior freestyle, after placing third both the Super 32 Challenge and state tournament during the 2014-15 season. Manville is a 2014 UWW Cadet World freestyle champion, placed third in the FloNationals this spring, and was a Junior double All-American this summer (runner-up to Hidlay in Greco-Roman and seventh in freestyle). Parriott is a three-time state champion and Junior National freestyle All-American; while Bullard is the defending Super 32 champion of this weight class, a three-time state champion, and NHSCA Junior Nationals champion. The other three grade ranked wrestlers are all from the Class of 2017, No. 7 Kyle Lawson (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio), No. 38 Hunter Bolen (Christiansburg, Va.), and No. 43 Stephan Glasgow (Bound Brook, N.J.). Lawson is a two-time state champion and 2013 Super 32 placer, while Glasgow was runner-up at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals this spring. Additional notables in this field include NHSCA Junior Nationals champion Chris Mauriello (Hauppauge, N.Y.), UWW Cadet Greco-Roman champion Jake Allar (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.); two-time state champion Foster Karmon (Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Mich.); three-time state placers Nick Monico (Saegertown, Pa.), Nick Vestal (Dayton Christian, Ohio), and Jacoby Ward (Cincinnati Moeller, Ohio); state champions Sawyer Davidson (Asheboro, N.C.) and Bryce Rogers (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.); along with returning/previous state runners-up in Fernie Silva (Hononegah, Ill.), Steven Lawrence (Portage, Ind.), Hunter Jones (George Washington, Va.), and Daniel Filipek (Warrenton, Mo.). Predicted top three: Hidlay, Manville, and Parriott 160: Seven top 100 seniors lead the way in this weight class, including returning Super 32 runner-up Alex Marinelli (St. Paris Graham, Ohio); however, the three-time state champion and No. 3 overall senior is a reported scratch, though he appears on the entry grid. Other ranked seniors include No. 31 Drew Hughes (Lowell, Ind.), fourth at 152 in last year's event; No. 32 Kaleb Young (Punxsatawney, Pa.), seventh at 152 last year; No. 51 Elijah Cleary (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.), a FloNationals and NHSCA Junior Nationals placer; No. 68 Daniel Bullard (Archer, Ga.), fifth in this weight class last year at the Super 32; No. 69 Justin Thomas (Calvary Chapel, Calif.), a three-time state placer; and No. 100 Trace Carello (Marmion Academy, Ill.), a two-time state placer. In addition, this weight class features a pair of nationally ranked juniors in No. 21 Michael Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) and No. 48 A.J. Pedro (Phillips Exeter, Mass.). Labriola is a two-time state placer, and was runner-up at the NHSCA Junior Nationals, while Pedro has twice placed third at National Preps. Others to watch include state placer Austin Hiles (Brecksville, Ohio); returning/former state champions Jose Taylor (Arlington Martin, Tex.), Blake Montrie (Bedford, Mich.), Garrett Tingen (Fauquier, Va.), and Dayton Garrett (Tuttle, Okla.); two-time state runner-up Nick Kiussis (Brunswick, Ohio); FloNationals placer Ethan Smith (Greater Latrobe, Pa.); along with NHSCA Junior Nationals placers in A.J. Aeberli (Minisink Valley, N.Y.) and Vincent DiFilippo (St. Joseph Montvale, N.J.). An additional Fargo All-American in this weight class is returning state placer Kyle Cochran (Paramus, N.J.). Predicted top three: (assuming no Marinelli) Hughes, Labriola, Young 170: National Prep champion Chris Weiler (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) is the lone nationally ranked senior in this weight class. Ranked No. 20 in the Class of 2016, is a three-time National Prep placer, a two-time Junior National freestyle All-American, and was a Disney Duals gold medalist this summer. He is joined by three nationally ranked Class of 2017 prospects in No. 31 Louie Deprez (Hilton, N.Y.), No. 34 Anthony Mantanona (Palm Desert, Calif.), and No. 37 Jacob Oliver (Huntingdon, Pa.). Others meriting attention in this weight class include returning Super 32 runner-up Brett Donner (Wall Township, N.J.); a pair of NHSCA Junior Nationals runners-up in Jalaa Darwish (Passaic Valley, N.J.) and A.J. Alford (Fort Dorchester, S.C.); Junior National double All-American James Handwerk (Lutheran West, Ohio); state champion Andrew McNally (Uniontown Lake, Ohio); FloNationals placers in Noah Stewart (Mifflin County, Pa.), Casey Cornett (Simon Kenton, Ky.), and Nino Bonnacorsi (Bethel Park, Pa.); 2014 New England champion Eric Reyes (Dedham, Mass.); Anthony Falbo (Newtown, Ct.), a NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion; along with state placers in Garrett Hoffman (Montoursville, Pa.), Jared Siegrist (Manheim Central, Pa.), and Tyler Wiederholt (Bellbrook, Ohio). Predicted top three: Weiler, DePrez, Handwerk 182: Junior National double champion Nick Reenan (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), ranked No. 7 overall in the Class of 2016 is joined by four other top 50 seniors in this field. Those include No. 25 Ben Darmstadt (Elyria, Ohio), who placed fourth in last year's Super 32 Challenge and also in Junior freestyle; No. 27 Nathan Traxler (Marmion Academy, Ill.), a two-time Junior freestyle All-American; No. 40 Owen Webster (Shakopee, Minn.), a returning Super 32 placer and UWW Cadet freestyle national champion; as well as No. 41 Dakota Geer (Franklin, Pa.), a returning Super 32 placer and FloNationals champion. The other grade level ranked wrestler in this weight class is Jacob Warner (Washington, Ill.), No. 23 overall in the Class of 2017, after winning double titles at the Cadet Nationals and finishing third in the 67 kilos weight class at the UWW Cadet freestyle Nationals. Other notables in this weight class include Junior Greco-Roman runner-up Andrew Buckley (Kearney, Mo.); a pair of NHSCA Junior Nationals champions in Dylan Barreiro (Pinkerton Academy, N.H.) and Tyler Frankrone (Trinity, Ky.); returning Super 32 placer Greg Bulsak (South Park, Pa.); two-time state champions Caleb Little (Jefferson, Ga.) and Ross Graham (Poquoson, Va.); two-time state runner-up Tyler Agee (Hayfield, Va.); two-time state placer Jake Shaffer (Greater Latrobe, Pa.); state placers Kyle Murphy (Bridgewater-Raritan, N.J.) and Roman Romero (McNair, Calif.); along with Matt Waddell (Gilmer, Ga.), a Junior Greco-Roman All-American. Predicted top three: Reenan, Darmstadt, Traxler 195: Two-time FloNationals placer and 2014 New York state champion Christian Dietrich (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), the No. 36 overall senior prospect nationally, headlines four ranked seniors in this field. The other three all placed in last year's Super 32: No. 42 Blake Rypel (Indianapolis Cathedral, Ind.), who was also runner-up at the NHSCA Junior Nationals and FloNationals; No. 66 Jack Harris (Urbana, Ohio), also third in Junior freestyle this summer; and No. 86 Christian Araneo (Ward Melville, N.Y.), also third at the NHSCA Junior Nationals. An additional returning Super 32 placer resides in this weight class, Kevin Snyder (Good Counsel, Md.), also a two-time National Prep placer and a NHSCA Junior Nationals placer. The other grade level ranked wrestlers in this weight class are Zane Black (The Phelps School, Pa.), No. 39 in the Class of 2017; and Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville, Pa.), No. 42 in the Class of 2018. Black is also a Junior Greco-Roman All-American, and is joined by Jeffrey Allen (Amherst, Va.) with such distinction in this weight class. Others to watch in this weight class include NHSCA Junior All-Americans in Robert Winters (Colonial Forge, Va.) and Nick McShea (Monroe Woodbury, N.Y.); state placer Gregg Harvey (Boyertown, Pa.); Cadet double All-Americans Noah Adams (Independence, W.Va.) and Danny Salas (St. John Bosco, Calif.); along with NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion Ben Goldin (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.). Predicted top three: Rypel, Harris, Dietrich 220: A pair of top 100 seniors anchors the field in this weight class, No. 6 Jordan Wood (Boyertown, Pa.) and No. 37 Matt Stencel (Oregon Clay, Ohio). Wood won state this past year after two previous runner-up finishes, and was a Junior National freestyle champion this summer; while Stencel was also a state champion this year, and earned double All-American honors in Fargo. Others to note in this weight class include FloNationals runner-up Luke Ready (Brighton, Mich.); two-time New York state placer Will Hilliard (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.); Junior freestyle All-American Cole Nye (Bishop McDevitt, Pa.); state runners-up Eric Johnson (Plainfield South, Ill.), Chase Beard (Allegan, Mich.), and Bret Winters (Hoover, Ala.); NHSCA Sophomore Nationals runner-up Evan Ellis (Eastern Howard, Ind.); and state champion Brian Barnes (McMinville, Ore.). Predicted top three: Wood, Stencel, Ready 285: No grade level recruits populate the field here. Notable wrestlers in this weight class include National Prep champion Michael Rogers (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), returning Super 32 placer Sam Bouis (Lancaster, Va.), Disney Duals silver medalist Gabe Breyer (Leon, Fla.), and FloNationals placer Ali Wahab (Crestwood, Mich.). Also here are state placers Bruce Graeber (Neshaminy, Pa.), Tommy Killoran (Boyertown, Pa.), Andrew Gunning (Bethlehem Liberty, Pa.), and Jacob Lill (Archer, Ga.); along with National Prep placer Mansur Abdul-Malik (St. Vincent Palotti, Md.). Predicted top three: Beyer, Rogers, Bouis

Andrew Campolattano, four-time New Jersey high school state champ, has quietly left the wrestling program at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, the Asbury Park Press reported Tuesday. Andrew Campolattano was a two-time NCAA qualifier at Ohio State (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Ryan Dunleavy described Campolattano's leaving as taking place "after losing a relatively meaningless practice match leading up preseason wrestle-offs." "He kind of lost that passion along the way," head coach Scott Goodale said Wednesday at Rutgers wrestling media day. "Maybe he never really got it. We gave him an unbelievable opportunity, but the reality is he just wasn't into it." Campolattano ranks as one of the most successful wrestlers in Garden State history, compiling a 178-1 record at Bound Brook High School, becoming only the second four-time state champ. A number of major wrestling programs actively recruited him; for a time, he had considered hanging up the headgear and focusing exclusively on football (he was a linebacker at Bound Brook). In fact, he initially made a verbal agreement to play football at Rutgers in January 2011, but, instead, Campolattano announced his decision to wrestle at Ohio State in late April of that year. During his two seasons with the Buckeyes, Campolattano compiled a 40-26 record, competing at 197 pounds. He qualified twice for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships; at the 2012 NCAAs, he fell one win short of earning All-American honors as a freshman. That was the extent of Campolattano's mat career in Columbus. He was "removed" (to quote Buckeyes' head wrestling coach Tom Ryan) from the Ohio State mat program in late April 2013. Days later, he was among 16 individuals facing felony drug charges in a Columbus, Ohio drug roundup. However, by mid-May, charges were dropped against Campolattano. He enrolled at Rutgers in Jan. 2014, and announced he planned to wrestle for the Scarlet Knights the following season. Campolattano returned to the mat in January 2015, scoring a win against Iowa. Ryan Dunleavy closed his story with this statement: "Stunning as it would have seemed at the time, it was the last win of his career." "Andrew is doing great in school. He is doing great socially," Goodale said during media day. "The wrestling just never came around. We wish him all the best. Great kid. He'll do some good things. He'll get a great job and go on, but as far as wrestling goes his time here is (over)."

Another pair of top 100 prospects in the Class of 2016 made verbal commitments on Wednesday afternoon. No. 53 Julian Flores (San Marino, Calif.) committed to Drexel University, while No. 77 Ethan McCoy (Greater Latrobe, Pa.) chose Kent State. Flores is a three-time state placer in California, finishing fifth as a freshman and sophomore, before winning a state title this past season. He projects as a 141/149 in college. McCoy finished runner-up at National Preps, while attending Kiski Prep as a freshman, and placed third in the big-school division of the Pennsylvania state tournament this past year for Greater Latrobe. He projects as a 125/133 for Kent State, and joins No. 66 Jack Harris (Urbana, Ohio) as a top 100 commit in this recruiting class.

Mack Reiter and Tom Hogan will go "On the Mat" this Wednesday, Oct. 28. "On the Mat" is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at 1650thefan.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT on AM 1650, The Fan. This week's edition pays tribute to the life and legacy of Doug Reiter. Reiter passed away on Friday, Oct. 24 of brain cancer. All four of his sons -- Joe, Mack, Eddie, and Bart -- wrestled for Gilbertville-Don Bosco. They combined for nine state championships, 11 appearances in the state tournament finals and 15 state tournament place winners. The Reiters were given the Family Legacy Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum in 2009. Mack won was a four-time state wrestling champion (2000-03). He went on to wrestle for the University of Minnesota where he was a three-time All-American. Mack was inducted into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa in 2014. Hogan enters his fifth season as the head wrestling coach at Gilbertville-Don Bosco. He has been involved with the program as a coach for 16 seasons. Hogan was an NCAA champion for Wartburg in 1993 at 150 pounds and was a state champion for Gilbertville-Don Bosco in 1988 at 132 pounds. A podcast of the show is available on mattalkonline.com.

The 2015-16 college wrestling season is about to start ... and with that new season, some new rules to address issues such as injury timeouts, concussions, stalling ... along with clarification as to how to deal with scoring or timeclock issues like those in the 157-pound quarterfinals match between Cornell's Brian Realbuto and Kent State's Ian Miller at the 2015 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships last March. This year, the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee approved rules for the next two seasons governing NCAA Divisions I, II and III. Wrestlers, coaches, officials and fans can read the 148-page "2015-16 and 2016-17 NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations" book (available online), and watch a 45-minute video that explains and provides demonstrations of some of the new rules. In addition, InterMat thought it might be helpful to provide deeper insight into the new rules and the thinking behind them ... so we contacted Chuck Barbee, named secretary-rules editor for the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee this past September. The former head coach of the Army wrestling program graciously agreed to provide an explanation of the most significant rule changes and what they might mean to the sport, its participants, and fans. Neutral-position stalling The first issue Barbee addressed was rule 5.9.2 regarding stalling. In a nutshell, when wrestling action is halted in the neutral position when both wrestlers go out of bounds, the mat official is obligated to make one of three calls: a) stalling on one or both wrestlers for leaving the wrestling area; b) stalling for pushing or pulling the opponent out of bounds; or c) wrestling action is taking place. Barbee described the rule change as being an "interesting and exciting rule" and as "a positive change," adding, "The goal of the rule change is that, as wrestlers approach the edge, hopefully they will circle back to the center and continue wrestling" -- all with the idea of maintaining action, and eliminating unnecessary delays. "The rule is designed to benefit the well-conditioned, well-nutritioned athlete," Barbee continued. "People want to see actively engaged wrestling. We're trying to encourage wrestlers to be aggressive and remain on the mat ... We hope this will help wrestlers 'let it fly.'" "This rule change is intended to maintain the core values of folkstyle (collegiate) wrestling yet make the sport innovative," said Barbee, addressing the idea that some within the college wrestling community who have lobbied for some sort of pushout rule like those featured in international style wrestling. "We're trying to think outside the box." Waist and ankle-ride stalling Continuing on the subject of stalling, Barbee then addressed another type of stalling -- what he referred to as "waist and ankle ride," or what rule 5.9.3 refers to as "Stalling -- Offensive and Defensive Position." To quote the NCAA rule book: "When the offensive wrestler positions himself with one or both hands below the buttocks of the defensive wrestler, the referee shall immediately start a verbal and visual five-second count. The referee shall stop the count when the offensive wrestler improves his position, moves his hold back up above the buttocks of the defensive wrestler, or releases the hold. If the referee reaches the fifth count before the offensive wrestler improves his position, moves his hold back up above the buttock, or releases the hold, the offensive wrestler shall be called for stalling." "We're trying to get the offensive wrestler to do more than just hang on," explained Barbee. "The idea is force the top wrestler to be more active, and help the bottom wrestler escape." Injury timeout Barbee then addressed rule changes regarding two different sets of injury timeouts, one for situations where a possible concussion is NOT an issue (rule 6.1.2), and the other, where one of the wrestlers may indeed be suffering from a concussion during a match (rule 6.2.5). Barbee stated that these rules are the result of an NCAA Sports Science Summit, where the focus was "how can we improve health and safety for wrestlers." In an injury timeout where a concussion is not suspected, the injured wrestler cannot be coached. "A coach can initially help calm his wrestler down," according to Barbee. "Once the kid has calmed down, the medical professional needs to be able to do his or her job." "The focus needs to be on the injured wrestler and the medical professional." "There is a 90-second window for treatment of an injury," Barbee continued. "The referee won't start injury time until the medical personnel is able to attend to the wrestler on the mat. This gives athletes a chance to be properly evaluated." As for concussions ... the topic has received considerable coverage in recent years, especially with regards to all levels of football, from peewee to professional. However, it is also a significant issue in amateur wrestling as well ... perhaps most notably in the 2011 NCAA Division I heavyweight finals, where American's Ryan Flores appeared to exhibiting signs of having been concussed (such as staggering on the mat), but the match was not stopped. Barbee shared a statistic that demonstrates the significance of ensuring that wrestlers who may have suffered a concussion get a proper evaluation and care: wrestling has the highest rate of concussion in sports ... higher than football. "In football, a player can be taken off the field, be evaluated on the sidelines or behind-the-scenes, while a substitute takes his place, and action continues," said Barbee. "You can't do that in wrestling." The new rules make clear that a mat official can suspend a match, and the athlete who may have been concussed can be evaluated properly, without an injury timeout, and without any penalty, even if that means a match delay of 6-8 minutes, according to Barbee. As he told InterMat, "a medical professional can usually tell if there's a serious concussion within 60 seconds of examining the injured wrestler." Barbee made clear as to how a concussion evaluation can be requested, saying, "The referee or medical professionals are the ones who can request a concussion timeout. The wrestler who suspects he may be concussed may also ask for a timeout. Coaches cannot ask for this." The evaluation may take place on the mat, or on the sidelines, or even away from the mat, for example, in an examining room within the facility hosting the event. Again, there's no time limit for a concussion evaluation. Once the evaluation is complete, there are one of two outcomes: the wrestler can pass the evaluation and continue to compete ... or, if he indeed has suffered a concussion, the match concludes, and an injury default is declared. Nearfall point values NCAA rules have been modified to add a four-point nearfall (rule 2.9.2) in addition to the two-point nearfall, where, if the offensive wrestler has the opponent in "controlled pinning situation" within four inches of the mat while in bounds, near-fall points can be awarded, based on the length of time the offensive wrestler has his opponent nearly pinned -- two points for holding the opponent for two seconds uninterrupted, four points for holding the opponent for four seconds uninterrupted. The referee must provide a verbal count -- and, when possible, a visual hand count -- to make clear to all that a nearfall is taking place. "We've taken away the 'hold guy down' stalling tactic," explained Barbee. "The top guy will be motivated to work on turns and pinning combinations, while the bottom guy will be motivated to work to get out from under." Clarifications and "points of emphasis" Some aspects which may be visible to astute fans in the upcoming season aren't necessarily full-blown rule changes, but, more accurately, clarifications of existing rules ... or highlighted as a "point of emphasis" by the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee within the actual rule book and in the 45-minute explanatory video. Kent State's Ian Miller rides Cornell's Brian Realbuto in the quarterfinals of the 2015 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at 157 pounds (Photo/Rob Preston)One of these is the result of the 2015 NCAA Miller-Realbuto quarterfinals bout at 157, where the scoreboard indicated an incorrect score, which eventually sent the match into sudden victory, ultimately resulting in a win for Cornell's Realbuto, who advanced to the finals. During the quarterfinal round, Kent State coaches protested the result; however, at the time, the NCAA ruled that they did not challenge the score during the match, therefore the result would not be reversed. In explaining the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee clarification for 2015-16, Barbee said that coaches can approach the scoring table if there's an issue with either the time on the clock, or the score of the match on the scoreboard. "All match disputes must be resolved during the match, before the wrestlers leave the mat, or before the score sheet leaves the scoring table. Tournament officials can't adjudicate match outcomes." Barbee made it clear that this is NOT a completely new rule, but a clarification of an existing rule, in light of what happened at the 2015 NCAAs and the considerable discussion within the wrestling community afterward. A couple issues addressed by the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee may fall into the category of sportsmanlike behavior on the part of participants. First, there was a modification of rules governing "control of mat area" (rule 3.13.5). There is now a more stringent penalty structure for coaches who violate rules such as leaving the matside coaching box, interfering with the work of the referee, or badgering officials. With the new penalty structure, a coach is given a warning upon the first infraction. On the second infraction, the coach's team is penalized one team point. If there's a third violation, there's a two-point team penalty, and the coach is ejected from the remainder of the competition. A new point of emphasis is what the NCAA refers to as "post-match protocol" (rule 3.14). This covers behavior immediately after the conclusion of the match, before the wrestlers leave the mat area. "Contestants will give a traditional handshake in a sportsmanlike manner," according to the text from the actual rules. The Wrestling Rules Committee seeks to emphasize sportsmanlike behavior after a match, and get wrestlers to refrain from hand slaps and half-hearted handshakes. When asked about the "point of emphasis" aspect governing this rule, Barbee said that coaches have been asked to talk about this rule and expectations for proper end-of-match behavior, and that referees have been reminded to enforce these rules. An experimental rule for the 2015 All-Star Classic In the past couple years, the NWCA All-Star Classic -- the season kickoff event featuring two of the top wrestlers in each weight class facing off against each other in an annual exhibition that dates back to 1967 -- has served as a testbed for trying out new rules in a highly controlled environment ... with an eye to possibly wider implementation if the experimental rule works as intended at the All-Stars. For the 2015 All-Star Classic to be held in Atlanta on Nov. 1, there's one experimental rule: all takedowns will be worth three points. "We wanted to see about having a greater differential between a takedown -- traditionally worth two points -- and an escape, which is one point," said Barbee in explaining the rationale for the increase in point value for this one event. "We also wanted to provide a bit more of a reward for action, and make it more obvious when one wrestler is scoring takedowns at will, then cutting his opponent loose. For example, with traditional point values, a wrestler who's scored three takedowns and cut loose his opponent the same number of times, the score would be 6-3. With this experimental scoring, that same action would result in a 9-3 score, which is arguably a more accurate portrayal of that kind of dominance." Chuck Barbee made clear that the new rules -- as well as newly-placed emphasis on some existing rules -- are the result of careful, thoughtful deliberations from the members of the NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee. "We had a total of 23 hours of discussion over the course of three days," Barbee told InterMat. "When we consider changes, our goal is to make the sport safer for the athletes, and more exciting and satisfying for the fans."

A pair of top 100 ranked wrestlers in the Class of 2016 made college decisions on Tuesday. No. 43 Ethan Andersen (Southeast Polk, Iowa) switched from his verbal commitment of last year to Missouri, to now making a commitment to Oklahoma State. No. 52 Hunter Ladnier (St. Edward, Ohio) is now a second top 100 wrestler to verbally commit to Harvard in this class. Two-time state champion Andersen projects to compete in college as a 285 pound wrestler, and is the first top 100 senior commit for the Cowboys. Also on his resume is a Junior folkstyle title this spring at 220 pounds, and a UWW Cadet world championship appearance in Greco-Roman during 2014 at 100 kilos. Ladnier finished as a state runner-up during the past high school season, and projects to compete as a 141/149 in college for the Crismon. He is their second top 100 senior commit in this class, joining No. 35 Kyle Bierdumpfel (Don Bosco Prep, N.J.)

Doug Reiter, long-time supporter of the Don Bosco High School wrestling program and father to three Iowa high school state champions -- including two four-time titlists -- lost his two-year battle with brain cancer Saturday evening. He was 59. Doug ReiterOne of his sons, Mack Reiter, three-time NCAA All-American at University of Minnesota, posted this tribute on Facebook: "Dad passed away last night around 11 pm from his battle with brain cancer. He was home in bed sleeping with mom. He was the greatest man I've ever known and I've tried to be like him every day for as long as I can remember. There are no words to describe the void he has left behind. I love you dad. I'm sure going to miss you." Mack Reiter was the 13th four-time state champ in the history of the Iowa state high school tournament; brother Bart, the 18th. Joe was a state champ, while Eddie was a four-time state placewinner. Doug Reiter's daughters, Audrey and Ellie, both served as team managers at Don Bosco in Gilbertville, Iowa, just outside Waterloo. Doug Reiter was a local homebuilder who employed those talents to providing sports facilities for the young people of Gilbertville. He helped build the dugouts for both the softball and baseball fields, and built the new wrestling room at Don Bosco High School. Reiter was diagnosed with brain cancer in November 2013. The community pitched in to help by producing T-shirts with the message "Takedown Cancer, Bosco Style." They raised more than $9,000; however, Reiter asked that all proceeds be donated to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "It was always about the kids," former Don Bosco wrestling coach Tom Kettman told Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier sports columnist Jim Nelson. "Not just his kids, all the kids. He was a mentor to a lot of kids. His family, his wife, Janet, are proof of what an outstanding father, individual and heart he had." Douglas Joseph Reiter was born June 10, 1956, in Waterloo. He graduated from La Porte City High School with the class of 1974. On October 17, 1981, he married Janet Delagardelle. Doug was a farmer who continued farming right up until he was no longer able, according to his obituary from White Funeral Home in Jesup. After high school, Reiter launched his career in the building trade; in 1984 he established Reiter Construction, building pole barns and houses. He gave his time to supporting the wrestling program at Don Bosco High, as well as to Immaculate Conception Church and its Catholic Order of Foresters. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Immaculate Conception Church in Gilbertville. Visitation is from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church and for an hour before services Thursday.

Drew Pariano has been relieved of his head coaching duties at Northwestern University. Drew Pariano (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)Pariano, who wrestled for Northwestern, assumed the head coaching position in 2010. He had previously served as the program's associate head coach and assistant coach prior to becoming Northwestern's head wrestling coach. "I have nothing but great things to say about Northwestern University and I have a plethora of fond memories," Pariano said in a statement he released. "We had an outstanding 10-year run where I was honored to be the head coach (for 5 of them), and we have had some amazing people help us achieve many of our goals along the way. I am looking forward to beginning the next chapter of my coaching/administrative career." Pariano coached 24 All-Americans since 2005, including four NCAA champions and eight NCAA finalists. Northwestern has finished in the top 20 at the NCAAs in nine of the past 10 seasons, which includes a fourth-place finish in 2007. Matt Storniolo has been named interim head coach for the 2015-16 season. Storniolo has served as an assistant coach on the Northwestern staff for six seasons. He was a two-time All-American as a competitor.

Taylor LaMont gets his hand raised after winning a Junior freestyle title in Fargo (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)Utah Valley received a verbal commitment from Taylor LaMont (Maple Mountain, Utah), the nation's No. 19 senior recruit. LaMont was a Junior National double finalist in Fargo this past summer, winning a freestyle title and finishing second in the Greco-Roman competition. He is a three-time Cadet World Team member in Greco-Roman. In August he placed fifth at the UWW Cadet World Championships in Bosnia-Herzogovina. LaMont is a three-time state champion. As a junior he compiled a perfect 61-0 record en route to winning a state championship at 126 pounds. He projects as a 133-pounder in college.

Justin Portillo gets his hand raised after winning a title at the 2014 InterMat JJ Classic (Photo/David Peterson)The Portillo twins, Justin and Joshua (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Iowa), have registered for the 2015 InterMat JJ Classic at 113 pounds and 120 pounds respectively. Justin Portillo will be after his third straight JJ Classic title. His JJ Classic titles have come at 106 pounds (2014) and 100 pounds (2013). He is a two-time state finalist, and last season won a state championship at 106 pounds with a pin in the state championship match. Joshua Portillo is a two-time state champion, with his state titles coming at 126 pounds (2015) and 113 pounds (2014). This past spring he won a Junior National folkstyle title at 120 pounds. Both competed at the Night of Conflict held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Oct. 16. The 2015 InterMat JJ Classic takes place on Sunday, Nov. 8, in Rochester, Minnesota. For more information on the InterMat JJ Classic or to register, visit the event website.

It's not every day that a wrestler earns four individual NCAA Division I titles ... nor is it a common occurrence for a documentary to be made about a top collegiate mat champ. However, Kyle Dake can claim both distinctions, as the four-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion for Cornell University is now the subject of a documentary to be released in December, producers announced this past week. "Four for Four: The Kyle Dake Story" is a sports documentary that follows the former Big Red wrestler through his senior season as he sought to make sports history by becoming the first and only wrestler to win four NCAA Division 1 titles in four different weight classes in four straight years. (In the 85-year history of NCAA wrestling championships, only four wrestlers have earned four Division I titles: Oklahoma State's Pat Smith in the early 1990s, Iowa State's Cael Sanderson (1999-2002), Dake (2010-13), and Ohio State's Logan Stieber (2012-15). According to the official "Four for Four" website, the documentary "captures Dake in action across the U.S., from the Cornell wrestling center to sports arenas, weight rooms to hotel rooms all leading to the (2013) NCAA championship mat before a live audience of 17,000 and a TV audience of millions. 'Four For Four' gives viewers close-up access to Dake's year-long training regimen, both physical and mental, and mat-side views of his most grueling, intense contests right through the dramatic championship match." The press release announcing the December release of "Four for Four" emphasizes that both the producer of the film - Patrick Hadley of Hadley Media, and filmmaker Greg Accetta -- both have amateur wrestling backgrounds. "It was important to me that this film be made by wrestlers who shared the same passion for the sport," said Hadley. "The wrestling community is going to love it, but this film is for all athletes and sports fans of all ages who appreciate an inspiring story of hard work, sacrifice and dedication to be the best." Wrestling fans can learn more about "Four for Four" by visiting the documentary's website, as well as Facebook page and Twitter account. A trailer promoting the film is also available online for viewing. Details on the film's release, including dates and distribution plans, have yet to be announced. "Four for Four" joins a number of documentaries chronicling a "year in the life" of an individual wrestler or wrestling program, including "Veritas" which tracked the senior year of Lehigh wrestler Jon Trenge, "Wrestling with Iowa" about two Iowa high school wrestlers and their quest to each become four-time state champs, and "Independence: Wrestling with a Community", a 2010 documentary chronicling an entire season of the high school wrestling program in Independence, Iowa.

The 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will make history, as the first in the tournament's 86-year history to be held at New York City's iconic Madison Square Garden ... and the first in 34 years not to include famed announcer Sandy Stevens. Stevens, familiar voice of numerous major amateur wrestling events including NCAA championships, revealed the news at her Facebook page this past week. Sandy Stevens (Photo/Larry Slater)"I was notified today [Wednesday, Oct. 21] that the NCAA and NYC LOC [Local Organizing Committee] have chosen to go in a 'different direction' for the 2016 Div. I Championships; after 34 years, my announcing voice is no longer included," wrote Stevens. "I am sad and deeply disappointed, but I thank the administrators, fans, officials, volunteers, coaches, and wrestlers with whom I've worked, many of whom have become friends. You have blessed me." As of Sunday, over 200 individuals -- including some top college wrestlers of the past -- had weighed in with their comments on the decision at Stevens' Facebook page ... some with specific memories of her calling their NCAA matches, many with words of encouragement, and a good portion expressing their displeasure (or perhaps in stronger terms). "She is the most recognized voice in American wrestling -- 34 consecutive Division I Championships, The Olympic Trials and the '96 Olympics, Fargo and on and on. Who is better?" wrote Jim Brown, a tireless amateur wrestling supporter based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on his Facebook page. "That isn't even close to the whole story. Few people in this country do more for the growth of wrestling -- most of it done behind the scenes. She truly is 'The First Lady of Wrestling' regardless of this insane decision." Back in May, when Stevens announced the establishment of the Bear and Sandy Stevens Head Wrestling Coach Endowment for her alma mater, University of Northern Iowa -- with funds designated to support the salary of the Panthers wrestling coach position -- she told the story of how she launched her eventual career as "the voice of amateur wrestling." "UNI provided Bear (her late husband) with the knowledge and the philosophy of teaching and coaching this sport," said Sandy Stevens. "Bear was able to take that and touch the lives of students. And if he hadn't been a coach, I would never have started announcing." "Bear came home and said he didn't have an announcer for the night," said Stevens. "He told me, 'Since you know about wrestling and will be there anyway, can you just sit at the microphone and welcome the wrestlers to the mats?'" That was nearly 45 years ago. Since then, Sandy Stevens has served as a wrestling announcer for events at all levels of competition, including high school tournaments, NCAA championships, and the Olympics. Her work has been honored in numerous ways, having received the Order of Merit from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Meritorious Service Award from the National Wrestling Coaches Association and the International "Exceptionelle" ranking from United World Wrestling.