InterMat Staff

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Wayne Baughman and Chuck Barbee. Barbee just completed his seventh year as the head wrestling coach of Army. During his tenure he has coached Phillip Simpson and Maurice Worthy to the finals of the NCAA tournament. As a wrestler, Barbee was a three-time All-American for Oklahoma State. Baughman retired as the Air Force Academy's head wrestling coach in 2006 after a 50-year career as a coach and a wrestler. As an athlete Baughman was a member of three Olympic teams and eight World teams. He also won 16 national titles in the four recognized styles of wrestling. "On the Mat" is a weekly wrestling radio program that airs every Wednesday night. This week's broadcast can be heard live from 6-7 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, hosts the show. "On the Mat" can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa on 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The University of Maryland wrestling team and head coach Pat Santoro have announced the incoming class for the 2007-08 season which has been recognized nationally by Wrestling International Newsmagazine (WIN). The publication ranked the Terrapins' recruiting class 21st in the nation. The incoming student-athletes will join a Terps team that recorded their best season in program history in 2006-07 as they went 17-5 in duals. That tied the school record for wins in a season as Maryland also won 17 in 1990. They also finished 5-0 in the ACC and clinched its first outright conference dual meet championship since 1974. Jason Kiessling, sophomore Mike Letts, and sophomore Hudson Taylor all advanced to the NCAA Championships last season which is the most wrestlers Maryland has sent since 2001. Taylor came up one win short of All-America status as he lost the eighth place match, 4-3. The following is a brief list of accomplishments of the incoming class: Rhett Beattie Rockville, Md./Sherwood HS 133 Maryland state finalist ... set the Montgomery County record for most consecutive dual meet wins with 65 ... finished his high school career with a 120-17 record at Sherwood. Matt Bogusz Allentown, Pa./Parkland HS 133/141 2007 District XI Scholar-Athlete Award winner ... 2007 District 11 Champion as well as three-time District 11 finalist ... 2007 Northeast Regional Champion and three time Regional finalist ... amassed 124 wins in his career for Parkland. Cory Biscaha Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial HS 141 District 21 and Region 6 Champion ... 2006 New Jersey state placer ... comes to Maryland from New Jersey's powerhouse Jackson Memorial. Owen Duffy Lutherville, Md./Loyola HS 285 2007 National Prep All-American ... capped off his career with a senior season that included 51 wins and 24 falls ... Owen's 51 victories in a season is the most in Loyola. Jake Fedechko Glassboro, N.J./Blair Academy 157 2005 FILA Cadet Freestyle All-American ... finished high school career with 96 wins competing for Dalsea High School and Woodstown High School ... regional champion ... two-time district champion ... attended prestigious Blair Academy for a year before joining Maryland. Dan Hawvermale Sandy Springs, Md./Good Counsel HS 149 Three-time MIAA Independent School state placer ... finished career with over 100 victories at Good Counsel. Kyle John Coopersburg, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic 149/157 Finished sixth at the Pennsylvania State Championships ... two-time District 11 Champion ... two-time regional champion ... accumulated 130 wins for Bethlehem Catholic. Dexter Lederer Levittown, Pa./Neshaminy HS 133 Two-time Pennsylvania state place winner ... three-time Pa. Freestyle State Champion ... two-time Pa. Greco Roman State Champion ... 2005 Cadet Freestyle All-American with a sixth place finish at the FILA Cadet Freestyle National Championships ... concluded high school career with 144 victories at Neshaminy. Brian Letters Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel HS 157/165 Finished third at the 2007 Pennsylvania State Championships ... 2006 Powerade Champion ... placed third at 2007 Ironman ... four-time WPIAL place winner ... finished high school career with 157 wins for Fox Chapel. Matt MacLean Old Tappan, N.J./Old Tappan HS 157 2007 NJ State third place finish ... two-time District 8 Champion ... finished career with 110 victories for Old Tappan. Eric Medina Blair Academy, N.J. 149/157 Three-time National Prep Champion ... Cadet Freestyle National Champion ... two-time Ironman Champion ... 2005 Beast of the East champion as well as a three-time Beast of the East place finisher ... ranked No. 1 in the country at 145 pounds by WIN Magazine and is ranked 10th-best recruit in the country, regardless of weight class, on Intermat. Will Sharbaugh Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman HS 125 2006 Asics Junior Freestyle All-American ... won 2006 Maryland State Championship and was a three-time Maryland state placer ... finished career with 125 wins which ranks second all time in Walt Whitman history. Shawn Steets Marlton, N.J./Cherokee HS 141 Won a District 27 title for Cherokee at 140 pounds ... two-time Region I place winner ... compiled 30 wins as a senior. Pat Strizki Flemington, N.J./Flemington Hunterdon Central High School 125 2007 New Jersey State runner-up as well as a three-time New Jersey state placer ... three-time N.J. district and regional champion ... NHSCA Senior High School National All-American at 119 pounds ... ranked 10th-best recruit by Intermat among all seniors at 119 pounds.

PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Pennsylvania has announced its 2007-08 wrestling schedule. The Quakers will aim for Ivy League and EIWA championships starting with the Bear Cat Open at Binghamton on Nov. 11. The slate is highlighted by seven home events, including the annual Keystone Classic, which will take place on Nov. 18 at The Palestra. Dual meets with Virginia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina, Columbia, Cornell and Lehigh round out the home schedule. Penn will hit the road to compete against some of the nation's best teams and individuals. The Quakers will once again visit the Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 30, then take part in the Sun Devil Duals at Arizona State on Jan. 6. After a one-year absence, Penn will return to the Virginia Duals on Jan. 11 and 12 before starting its traditional dual-meet season at Hofstra on Jan. 27. Meets at Harvard and Brown round out the dual slate. The EIWA Championships take place at Franklin & Marshall College in nearby Lancaster, Pa., on March 7-8, while NCAA Championships will be March 20-22 in St. Louis. For ticket information, click on "Tickets" at PennAthletics.com or call (215) 898-6151.

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. –- USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling, has named Bob Anderson of Redondo Beach, Calif. and Jason Townsend of Las Vegas, Nev. as coaches for the U.S. Grappling World Team, which will compete in Antalya, Turkey on Sept. 9. FILA, the international wrestling federation, has named Grappling (also known as submission wrestling) as an international wrestling style. This will be the first Grappling World Championships hosted by FILA, as part of the World Wrestling Games which also features Sombo, Beach Wrestling and Pankration. "We are confident that the coaching staff assembled for this historic competition will provide athletes with a wonderful opportunity to reach the podium at the World Championships," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. "USA Wrestling is firmly committed to this program and all disciplines of international wrestling." Anderson and Townsend both have considerable experience in coaching Grappling and wrestling, and have been instrumental in the development of USA Wrestling's new Grappling initiative. The World Team Coaches will conduct a training camp for the USA Wrestling Grappling World Team Trials champions at the NOLIMITS training center in Irvine, Calif. prior to the U.S. team's departure to Turkey. The coaches selected for the U.S. Grappling World Team were approved by USA Wrestling's ad-hoc Grappling Committee. Bob Anderson, Redondo Beach, Calif. Anderson serves as the Head Wrestling Coach for No Limits Mixed Martial Arts, teaching wrestling and Grappling to the students there. No Limits athlete Don Ortega won the USA Wrestling Grappling World Team Trials, and will represent the United States at the World Championships in Antalya. He has a long history as a successful coach within amateur wrestling and the martial arts, including mentorship of numerous champion athletes in many styles. "We will have a tough challenge at the Worlds with Brazil and other nations," said Anderson. "The USA will be up for this challenge. We will show the Grappling world that America's martial art is wrestling. I believe wholeheartedly that we have the athletes to win it." Anderson served on the coaching staff of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman Team which competed in Atlanta, Ga. He was also a coach on a number of U.S. World Teams. Anderson served on the coaching staff for the 2004 Greco-Roman World Cup as well as the 2002 Junior World Greco-Roman Championships. He served as a coach at the 1990 U.S. Olympic Festival, and has coached U.S. teams in Italy, Romania, Guatemala and other nations. He was the founder and director of the Junior Elite Wrestling Systems (JETS) club, which won 12 age-group national wrestling titles and developed dozens of All-Americans. Anderson is a Gold Certified Coach within USA Wrestling's National Coaches Education Program, the highest coaching achievement in the sport. Henderson coached U.S. Olympic Team Greco-Roman wrestlers Dan Henderson, Heath Sims and Jason Gleasman. Among the other top international wrestling stars he has mentored include Olympic and World champion Rulon Gardner and World Team member Randy Couture. Both Henderson and Couture have gone on to become champions in Mixed Martial Arts. Anderson served as head wrestling coach for Kaahumanu Hou Christian School in Hawaii from 1992-2000. He also served as a coach at Adams State Univ. and El Camino JC, as well as a number of high schools in California. He also has an extensive coaching career in Sombo, serving as the coach and a competitor for the 1977 Pan American Championships Sombo team, which won the team title in Mexico City, Mexico. He was also a coach with the 1979 U.S. Sombo World Team which competed in Madrid, Spain. During this time, he was a friend and mentor for the martial arts legend Hollis Gracie. Anderson is credited with developing the "Americana Arm Bar" submission hold. He also studied judo under respected coach Gene LaBelle. He was a Veterans World freestyle wrestling champion in 2003 and Veterans World Greco-Roman runner-up in 2004. He competed in freestyle, Greco-Roman and Sombo on the national levels. Anderson won national titles within the U.S. Wrestling Federation, the AAU and the YMCA programs. Anderson competed in wrestling at Adams State, where he was an All-American in the NCAA Div. I Championships and the NAIA Championships. He was the first Adams State wrestler to be a Div. I All-American. Previously, he attended El Camino JC, where he was a two-time California Junior College state champion. "I am excited to coach this U.S. team," said Anderson. "To be able to go to the first World Championships and get back into what I did as an athlete and coach in the 1970's is a great honor." Jason Townsend, Las Vegas, Nev. Townsend is a Wrestling/Grappling Coach at Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas, Nev. working with Mixed Martial Arts legend Randy Couture, who was also a U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling World Team member. He serves as Head Wrestling Coach at Marc Laimon's Cobra Kai jiu-jitsu in Las Vegas, Nev. Cobra Kai jiu-jitsu placed two athletes in the finals of USA Wrestling Grappling World TeamTrials, runners-up Jeff Glover and Simpson Go. Glover will compete at the Grappling World Championships in Turkey. "I am honored to be able to represent the USA as a coach of the first-ever U.S. Grappling World Team. It will be nice to use my knowledge of the rules to develop strategies, techniques and training methods necessary to defeat our foreign competition and bring home gold medals for the United States," said Townsend. Townsend serves as a member of the FILA World Grappling Committee, the group within international wrestling which manages Grappling worldwide. Within the committee, Townsend serves as Technical Director for coaches and officials education, as well as rules oversight. He is one of the authors of the FILA Grappling Rulebook. He was the founder and President of the International Submission Wrestling Association, a Grappling organization that hosted competitions, as well as trained officials, coaches and athletes. With the ISWA, Townsend developed the rules of Grappling which have been adopted by FILA. The ISWA ceased operation after FILA and USA Wrestling adopted Grappling as a style of wrestling. Townsend has been a key individual in putting together USA Wrestling's existing Grappling program right from the start of organizational meetings this winter. Townsend served as an assistant wrestling coach at Cal-State Fullerton from 2000-2005. He was a varsity wrestler for Syracuse Univ. and Hofstra Univ. Townsend was a two-time Maryland state high school champion, and was an All-American in freestyle at the Junior Nationals and Espoir Nationals. "This is huge for the development of Grappling as a legitimate international amateur sport," said Townsend. "USA Wrestling has become a leader in the Grappling movement and a model for the implementation of this style into existing national wrestling federations around the world."

St. Cloud, Minn. -- Two-time NCAA national champion and three-time Big 10 champion Cole Konrad will be the guest clinician at the 2007 St. Cloud State University Husky Fall Wrestling Clinic, which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 27, in the Halenbeck Hall Fieldhouse. This informative all-day clinic will start with check-in between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., and it is open to all individuals from first grade to 12th grade. The final session of the day will conclude at 3:15 p.m. The cost of the clinic is $45, and the fee includes three sessions of expert instruction, a clinic t-shirt and lunch. A special team rate of $40 per person is available for teams that register 10 or more wrestlers for the clinic. The clinic will feature Konrad as its guest clinician. As a member of the University of Minnesota wrestling team, Konrad won NCAA titles at 285-pounds in 2006 and 2007. He placed third at the 2006 World University championships at 120 kilograms and won a gold medal at the 2005 Pan-American championships. His career record at Minnesota was 154-13, and is a native of Appleton, Wis. For more information about registering for the 2007 SCSU Husky Fall Wrestling Clinic, please call SCSU wrestling coach Steve Costanzo at 320-308-2996 or e-mail him at sscostanzo@stcloudstate.edu

TEMPE, Ariz. -– Roye Oliver, a former member of the Arizona State University wrestling program and inductee into the ASU Sports Hall of Fame, was recently named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week (July 31-August 6) after winning a gold medal at the 2007 Veterans Freestyle World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. The three-time All-American and two-time Western Athletic Conference (WAC) individual champion won the 85kg weight class in Division D (51-55 years old), making him one of only two Americans to secure gold in the world event. Oliver won his opening bout to reach the semifinals where he defeated 10-time world champion Rahim Abofi of Iran. In the gold-medal bout, Oliver defeated Turkey's Bekir Sahinal for his world title at 187.25 pounds. During his time in Tempe, Oliver captured a pair of WAC individual titles, taking gold at 150 pounds in both 1976 and 1977 with his first crown helping the Sun Devils to just their second team conference title in program history. On the national level, Oliver placed fifth at 150 pounds in the 1976 and 1977 NCAA Championships. He captured his third national accolade by finishing eighth at 158 pounds during the 1979 season to become the program's first three-time honoree. A 1981 inductee into the ASU Sports Hall of Fame, Oliver finished his career with an 81-21-1 overall record.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -– The final spot on the 2007 U.S. World Team in freestyle wrestling will be determined Thursday afternoon. That's when Nate Gallick and Mike Zadick are scheduled to meet in a best-of-3 series at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Gallick beat Zadick in the finals of April's U.S. Nationals at 60 kg/132 lbs., but suffered a foot injury and was unable to wrestle in June's U.S. World Team Trials. Gallick (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) requested and received permission to take part in the Special Wrestle-Off at a later date because of his injury. He was permitted to do so by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals and having already clinched a berth in the finals of the U.S. World Team Trials. Weigh-ins for the Gallick-Zadick series are scheduled for 3 p.m. on Wednesday. The first match of the series is set for 12:30 p.m. on Thursday with the second match to follow at 1:30 p.m. A third match, if necessary, is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. The event will be held in the upstairs gymnasium at the Sports Center II, above the OTC wrestling room. Video of the matches will be posted on TheMat.com. The event is open to the public and admission is free. The winner of the Special Wrestle-Off will qualify for the World Championships on Sept. 17-23 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Zadick, a 2006 World silver medalist, won the U.S. World Team Trials on June 9 in Las Vegas to earn another shot at Gallick. Zadick, an assistant coach at Iowa, won a silver medal at the Pan American Games late last month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Gallick, a past World University champion, has won the last three meetings against Zadick (Solon, Iowa/Gator WC). Gallick was an NCAA champion for Iowa State and Zadick was an NCAA All-American for Iowa. Gallick, recently hired as an assistant coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga, is trying to make his first World Team on the Senior level. The Special Wrestle-Off will take place during the U.S. World Team freestyle camp, which started Aug. 5 and is scheduled to conclude Saturday in Colorado Springs.

Former Wisconsin wrestler, Kevin Black, a River Falls, Wis. native, was named as one of two coaches for the 2007 USA Women's World Wrestling Team. Also chosen was Troy Steiner of Corvallis, Ore. The team will compete in the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 17-23 Black, a four-year letterwinner, took third at the 2002 Big Ten Championships and fourth at the NCAA championship that same year. He then sustained an injury in 2003 and was unable to participate at the Big Ten or NCAA championships. Black has been coaching ever since. The World Team Coaches were chosen by the Women's Coach Selection Committee and approved by USA Wrestling's Executive Committee. Black has coached a number of USA Wrestling age-group women's teams overseas, and has been active as a coach and leader with women's wrestling programs in Wisconsin. He has coached on the college and high school levels, and currently operates the Victory School of Wrestling. He was a NCAA Div. I All-American at the Univ. of Wisconsin, and competed in international freestyle wrestling for a number of years. Steiner is the head assistant coach at Oregon State Univ., and has had assistant coaching positions at the Univ. of Iowa, the Univ. of Wisconsin and Oregon State. He has coached a number of U.S. women's teams overseas and was a finalist for the U.S. Olympic Team women's coaching position in 2004. Steiner was a 1992 World Cup champion in freestyle wrestling and won the 1996 Pan American Championships. He was a NCAA Div. I champion at the Univ. of Iowa, and a four-time All-American. Complete biographies of the U.S. World Team Coaches follow, as well as quotes from each of the coaches. Kevin Black, River Falls, Wis. Black has coached USA Wrestling age-group women's teams for the last two years, taking the U.S. University women's team to compete in El Salvador in 2007 and the U.S. Cadet women's team to China in 2006. He has participated as a coach in a number of Women's Team USA training camps in recent seasons. Black serves as the Women's Director for the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation. He has coached the Wisconsin Junior Nationals Women's team since 200e and has coached Wisconsin athletes at the USGWA Nationals for the last two years. Black has started a new women's wrestling club program at the Univ. of Wisconsin-River Falls. Black has coached and operated the Victory School of Wrestling in River Falls, Wis. He served as an assistant coach for the Univ. of Wisconsin from 2003-05, working with the Div. I program there. He was a wrestling coach at Lodi High School from 2005-06. He has been the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation State Coach from 2004-06, and coached the state's Cadet Freestyle National Team from 2002-06. He conducted the Black Brothers Wrestling Camps from 2000-06. Black was a NCAA Div. I All-American for the Univ. of Wisconsin, where he was a NCAA qualifier three times and served as the team captain three times. Black won four Wisconsin state titles for River Falls High School, with a 160-0 career record. He competed on the Senior level in freestyle, competing in a number of major international tournaments. Troy Steiner, Corvallis, Ore. Steiner enters his second season as an assistant wrestling coach at Oregon State Univ., where he helped head coach Jim Zalesky lead the Beavers to the Pac-10 title in their first year there. Steiner worked the two previous seasons as an assistant coach under Zalesky at the Univ. of Iowa. He also served as an assistant coach at Wisconsin from 1997-2001 and Minnesota in 1996-97 and at Oregon State under Joe Wills for the 1995-96 season. Steiner also owned and operated the ADVANCE School of Wrestling in Madison, Wis., for four years. Steiner has coached a number of U.S. teams in international competition and has participated in Women's Team USA training camps. He was selected as a finalist for the U.S. Olympic Team women's wrestling coaching position in 2004. He is the twin brother of USA Wrestling National Women's Coach Terry Steiner. Steiner was a four-time all-American at Iowa from 1990-93 and a NCAA champion in 1992. He won three Big Ten titles at Iowa, compiling a 148-13 career record at 134 and 142 pounds. He was part of three national and four Big Ten championship teams. Steiner shares Iowa's school record for best season winning percentage for the 42-0 record he compiled during his junior season. He was a top freestyle wrestler, winning gold medals at the 1992 World Cup and the 1996 Pan American Championships. He was third in the 1992 and 1996 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, and fifth in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. A native of Bismarck, N.D., Steiner was inducted into the North Dakota Hall of Fame in 1998. QUOTES FROM THE WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM COACHES Kevin Black, River Falls, Wis. "I think this is a great opportunity. Since I have been involved in women's wrestling, I have found that I enjoy coaching women very much. Their personalities, the way women communicate, I really enjoy that side of coaching. This is the highest assignment I can have as a coach. We need people who have been around wrestling at all levels to step up for the women's program. Having coaches who stay involved and stay consistent is important to the program. We need more good wrestling people to be involved with women's wrestling. Overall, our entire team, all seven athletes, will be very competitive. The goal is to win the overall World team title in all three styles, and winning is our goal for the women's team." Troy Steiner, Corvallis, Ore. "Right now, we are looking at Japan, China and Russia as some of the teams we have to beat. There may be some things we have to change as a team. I hope to add to what Terry is doing, and help the women in any way they need. I hope to bring a different perspective to help them reach their goals. We have a good core group of athletes. They have the ability to be near the top of the world again." National Women's Coach Terry Steiner of Colorado Springs, Colo. (about Kevin Black) "Kevin brings some new energy to the team and to the program. He is very excited. Kevin is a wrestling junkie. He grew up with wrestling and loves wrestling people. He has been involved as an athlete, a coach and an administrator. He truly knows USA Wrestling, which is good for the organization. He has the right personality to coach our women. They can trust him immediately. The most important thing about Kevin as an athlete is he can find the good in every situation. He finds a way to learn from every experience and walk away with a smile. That attitude is contagious, and I think he will bring that to our program." (about Troy Steiner) "We have talked about having more team unity in the program. The comfort for me with having Troy in this position is that we will be on the same page. Having the same message and philosophy is important. Troy has a good rapport with the women. They believe in him and trust him. We need to get back on track as a team where we are respected in the world as a power. We have the same people from when we were second in the world and won the World Cup. I expect to be back to that, where we are in position to win the team title and individual titles."

Jeff Murphy and our resident nutritionist Ryan Irwin join us in the Brute Adidas studio to start the talk of the season to come. All clubs around the country, this is your time to start marketing the team, the school, the coaches. Lets get down and get to work. Our athletes deserve the best. You have an event coming up and want to get the word out? Email me and we'll do our best to get you on air asap. Svideoman@aol.com This week on TDR: Jack Childs, the venerable Head Coach of the Drexel Dragons Joins us to discuss the summer, the upcoming season and what it feels like to be the winning est coach in D1. Oh, he's also a great Guy! His program, at a very prestigious school has constantly knocked on the door of some of the best in wrestling. Rocky Bonomo, Head Coach at Lock Haven, one of the EWL teams that are on the move. Rock generally likes to let actions and results speak for him but this is one time we've lured him out of "the haven" to talk with us fans. Should be interesting as he, Coach Rogers and the Crimson and White had a tremendous year last season. TJ Sebolt, The new assist at NIACC joins us. What must the pressure been like for this young man being the the winning est wrestler in Iowa history. He joined Iowa State and decided he wanted to take off some time. We'll answer some of the questions that up till now have not been answered. Cary Kolat, this Alabaster, Alabama native, Lock Haven University/ Penn State Graduate joins us to discuss his career as one of the best free style wrestlers in the modern era. His record speaks for itself- Career Highlights -Two-Time NCAA Champion (1996-97) -Four Time NCAA All-American (1993,94,96,97) -Eastern Wrestling champion (1996-97) -PSAC Champion (1996,97) -Big Ten Champion ('93) -Big Ten Runner-Up ('92) -Career NCAA Record: 111-7 (94.1) 53 Falls (45%) -Named "Outstanding Wrestler" at the 1996-97 EWL Championships -Named Big Ten "Wrestler of the Year" 1994 2001 World Cup Silver Medalist -2000 Olympic games 9th (Sydney, Australia) -2000 Pan American Gold Medalist (Columbia) -1999 World Championships 4th (Ankara, Turkey) -1999 Cerro Pelado Champion "Outstanding Wrestler" (Cuba) -1999 Pan American Games Gold Medalist (Winnipeg, Canada) -1998, 1999, 2000 World Cup Gold Medalist -1998 World Championships Bronze Medalist (Tehran, Iran) -1998 Yasar Dogu Tournament Champion -1998 Good Will Games Gold Medalist (New York) -1997 World Championships Silver Medalist (Russia) -1995 Sunkist International Champion -1989 Cadet World Champion "Outstanding Wrestler" -2000 Olympic Team Trials Champion -2000 U.S. Open Champion -1999 World Team Trials Champion -1999 U.S Open Champion -1998 World Team Trials Champion -1997 World Team Trials Champion -1997 U.S. Open Champion -1995 University National Freestyle Champion -1989 Cadet National champion -1988 Cadet National Champion -7 Time U.S. National Team Member Ok, that's not everything but it gives you an idea of how good this guy really was and is. Carykolat.com Matt Lindland, Olympic Silver Medalist will join us for a little grappling talk, the future of wrestling as a combat sport and what he feels we can do to improve our position on the world stage. Team Quest is pleased to bring us this interview. Andrew Nostvick, Iowa MMA Report. Whats going on in MMA in our own back yard and how are wrestlers participating? Tune in and we'll find out more. Join us on America's Wrestling radio talk show as we go coast to coast, border to border and now throughout Europe on Mattv.com and Mat-Magazine.com. Don't forget we air LIVE from 9:06 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST. You can write to us at Takedownradio.com or call in the show at 1-866-333-5966. We're on the air for all of you. Let your voice be heard! Thanks for listening!

Des Moines, IA -- Takedown Radio, a ten year old radio program originating from the U.S. announced a strategic agreement today with UK based on-line publication, Mat Magazine (Martial Arts Television – magazine). Through the new agreement, Mat Magazine adds significant reporting and content regarding wrestling and combat sports in the United States. At the same time, Mat Magazines reach outside the U.S. will increase TakeDown Radio's listener base on a global scale. "We believe this is a natural progression for our publication as well as the radio program" commented Jeroen Winters, Mat Magazines founder. "The ways readers and listeners interests parallel each other are amazing. The growing popularity of mixed martial arts (MMA) in Europe and other countries has developed a strong interest in wrestling, particularly wrestling in the United States. TakeDown Radio's provocative reporting will serve to educate a willing audience." Jeroen Winters, Mat Magazines founder, added. Mat Magazine, a seven year old company, with offices in Los Angeles, London(UK) and the Netherlands, owns matchannel.com, an internet video provider. As part of the strategic agreement, all web sites owned and managed by both companies provide links to audio and video streaming, archived programming, pod casting, up to the minute news, action, and interviews. "We've anticipated the day our relationships with kindred spirits would combine with technology, allowing us to expand our message and mission on a global scale. With Mat Magazine, we've realized our goal and have gone even further to reach the people in those markets that care most" offered TakeDown Radio founder Scott Casber. " TDR has always believed the strongest, most balanced, and successful MMA competitors have a broad understanding of wrestling. We're confident our partnership with Mat Magazine will contribute to enriching the overall experience for all involved." Casber concluded. TakeDown Radio provides over 600 hours of live programming per year, including live broadcasts from major collegiate wrestling events, as well as national and international competitions. Mat Magazine provides free reporting on several combat sports including MMA, kickboxing, and Muay Thai. Matchannel.com provides video programming, including considerable archives of key competitions. Video programming on matchannel.com is available for free and at a charge. More information on TakeDown Radio can be found at http://www.takedownradio.com. More information on Mat Magazine can be found at http://www.mat-magazine.com.

GETTYSBURG, Pa. –- Director of Athletics David Wright has announced the hiring of former Messiah College wrestling standout Andrew Vogel as the 17th head wrestling coach at Gettysburg College. Vogel assumes the position vacated by Troy Dell, who was named the athletic director at Frostburg State University in May. "We are excited to have Andrew Vogel joining our staff as our new Head Wrestling Coach and look forward to many successful seasons in the years to come," said Wright. "Gettysburg College has a long tradition of success in wrestling and I believe Andrew will help our student-athletes build on that tradition." "Andrew was a highly successful wrestler at the collegiate level," he added, "and he will bring a strong work ethic and winning attitude to our program." Vogel, a 2003 graduate of Messiah, was a three-time All-American at 149 lbs., finishing as the NCAA Division III national runner-up in 2001 and earning seventh-place in 2002 and 2003. A three-time Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Champion, he posted a school-record 157 wins over his tenure with the Falcons and was named both the school's Senior Athlete of the Year and the Senior Male Sportsmanship Award recipient. "When I saw Gettysburg had an opening, I thought it would be an ideal situation to come back to central Pennsylvania and be part of the team," said Vogel. "I'm hoping to translate my experience as a wrestler and coach into building the best team possible at Gettysburg." Vogel spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, planning practices and conditioning sessions for its NCAA Division III wrestling program. He was also involved in the recruiting process and handled administrative duties as assigned. Aside from his collegiate activities, Vogel has been active in the wrestling community for many years, including founding a website completely devoted to NCAA Division III wrestling (www.d3wrestle.com). He has served as a teacher and instructor at various wrestling camps at his undergraduate alma mater as well as the Ken Chertow Gold Medal Training Camp in Lincolnwood, Ill. An outstanding student, Vogel graduated from Messiah with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering before earning a master's in the same subject area at North Carolina State University. He was a member of Messiah's Honors Program and was tabbed a NCAA Academic All-American in each of his final three seasons at the school. In addition, Vogel was named the MAC Winter Male Scholar Athlete of the Year and received a postgraduate scholarship from the NCAA in 2003. "Not only is Andrew a great young wrestling coach, he is very bright and articulate. As a NCAA post-graduate scholarship winner, he fits well into an academically rigorous institution like Gettysburg," said Wright. The 74th season of Bullet wrestling begins on Nov. 3 at the Ithaca Invitational Tournament. Gettysburg returns 11 letterwinners from last season's 3-12-1 team that finished seventh at the conference championships, including national qualifiers and CC champions Andrew Goldstein and Matt Shank. "My hope is to influence their technique and their mind-set so their expectation of winning is at a high level," said Vogel. "I want to draw as many wrestlers from the surrounding area as possible and put them together to have a team that is able to compete for championships in the Centennial Conference and make it to the NCAA Tournament."

Oskaloosa -- One of the Oskaloosa community's favorite sons returns as Eric Reed comes to William Penn as the assistant wrestling coach. Reed, who most recently was the head coach at Central from 2004 to earlier this summer, also skippered the Wabash (Ind.) program from 2002 to 2004, guiding one All-American and as well as helping the squad finish second at the Midwest Regional Tournament in 2004, the highest team finish in 18 years. He has also been an assistant coach at both the high school and college levels. A 1994 graduate of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a degree in biology, Reed extended his education to a graduate program, also at UW-La Crosse, earning his master's in science and sport science-pedagogy in 2000. While at UW-La Crosse, Reed also succeeded on the mat, garnering All-American honors twice. He has also organized and instructed various camps through the Midwest and has competed for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club as well. Reed has extensive teaching experience over the past several years and will be asked to continue those responsibilities as well as work some security detail at the University. Reed begins work August 1.

The National Wrestling Coaches Association has announced Bob Bowlsby will be the keynote luncheon speaker at the association's annual convention August 16-19 at the Horizon Casino Resort at Lake Tahoe, Nev. Bowlsby, currently the Jaquish and Kenninger Director of Athletics at Stanford University in California, will speak on a number of topics, specifically the state of athletics on the collegiate level. Now starting his second year at Stanford, Bowlsby previously served as the Athletics Director at the University of Iowa for 15 years. In his time in Iowa City, Bowlsby served as chair for the NCAA wrestling committee and additionally served on association committees in the areas of Financial Aid and Amateurism, the Special Committee to Review Amateurism Issues and the Special Committee to Review Financial Conditions in Athletics. "We're pleased to have one of our nation's most respected athletic directors, Bob Bowlsby speaking on our sport's behalf at the NWCA Convention," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "He is one of wrestling's most influential ambassadors. He's been in environments where wrestling is a revenue sport and wrestling is a big part of the athletics landscape." "Bob Bowlsby represents the best professional and personal values when it comes to student-athletes," said Stanford University Provost John Etchemendy in a press release announcing Bowlsby's hiring last year. "He understands that the success of an athletics program is not simply measured in wins and losses, but in the academic achievements and character of the young women and men who work so hard on the field and in the classroom." Bowlsby's main emphasis at this year's convention is on the changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics and what wrestling coaches need to do in order to adapt. One necessity that Bowlsby is expected to touch upon is the topic of coaches today need to strengthen their "small business CEO skills." Because the focus of some athletic departments is business-minded, wrestling coaches need to be the same. Business is tied in with another one of Bowlsby's points – understanding the new intercollegiate economic model. "What Bob Bowlsby can do is spell things out and explain to coaches in our sport how to survive and run their operation in a business-like fashion. The primary goal is to graduate our student athletes and send them off into the world prepared, but we can't ignore how the landscape of college sports has changed," said Moyer. "The coach is the single most important person in our efforts to improve recruitment and retention of wrestlers at all levels." Bowlsby will also touch on public relations-style topics like how to strengthen wrestling's alignment with educational values and heightening a wrestling team's visibility on campus and the surrounding community. "What Bob Bowlsby brings to our convention is the ability to explain things from the standpoint of an Athletics Director to our member coaches and how to further understand entrenching wrestling programs," said NWCA President Ron Mirikitani. "Mr. Bowlsby has been an integral part of running athletic departments for a long time. He's been a friend to wrestling and will be an asset to those attending the convention this year." The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a professional organization dedicated to serve and provide leadership for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on scholastic and collegiate programs. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling. The NWCA, through its organizational structure, promotes communication, recognizes achievement, recommends rules and regulations, sponsors events, and serves as an educational and informational source. Additionally, the NWCA strives to foster the sportsmanship and integrity that are the cornerstones of athletic competition.

Putting partisan fan feelings aside, Oklahoma State can stake a claim to being the most dominant program in college wrestling history. Since the first NCAA championships in 1928, the school in Stillwater claimed 33 national team titles, 130 individual national champions, and more than 400 All-Americans. Oklahoma State also reigns supreme in terms of the number of NCAA heavyweight champs, with ten Cowboy big guys winning the title. Let's take a look at the accomplishments of each of these great Oklahoma State heavyweight champs, from "Moose" to "the Bear." (Note about the photos of the wrestlers: Many of these champions competed in the era before today's singlets. Up until the 1960s, Oklahoma State wrestlers wore trunks and/or tights, usually without shirts.) Coach Ed Gallagher's Era (1928-1940) Ed Gallagher coached what was then called the Oklahoma A&M (Agricultural & Mechanical) College from 1917 to 1940. During that long and incredibly successful career, Gallagher's Cowboys won eleven NCAA team titles -- a record unmatched by any Oklahoma State coach since -- with a 138-5-4 record and a stunning .952 winning percentage. Among the twenty-three NCAA champs during the Gallagher era, three were heavyweight champs. Earl McCready (1928-30) There's some disagreement as to how Earl McCready earned the nickname "Moose"; some sources attribute it to the fact he was from Canada, while others say it's because he was as big as a moose, standing 5'11" and weighing in at 238 lbs in his prime. (In a profile of McCready in the 2006 book "The History of Collegiate Wrestling", Mike Gerald and Jay Hammond claim its because he ran like a moose in the snow.) However, there's not much disagreement that Earl Gray McCready was one of the greatest heavyweights to come out of Oklahoma State in the more than 75 years of NCAA competition. Born in June 1908 in Landsdowne, Ontario, McCready grew up in the province of Saskatchewan. Legend has it that McCready learned the sport from a book; records indicate his formal introduction to wrestling was at the YMCA in Regina. It was at a 1926 Canadian tournament that McCready caught the eye of Oklahoma State, having defeated their heavyweight in the finals. The Cowboy contingent managed to convince McCready to come to Stillwater … where he played tackle for the Oklahoma State football team, and had an incredible college mat career. Earl McCreadyEarl McCready was undefeated in his three years as the Oklahoma State heavyweight; in fact, he won all but three of his matches by pin. At the very first NCAA championships in 1928, McCready pinned Ralph Freese of the University of Kansas in just nineteen seconds -- still the fastest pins in an NCAA finals bout. The next year, the Cowboy big guy won his second title by fall -- this time, his victim was Ohio State's Russ Fairall, pinned at 1:25. In the heavyweight finals at the 1930 NCAAs, different opponent, same outcome: Illinois' Lloyd Burdick had his shoulders put to the mat at 2:17, making McCready the first three-time NCAA champ from any school, at any weight. (In addition, McCready is one of only two three-time champs to win all three finals bouts by pin; the other is Dan Hodge, 177-pound champ for University of Oklahoma 1955-57.) While at Oklahoma State, Earl McCready represented Canada in international competition. He was the flagbearer for his native country at the 1928 Olympics and wrestled heavyweight, but did not place. Two years later, he won the freestyle heavyweight title at the British Empire Games (now called the Commonwealth Games). Not long after graduating from Oklahoma State, Earl McCready entered the world of professional wrestling, where he had a nearly thirty-year career He died of a heart attack at age 75 in 1983. McCready is enshrined in numerous halls of fame, including the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater. Lloyd Ricks (1937) Lloyd RicksLloyd Ricks was a two-time Oklahoma high school state champion (165 lbs in 1931, heavyweight in 1933) from Stillwater. For his college career, Ricks stayed in town, competing at Oklahoma State in the mid 1930s in two weight classes -- 175 pounds, and at heavyweight. At the 1935 NCAAs, the 175 lb sophomore lost in the semifinals to eventual champ Ralph Silverstein of the University of Illinois. Two years later, having gained a few more pounds and more experience, heavyweight senior Lloyd Ricks defeated opponents from Kent State, Illinois and Indiana to find himself in the finals against 1937 Big Ten heavyweight wrestling (and boxing) champ Clifton Gustafson of the University of Minnesota. The Cowboy beat the Golden Gopher big man with a 1:35 time advantage to win the 1937 NCAA heavyweight title. Ricks was one of four national collegiate champs for Oklahoma State that year. Johnny Harrell (1939) Johnny HarrellOriginally from Ardmore, Oklahoma -- where he won the 1935 Oklahoma high school state championship at 185 pounds -- long-and-lean Johnny Harrell was the primary Cowboy heavyweight at the end of the 1930s. At the 1939 NCAAs, Harrell was one of fourteen heavyweights vying for the national title. The Cowboy got a decision over Kent State's Falcone, pinned Ohio University's Adams, then earned a decision over Pickett of Yale to advance to the finals, where he faced John Sikich of the University of Illinois. In the battle of the Big Johns, Johnny Harrell pinned the Illini Sikich at 4:25 to claim the 1939 NCAA heavyweight crown. After winning the title, Harrell transferred to the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, where he was undefeated. Harrell was instrumental in the establishment of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, and was inducted into the Ardmore Hall of Fame in 2002. Coach Art Griffith's Era (1940-1956) Edward Gallagher died of pneumonia in the spring of 1940. Just before his passing, he witnessed the dedication of what was called the 4-H Club and Student Activity Building, now known (with substantial upgrades) as Gallagher-Iba Arena. His successor at Oklahoma State was Art Griffith, a 1924 graduate of Oklahoma State, and long-time coach at high school mat powerhouse Tulsa Central. During his thirteen years as Cowboy head coach, Griffith built a 78-4-4 record (a .899 winning percentage), with fifteen individuals winning NCAA titles … including three heavyweights. Loyd Arms (1942) Loyd ArmsLoyd "Pig" Arms won two Oklahoma state heavyweight titles at Sulphur High School (1938 and 1939). His career at Oklahoma State spanned both sides of World War II. (Most collegiate programs – including Oklahoma State -- did not compete during the war; the NCAAs were not held in 1943-1945.) At the 1941 NCAAs, the hirsute Cowboy sophomore was pinned in the semifinals by Yale's Larry Pickett, but earned All-American honors by placing third. The following year was Arms' championship season: He got decisive wins over Ohio University's Fred "Superman" Schleicher and Navy's Shuford Swift before going up against rugged multi-sport star Walt Porowski of Kent State in the title bout. The Cowboy got a 7-5 decision over the Golden Flash to become Oklahoma State's fourth individual to win a heavyweight title. After a three-year hiatus for the war, the NCAA championships resumed, hosted by Oklahoma State. Defending heavyweight champ and hometown hero Loyd Arms was knocked out of title contention in the 1946 NCAA semifinals by the eventual champ, 300+ lb George Bollas of Ohio State. Arms eventually placed fourth, becoming a three-time All-American. Dick Hutton (1947-48, 1950) Long before Pat Smith or Cael Sanderson were even born, Dick Hutton nearly became the first four-time NCAA champion at any weight… but was denied that place in history by one man's decision. Richard Heron Avis Hutton was born in Amarillo, Texas in 1923, but moved to Red Fork, Oklahoma as a kid. He took up wrestling in junior high after being cut from the basketball team. After high school at Tulsa Webster (where he was a state runner-up), Hutton served in the US Army for five years, then enrolled at Oklahoma State where he was the heavyweight starter all four years at Stillwater. A big bear of a man -- standing 5'10" and weighing in at about 245 pounds -- Hutton lost only one match and was tied once in his college career. At the 1947 NCAAs, the top-seeded Cowboy freshman drew a bye in the first round, got a 3-0 decision over Colorado's Glenn Blagg in the quarterfinals, and edged Minnesota's Verne Gagne in the semifinals. In the title match, Hutton took on unseeded Ray Gunkel of Purdue, and got a 5-3 victory in overtime to win his first NCAA heavyweight title. The following year, the NCAAs were a qualifying event for the 1948 Olympics, using Olympic wrestling rules and bracketing. Hutton claimed his second title, and went to London as the favorite to win a gold medal, but an ankle injury during a match denied that dream, and the Cowboy big man placed fifth in heavyweight competition. Dick Hutton was the top seed -- and favorite -- to earn his third title at the 1949 NCAAs. In his opening-round match, the defending champ pinned Moroni Schwab of Utah State at 4:45... then, in the quarterfinals, got the fall at 4:35 over Georgia Tech's Clay Matthews… and, in the semifinals, secured a 5-2 win over Bob Maldegan of Michigan State. In the finals, Hutton faced familiar foe Verne Gagne of Minnesota. At the very end of the match, with the score tied 1-1, the Cowboy got a takedown … or did he? The officials determined that it was scored after the final whistle. In 1949, the rules did not allow for overtime to break a tie, so the outcome was in the hands of the referee, Finn Erikson, who awarded the victory -- and the title -- to Gagne because of his small advantage in riding time. It was Hutton's only loss in college, and eliminated any chance of being the first four-time NCAA champ. Dick HuttonSenior year, Dick Hutton was again the odds-on favorite to win the heavyweight title. The top-seeded Cowboy had only one point scored upon him in his first two matches against Wyoming and Lock Haven wrestlers... then shut out Richard Simmons (no, not the diet-and-exercise guru) of Wheaton College 3-0 in the semifinals. In his fourth heavyweight finals, Hutton went up against Fred Stoeker of the host school Iowa State Teachers College (now Northern Iowa) … and must have felt a sinking feeling of déjà vu when the match ended in regulation with a 1-1 tie. This time the referee raised the hand of Hutton, awarding the Cowboy his third heavyweight title. After graduation from Oklahoma State, Dick Hutton entered the professional wrestling ring, following in the successful footsteps of other college heavyweights of his era like Verne Gagne and Ray Gunkel. The former Cowboy had a pro career that lasted more than a decade, culminating in a world championship in the late 1950s. Hutton was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1995. He passed away in Tulsa in November 2003 at age 80. Gene Nicks (1952, 1954) On the heels of Dick Hutton came Gene Nicks, Oklahoma State's next great heavyweight champ in the early 1950s. A two-time Oklahoma high school state champion (1948, 1950) at heavyweight from Ponca City, Gene Nicks was also a football star in high school. For college, Nicks stayed in the northern part of the state by enrolling at Oklahoma State. The 228-pound, broad-shouldered, boyish-faced Cowboy quickly earned the nicknamed "Ninety-Second Nicks" because so many of his college bouts ended quickly with the opponents' shoulders to the mat. By the early 1950s, the rule prohibiting freshmen from competing as varsity team members had been reinstated (after a break following World War II), so Gene Nicks first made his splash as a sophomore. Top-seeded Nicks drew a bye in the first round of the 1952 NCAAs, then, beat Waynesburg's Ed Valtoney 6-1 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Gene defeated Wyoming's Bob Schildgen 4-2 to advance to the finals, where he faced unseeded Oregon State grappler/gridiron star John Witte, who had upset the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds on his way to the finals. However, "Ninety-Second Nicks" was true to his nickname … though it took 4:19 to pin Witte. With that fall, Gene Nicks became the sixth Cowboy to win an NCAA title. At the 1953 NCAAs at Penn State, Gene Nicks was the favorite to win a second straight championship…and pretty much sailed through the bracket. However, in the finals, Dan McNair -- 6'2" and 210 pounds -- managed to take the title by referee decision. After the match ended tied in regulation, the official awarded the lanky Auburn wrestler the title because he had ridden -- and nearly turned -- Nicks in the third period. Gene NicksGene Nicks' senior year ended on a much brighter note. At the 1954 NCAAs, the top-seeded Cowboy drew a bye in the first round, then pinned Michigan State's Larry Fowler at 7:00 in the quarterfinals. In the semis, Nicks shut out Nebraska's Max Ketzelman 6-0. Nicks found himself in his third straight finals, this time against Big Ten heavyweight champ Bob Konovsky of the University of Wisconsin. The Cowboy held the big Badger scoreless, winning the 1954 NCAA heavyweight title 7-0. After graduating from Oklahoma State, Gene Nicks had a long career as a chemist at Conoco. He died of a heart attack in 1985. Coach Myron Roderick's Era (1956-1969) When Art Griffith announced his retirement at the end of the 1955-56 season, no one seemed to be more surprised to be offered the head coaching position at Oklahoma State than Myron Roderick, who had just graduated from the school. At age 21, the three-time NCAA champ (1954 at 137 pounds; 1955 and 1956 at 130) took control of the Cowboys. (It was about this time that Oklahoma A&M became Oklahoma State, and joined what is now the Big Twelve conference.) In his thirteen years as head wrestling coach, Roderick compiled a 140-10-7 record, translating to a .914 winning percentage, with fifteen individuals winning at least one NCAA title … two of them being heavyweights. Ted Ellis (1959) Originally from Blackwell -- another wrestling powerhouse within the state of Oklahoma -- Ted Ellis won back-to-back Oklahoma high school heavyweight state titles in 1956 and 1957. Ted EllisEllis' sophomore season was arguably his brightest. He won the 1959 Big Eight conference heavyweight championship by getting the fall over Iowa State's Jan Schwitters at 2:15. At the 1959 NCAAs, the top-seeded Cowboy pinned his way through his first four bouts in the heavyweight bracket … making it into the finals where he faced off against Ithaca College's 300+ pounder, Bob Marella. After the match ended in regulation tied 1-1, in overtime Ellis shut out the man who would later become professional wrestler Gorilla Monsoon 2-0 to claim the heavyweight championship. Ted Ellis' next appearance at the NCAAs was in 1961, where he was seeded second to his cross-state nemesis, Dale Lewis of Oklahoma, who was the defending champ. Ellis pinned two of his opponents and shut out ISU's Schwitters to face off against familiar foe Lewis for the title. The two had wrestled each other numerous times in their college careers, most recently at the 1961 Big Eight heavyweight finals, where the Sooner got an overtime victory over the Cowboy. Ellis may have had revenge on his mind … but Dale Lewis got the 3-2 victory to deny the Oklahoma State heavyweight a second national title. Joe James (1964) Joe James was the first African-American to wrestle varsity at any weight for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. History aside, ask wrestling fans of the early 1960s what was most memorable about James, and they'd probably mention his muscular physique. Joe JamesJames was among the last college wrestlers to usually compete stripped to the waist (shirts were required by the NCAA in 1965)… so fans and opponents had plenty of opportunity to see his ripped torso. At the 1964 NCAAs – the first to be nationally televised -- ABC reportedly asked each champ to put on his warm-ups before going in front of the camera for his post-match interview. However, the story goes, ABC asked the 6'3", 220-pound James to take off his warm-ups, so the folks at home could see his championship form. James was asked on-camera if he lifted weights. "No, I just do push-ups and one-hand chin-ups." A graduate of Chicago's Tilden Tech, James placed third as heavyweight at the 1960 Illinois high school state tournament. In his first season of varsity competition (1961-62), James competed in the 191-pound weight class, losing only one regular-season bout -- to Iowa State's Keith Johnstone. At the 1962 NCAAs at Stillwater, the cut Cowboy wrestled his way to the finals, where he lost 2-1 to cross-state rival Wayne Baughman of the Oklahoma Sooners. The following year, Joe James moved up to heavyweight, and claimed his first Big Eight conference title. At Kent State for the 1963 NCAAs, the Cowboy big guy was seeded first, and pinned his first opponent, Ed Scharer of Rutgers … but lost on a referee's decision to fourth-seeded Larry Kristoff of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in the semifinals, and eventually placed fourth, earning his second All-American honors. The 1963-64 season was Joe James' year. He won another Big Eight title, but was seeded third in the heavyweight bracket at the 1964 NCAAs at Cornell University, behind defending champ Jim Nance of Syracuse, and SIU's Kristoff. In his first match, after a 1-1 tie at the end of overtime, James was awarded a referee's decision over Tim Stein of Miami University (Ohio). Next, he shut out Penn's Bruce Jacobsohn 5-0; in the quarterfinals, James defeated No. 6 Ed Scharer of Rutgers 9-5. The Cowboy scored a 5-4 decision over Purdue's Bob Hopp in the semifinals to propel himself into the finals, where he defeated unseeded Bob Billberg of Moorhead State (Minnesota) 4-2 to win the heavyweight title. Coach Tommy Chesbro's Era (1970-1984 Just like Myron Roderick before him, Tommy Chesbro was an Oklahoma State wrestler who became head coach of the Cowboys. In his fifteen years in the driver's seat, Chesbro built up a 227-26-0 record for a .897 winning percentage. Thirteen individual Cowboys lassoed at least one NCAA trophy … with one of them -- Jimmy Jackson -- becoming a three-time heavyweight champ. Jimmy Jackson (1976-78) There's a story in the book "Cowboys Ride Again!" by Bob and Doris Dellinger that paints a picture of Jimmy Jackson's size, agility and determination: As he was changing planes at Chicago O'Hare -- returning to Stillwater after spending Christmas at home in Michigan -- his wallet was lifted from his back pocket. The 6'6", 370-pound Cowboy big man chased and tackled the pickpocket. Police swooped in, guns drawn, handcuffing Jackson … until they learned he was the victim. Jimmy JacksonWhile still in high school, Jimmy Jackson won the 1973 U.S. Wrestling Federation's Junior National freestyle heavyweight title, as well as the 1974 Michigan high school heavyweight title for Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills High … signs of big things to come in his college career. And big is the word. Jackson was one of the "supersized" heavyweights who competed in the era when the weight class was accurately called "unlimited," when heavyweight champs like 400+ lb Chris Taylor and Tab Thacker didn't have to worry about getting down to 285. As an Oklahoma State sophomore, Jackson won the 1976 Big Eight heavyweight title by defeating Iowa State's Bob Fouts 2-1 in the finals. At the 1976 NCAAs, the fifth-seeded Cowboy pinned his first two opponents, topped Clarion's fourth-ranked Chuck Coryea 7-4 in the quarterfinals, and, in the semifinals, upset the defending heavyweight champ Larry Bielenberg of Oregon State 9-2. In the finals, Jackson got a 5-3 victory over the significantly smaller Greg Gibson of Oregon, winning his first national title. Junior year was much the same, with Jimmy Jackson claimed his second Big Eight title. Despite being the defending champ, he was seeded third at the 1977 NCAAs… but he had the last laugh by defeating the two men ranked ahead of him. In the semifinals, Jackson got an 8-5 win over second-seeded Harold Smith of Kentucky … and, in the finals, got a referee's decision over top-ranked Larry Bielenberg in overtime, based on a four-second riding time advantage. Jimmy Jackson's senior season was a sweet conclusion to his college career. His third Big Eight title win was perhaps the easiest, pinning Iowa State's Tom Waldon in just 22 seconds! At the 1978 NCAAs, the top-seeded Jackson dispatched a couple famous-name opponents -- future Olympic gold medallist and wrestling commentator Jeff Blatnick of Springfield College, and future NFL star Bob Golic, wrestling for Notre Dame. In the finals, Jackson took on sixth-seeded John Sefter of Princeton, who, about a minute into the match, attempted a takedown… and was pinned for his troubles. Jimmy Jackson concluded his college career with an 88-9-2 record, joining Earl McCready and Dick Hutton as Oklahoma State's only three-time NCAA heavyweight champs. Fast-forward nearly three decades: in spring 2007, Jimmy Jackson was one of five Cowboy athletes to be inducted into the Oklahoma State Athletics Hall of Honor. Sadly, just one year later, Jackson died in East Lansing, Michigan of complications caused by heart disease and diabetes. He was just 51 years old. Coach John Smith's Era John Smith -- arguably the most accomplished wrestler ever to come out of the Oklahoma State program, with two NCAA championships, four world freestyle titles and two Olympic gold medals – took sole control of the Cowboy wrestling program in 1992. In his fourteen seasons as Oklahoma State's head coach, thirteen individuals have brought home at least one NCAA title … with one of them -- Steve Mocco -- being a heavyweight. Steve Mocco (2005) One look at Steve Mocco -- in action or at rest -- and it's easy to see how he earned the nickname "the Bear." Built like a bear at 6' and 285 pounds, Mocco was also known for his relentless, hard-charging style of attack and heavy hands that "feel like they weigh 100 pounds" according to Ohio State college rival Tommy Rowlands. Steve MoccoSteve Mocco was born in December 1981 in New Jersey, where he ruled the mats at Blair Academy, earning four state prep titles and four national prep championships, and winning three Junior National titles. Colleges battled to have the top high school recruit in the nation on their team, but the North Bergen native chose the University of Iowa, where, in two years, he compiled a 71-3 record, winning the 2003 Big Ten and 2003 NCAA heavyweight titles. After taking an Olympic redshirt year his 2003-2004 season, Steve Mocco decided it was time for a change, and transferred to Oklahoma State for his last two years of college wrestling eligibility His first season in Stillwater was stellar; the new Cowboy big guy was 37-0, with 17 of those wins by pin. He defeated Iowa State's Scott Coleman to win the 2005 Big 12 heavyweight title. Two weeks later, at the 2005 NCAAs in St. Louis, the top-seeded Mocco dominated American's Adam LoPiccolo 14-3, pinned Eastern Illinois' Peter Ziminski at 1:13, shut out his successor at Iowa, the muscular Matt Fields, 4-0 in the quarterfinals, and got the same score over Indiana's fourth-seeded Pat DeGain in the semis. The title match was a thriller, with Steve Mocco using his "patented" footsweep to bring down second-seeded Cole Konrad of Minnesota 3-1 in overtime. Not only did Mocco win his second NCAA title, but a few weeks later, was also awarded the Dan Hodge trophy as best collegiate wrestler of the year. Steve Mocco's senior season did not get off to an encouraging start. At the 2005 NWCA All-Star event held at Gallagher-Iba Arena at Oklahoma State, Cole Konrad got a 4-1 victory over the home-crowd favorite Mocco. Although the All-Star results did not count on a wrestler's record, they may have been a portent of more troubles for the Cowboy heavyweight. In January 2006, Mocco met up with his Minnesota mat rival at the National Duals finals … and, at 5:22 of the match, Cole Konrad secured a bodylock, threw Mocco to the mat, and got the pin. It was the first time Mocco had been pinned since high school. Despite the loss, Mocco made short work of the rest of his regular-season opponents, and won his second Big Twelve heavyweight title. At the 2006 NCAAs held in Oklahoma City, second-seeded Steve Mocco pinned his first two opponents, got a 9-3 victory over Oklahoma's Jake Hager, and, in the semifinals, edged third-seeded Greg Wagner of the University of Michigan 2-1. In the finals, the defending champ faced top-seeded Cole Konrad yet again. It was an epic-length match that was tied in regulation and still knotted at the end of the two sudden victory periods. In the first 30-second tiebreaker, Mocco was unable to escape from bottom; in the second, Konrad escaped, then took down the champ to win the match -- and the title -- 5-2 TB. Although his college wrestling eligibility was finished, in the fall of 2006, Steve Mocco went out for the Oklahoma State football team, where he played five games as a defensive lineman. He continues to compete in freestyle. After having been runner-up at the U.S. World Team Trials for three straight years (2005-2007), in June 2008 Mocco defeated defending U.S. Nationals champ Tommy Rowlands to win the heavyweight slot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team. Want to see more about these Cowboy champs? For more information and photos on Oklahoma State heavyweight titlewinners from Earl McCready through Jimmy Jackson, check out the Yahoo group NCAA Heavyweight Champs that covers the best of the big men in college wrestling in the 20th century: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/NCAA_Heavyweight_Champs/ For photos and features on Steve Mocco, visit the NCAA Heavyweight Champs 2 Yahoo group: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/NCAA_Heavyweight_Champs_2/

In a sense, Jason Bryant introduced wrestling, the world's oldest sport, to the 21st century … and all the latest forms of journalistic technology. Jason BryantFor beginning in 1997, two years after Bryant fell in love with wrestling -- "It was a Wednesday night in January of 1995 when after I saw a pin at 145 pounds that I told a buddy, 'Hey, I like this sport,' " recalled this native of Poquoson, Va. -- that he started becoming a voice of wrestling by posting his thoughts on the internet. "With the web, it was like the scene in the movie, "Gremlins," where the guy throws the creature in the water and everything multiplies and explodes," said Bryant, who soon found himself sharing opinions with other wrestling fans in this modern medium. But unlike other internet posters, who use screen names like "OUcat" and "tightwaist," Bryant can easily be found because he simply goes by "Jason Bryant." "Initially, it was to get my name out," admitted Byrant, who did not mind people know his opinions or identity. "TheMat.com message boards got to a point where people wanted to know what this Jason Bryant had to say and I was only about 18 years old at the time." Nearly a decade later, the 27-year-old Bryant can still be found on the internet, but in a much more professional on-line setting: InterMat, which was purchased in 2005 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, which hired Bryant to make the website an integral part of every wrestling fan's life. And at a time when college wrestling continues to be threatened by universities cutting the sport for Title IX (Fresno State and Oregon) and APR (Eastern Illinois) reasons, it is Bryant who is out there exposing the fallacies of these decisions when most national media outlets ignore the crisis. And it is Bryant's reporting of wrestling and ability to offer his opinion, which have garnered him W.I.N. Magazine's Journalist of the Year award for 2007. "I like being in the spotlight a little bit, but if I can help wrestling by creating better coverage and writing hard-hitting stories I like that," said Bryant, who moved to Lancaster, Pa., when he took the job, "I can reach more people because of the internet, because anyone can get on the internet." By keyboarding the letters, "intermatwrestle.com," wrestling fans can keep up with Bryant, who has taken many university presidents and athletic directors to task for their decisions. That included Fresno State AD Thomas Boeh, who announced in 2006 that he was cutting the Bulldog program, which began in 1962. "Tom Boeh at Fresno State was one of the most unprofessional interviews that I ever had," recalled Bryant. "He ducked my questions, would not return my phone calls and when he returned my email, he did not answer the questions that I wanted." But Bryant also has found success in his comments. "It's a good feeling when you know you have impacted someone," said Bryant. "The Wagner College coach told me my story got their program back. After I wrote a commentary, 48 hours they got their team back." Jason BryantBryant, who also holds the title, "Director of Media Relations," for the NWCA, knows that he is more than a journalist. "I am privy to a lot of information that people do not know, but am not at liberty to discuss it," Bryant said. "There is some information that could alienate some coaches in the association. It's a fine line to cross. I like to do things, but let it develop further and if something passes, I can be ready to go with it. "When I touch on issues like Oregon and EIU, I have to explain this is my opinion. The organization has its opinion on things. They do things a little more diplomatically. I am a very emotional type of guy. When a school drops a program and I see a scum-bag AD's response, it annoys me." Bryant's need to express his opinion stems from his fifth-grade hopes of becoming a broadcaster, which led to him becoming a public address announcer for at least eight sports, including wrestling, which he took up as an athlete his final two years of high school. He soon took on other media forms, including writing for the Newport News Daily Press through his college years at Old Dominion. He also created a radio show, Mat Talk, which covered all aspects of wrestling in Virginia and eventually led to the creation of www.mattalkonline.com. "I've covered just about everything and everyone in college knew that I had an extended run in college," laughed Bryant. Bryant has taken his share of shots that came with his position and positions. "I was worried about criticism," admitted Bryant. "It's a fragile thing when you are young and starting out. It was because it was so early in the internet age and you didn't have sites popping up every year. I was one of the early ones with Mat Talk On-Line. "I don't know if I was the first (to make a national impact) because I was too worried about where I was. The internet was still on dial-up back then. Now I read 50-60 message boards a day. Back then, I was worried about 50-60 hits a day." Bryant believes he has a purpose. "Every time I write a story about a kid, they light up," Bryant said. "Wrestling is called the oldest and greatest sport and I believe that." (You can also read this article by subscribing to W.I.N. Magazine. Either contact our office at 1-888-305-0606 or subscribe through this website by selecting the "Subscribe" section on our front page at www.win-magazine.com)

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Jim Gruenwald and Douglas Wilson. A 2004 Olympian, Gruenwald is currently the assistant Greco-Roman coach at the United States Olympic Education Center located on the campus of Northern Michigan University. In 2003 USA Wrestling named Gruenwald Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year. Douglas Wilson is the co-director of the Lincoln Studies Center at Knox College. He has been awarded the Lincoln Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the field of American history, for two of his books: "Honor's Voice" and "Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words." In his book "Honor's Voice" Wilson devotes an entire chapter to the legendary wrestling match between Abraham Lincoln and Jack Armstrong in New Salem, Ill., in 1831. Wilson will be discussing Lincoln's wrestling career and the historical significance of the match with Armstrong. "On the Mat" is a weekly wrestling radio program that airs every Wednesday night. This week's broadcast can be heard live from 6-7 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, hosts the show. "On the Mat" can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa on 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.

FARGO, N.D. -- Mike Benefiel (Aurora, Ill./Montini) returned to the top of the podium at the Asics Tiger Junior Nationals, which was held from July 21-26. Benefiel won the 171-pound weight class, which included 94 competitors from 41 different states. He went 10-0 in the tournament and only surrendered two points throughout the entire competition. In addition, Benefiel earned five technical falls and three pins (17 seconds, 20 seconds and 2:37) during the competition, including a decisive technical fall in his championship match. Benefiel was a Cadet National Champion in 2004 and was a Junior All-American last year. He competed for Team Illinois in the national event and trains at the Overtime School of Wrestling. "Mike's tournament performance is indicative of his training regiment," top assistant coach Drew Pariano said. "He dominated all of his opponents and that is why we believe he is one of if not the top recruit in the country." This past season, Benefiel received the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award. This annual award is bestowed upon high school seniors who demonstrate excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, character, citizenship and community service. Benefiel completed his high school career as a four-time state champion from Montini with a career record of 200-4. Robert Kellogg (Sioux City, Iowa/Sioux City North) also earned All-American accolades by placing fourth in the Junior Greco-Roman competition. Kellogg won six matches and won five additional matches in the freestyle competition, missing All-American status by just one match. Kellogg's resume has a 2006 Junior National Greco-Roman title attached to it, as well as a 2007 high school state championship for Sioux City North High School in Iowa. "Robert is a true competitor. He wrestled 16 matches in four days, became an All-American and nearly missed becoming a two-time All-American by just one match," Pariano said. Frank Battaglia (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) had an impressive tournament earning six victories in the 160-pound freestyle bracket. Both of Battaglia's losses were to eventual All-Americans. Battaglia competed for Team Illinois in the event and also trains at the Overtime School of Wrestling. Ben Kuhar (Mentor, Ohio/St. Edward) competed in the 285-pound freestyle bracket. Kuhar began the competition by reeling off three-straight victories before losing to the eventual seventh place finisher, as well as the two-time defending Junior National Champion. "Frank and Ben both had a great tournament," Pariano said. "Ben will benefit from current All-American Dustin Fox once we get both of these men in the wrestling room and Frank is a completely different wrestler than he was just three months ago. He is gaining confidence with each and every win." John Schoen (Homer Glen, Ill./Marist) competed in the 215-pound freestyle bracket. In his first Junior Nationals appearance, Schoen was victorious in his second bout of the day and then bowed out to the eventual Junior National Champion at his weight class. Pariano though, believes this experience will be very helpful to his future. "John gained valuable experience and competed against an elite athlete in this tournament. His athleticism will enable him to have a great deal of success in college." All five signees will compete for the Wildcats next fall.

The National Wrestling Coaches Association is proud to announce the upcoming NWCA Coaches Convention will be held at the Horizon Casino Resort in Lake Tahoe, Nev., August 17-19. Presented by Resilite Sports Products, Inc., Cliff Keen Athletic, Asics and Crayhon Research, the NWCA Convention is a yearly meeting of wrestling heads of state, conference and association aimed at identifying and solving issues within the sport of wrestling at the collegiate and high school level. Highlighting this year's convention are techique sessions offered by Oklahoma State head coach John Smith, Oregon State head coach Jim Zalesky and 2007 NCAA Champion Derek Moore of UC Davis. "There are numerous things we discuss yearly at the convention," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "Some years, there's a heavy emphasis on weight management, others, the emphasis is on program entrenchment." "It's a place where we can hammer out our plans for the sport and see if we can make a positive change where change needs to be made," said Moyer. From the Pac-10, Zalesky just finished his first season at Oregon State and was the recipient of the Conference Coach of the Year. Smith, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and former NCAA Coach of the Year, will also present. "We've got two of the best wrestling minds in the nation as clinicians, that's pretty hard to beat," said Mirikitani. UC Davis crowned its first All-American and NCAA champion in 2007 as Derek Moore dominated the 141-pound weight class en route to the title. He was also named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler. Moore will be the third technique clinician at this year's event. "Derek's a California native and thrived at UC Davis under coach Lennie Zalesky," said Moyer. "He stayed home and won a title, and was dominant in doing so. We're really proud to have him on board this year." As with past NWCA Conventions, seminars have been set up to help educate coaches and create a dialog with some of the sport's most concerning issues. The cornerstone of the 2007 convention will be the development of a strategic plan for wrestling. The plan will take into account the following: Legislative issues, championship qualifier allocation models, increasing competition dates and adjusting schedules, understanding the Academic Progress Rate (APR), change of season, NATA skin disease seminar, presentations by the U.S. Marine Corps, weight management, information regarding recruiting and scholarships and rules discussions from the NFHS and NCAA. "There's really something for every coach," said NWCA President Ron Mirikitani. "If I'm a high school coach that's new to the weight management, I can understand it here. If I'm a college coach with APR concerns at the NCAA level, I can get more info here." "Plus, it's a way to bring the wife and kids along on a wrestling trip and let them have some fun in a beautiful setting," added Moyer. In addition to the technique sessions, NCAA Rules Committee Chair Brad Traviola and NCAA Rules Editor Bob Bubb will present. On the scholastic side of things, NFHS Assistant Director Bob Colgate will again join the convention to discuss issues, rule changes and directives. Neil Turner, Director of Coaching Education Development for the NWCA, will also be presenting a seminar on initiatives that are crucial for the scholastic coach to understand and implement into their respective programs. There will also be an informational seminar on skin diseases, prevention and management for the scholastic level. Registration is $225 per person for collegiate coaches, which includes technique sessions, convention notebook, two social tickets, two lunch tickets and a convention gift. The rate for high school coaches is $150 and includes technique sessions, conveniton notebook, two social tickets, one lunch ticket and a convention gift. Information about the event, hotel room rates & lodging info, event schedules, online registration and things to do around Tahoe are available at: http://www.nwcaonline.com/convention.cfm

Des Moines, IA -- Defense Soap, a natural preventative and remedy product for various skin ailments, signed an agreement with TakeDown Wrestling Radio (TDR) today to sponsor the show for a minimum of one year. Defense is particularly popular throughout the combat sports community, given skin contact in wrestling, mixed martial arts (MMA), and boxing is the most aggressive way to transfer bacterial or fungal infection. "We're absolutely pleased when a sponsor not only helps us promote these sports, but goes beyond to protect our participants and competitors. Defense contributes to reducing down time from injuries, thus keeping them in the game. It's a product that can benefit one and all and essentially our sports as a whole" commented TDR's Scott Casber. Defense Soap offers a variety of products for sale through distributors as well as their website. The product mix includes bar soap, gel, essential oils, and even travel kits. "Defense soap is a potent, completely natural antibacterial and antifungal product. The synergistic effect of the essential oils contained in Defense Soap have been clinically proven to be effective in the treatment and prevention of ringworm, staph, herpes, and countless other skin infections" stated Erhardt Bell M.T., Clinical Microbiologist and President of Pet Labs Diagnostic. Defense prides itself in the endorsements it has received from athletes using their products. Tommy Rowlands, two time NCCA champion wrestler, Richard Bonacci, wrestling coach for 36 years at Cleveland State University, and internationally known superstar Chuck Norris are among those providing endorsements. The new TDR agreement places Defense Soap in close proximity to top sports personalities as they are regularly featured on the show. TDR recently announced a Presenting Sponsorship from Brute adidas, a company providing a complete line of top quality wrestling products to sporting goods dealers, amateur and professional athletic clubs and teams, and is the exclusive distributor of adidas wrestling products for North and South America. The Defense Soap sponsorship is considered to be complimentary by all close to the subject. "The synergistic relationship between our program, listeners, and sponsors continues to grow. The sense of community builds each time a meaningful contributor is added to the program. That's certainly the case with our most recent announcements. The community has welcomed Defense Soap with open arms and new relationships are formed every day" added TDR's Casber.

MASON CITY -- The North Iowa Area Community College Trojan wrestling team is celebrating the rebirth of their once prominent wrestling program after 32 years with six home dates and a rigorous schedule that will include competitions with numerous larger four-year institutions, said head coach Richard Fergola. The Trojans will have 15 regularly scheduled dual meets after hosting the Blue & Gold Grapple on October 27, the team's wrestle-offs that will help Fergola name his initial starting lineup. NIACC's first official meet on November 3 will be a special one, the Kaye Young/NIACC Open, named for the coach that guided the Trojans during NIACC's first period of wrestling, 1967-76. The meet will be held at the NIACC Gymnasium. A week later, Fergola's squad heads to Ames for the Harold Nichols Open at Iowa State on November 10, giving the Trojans an opportunity to face competitors from the nationally-rated Division I host school and other top small and large-school programs. NIACC will also compete at the Kaufman-Brand Open in Omaha, NE on November 17. The Kaufman-Brand Open is considered the largest, toughest one day college open in the nation. All the top programs from Division I through NAIA will be present. Last year, this open had all five team national champions present. The University of Northern Iowa Open on December 2 and the Dick Walker Invitational at Wartburg College on December 8, all before Christmas break. NIACC will host their home dual meet opener against Ridgewater Community College of Minnesota at 7 p.m. November 14. This will be considered Alumni Night. The Warriors claimed the NJCAA D-III (non-scholarship) national championship in 2005. Continuing dual action will take place December 5th at 7:00 pm when the Trojans travel to Rochester, MN to take on the Yellow Jackets of Rochester CC in regional competition. On December 7th, NIACC will host Neosho County Community College of Kansas at 7:00 p.m. on "Pack the House Night." Neosho County, previously won the 2000 NJCAA wrestling title. Rounding out the month of December will be yet another home dual against in state rival Ellsworth Community College on December 14 at 6:00 pm. This will be "Prep Night" where all kids clubs, Middle School and High School wrestling teams are invited to come and watch the Trojans free of charge. The Trojans return from Christmas break with a stellar test, the Colby Tournament of Champions in Colby, KS, on January 4-5, 2008. The TOC is a junior college invitational only and will invite many of the nation's top junior college programs. NIACC will host Minnesota West from Worthington, MN in a dual meet on January 11th at 7 p.m. and face the 2005 NJCAA Division I (scholarship) national champions, the Labette Community College Cardinals at 6 p.m. on January 14. In between the Minnesota West and Labette duals, the Trojans will travel to Pella, IA for the Central College Open on January 12th. The Trojans will make another trip to Minnesota on January 19th to Grand Rapids, MN for some dual action against Itasca Community College, NAIA Jamestown College and NCAA Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead. On January 23 at 7 p.m. the Trojans will travel to Fort Dodge to battle the two-time defending NJCAA Division I (scholarship) national champions, Iowa Central Community College. On Saturday January 26th, Division III St. Olaf College will host the NIACC wrestling program in a dual slated for 2:00 pm. Second year program Pratt Community College in Pratt, KS will mix it up with the Trojans of NIACC in a neutral setting on the campus of Baker University in Baldwin City, KS on Tuesday January 29th at 6:30 pm. The Trojan's inaugural season will end with a meet at perennial NJCAA standout Harper Community College in Palatine, IL on February 2, followed by the NJCAA Region VIII Championships held at Ridgewater Community College in Willmar, MN on February 10th. This is the national qualifying tournament for the 2008 NJCAA National Championships held at Rochester Community College in Rochester, MN on February 22-23. "I am very excited and pleased with our first wrestling schedule," Fergola stated. "We have developed a schedule that will allow our athletes to prepare for our region and national championships. I feel that we are in one of the toughest regions in the NJCAA and for sure in one of the toughest areas of the country for college wrestling competition. "We are fortunate to have some of the nation's best programs right here in the state of Iowa to compete against," Fergola continued. "With the addition of duals against national championship programs like Labette, Iowa Central, Harper, Ridgewater, Neosho County and meets that include NCAA D-I, D-II, D-III and NAIA teams, we will have great schedule strength to prepare us for the national tournament." NIACC's first recruiting class in 32 years includes 35 wrestlers, including numerous high school state champions and three that received All-America mention.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers Director of Athletics Bob Mulcahy announced the hiring of three-time New Jersey "Coach of the Year" Scott Goodale as head coach of the Scarlet Knights' wrestling program today. "I look forward to working for the State University," Goodale said. "I have such a passion for New Jersey wrestling and it's going to be a challenge. I'm up for the challenge and we're going to try and take this team to the next level." Scott GoodaleGoodale will follow in the footsteps of Rutgers winningest coach in wrestling history, John Sacchi. Sacchi retired in May following 17 seasons at the head of the Scarlet Knight program, and 40 years as a wrestling coach. Sacchi compiled a 167-102-5 record at Rutgers. "We certainly want to move the program forward," Goodale said. "We want to place very high in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) and send wrestlers to the NCAA Championships. The ultimate goal is to win a national title. I'd be making a mistake if I was getting into this without having the goal of being a national championship team. It was my goal at Jackson to be the number one team in New Jersey and it took a while, but we did it. Now that I'm at Rutgers, my goal is to win a national title." The Jackson, N.J. native will take over the Rutgers program following an impressive seven-year stint as head coach at his alma mater, Jackson Memorial High School. Over seven seasons, Goodale compiled an overall record of 155-16, leading his squad to the top ranking in the state in 2006 and 2007. "I'm really excited to have Scott join the Rutgers athletics family. We are very impressed with Scott's enthusiasm and dedication to the sport of wrestling, and his desire to ensure the young men in our program will succeed academically and athletically," Mulcahy said. "He is a proven winner as a coach, and is a 'Jersey' guy who is very familiar with the youth and high school programs throughout the state. Scott is the ideal person to lead our wrestling program at this time." Goodale was named the New Jersey State Coach of the Year three times, while also earning District 21 and Region VI Coach of the Year accolades three times during his time with the Jaguars. Goodale has coached four New Jersey State Champions and five New Jersey State runner-ups along with 16 additional state placewinners. In total, he has coached a total of 41 District 21 Champions and 10 Region VI Champions. Goodale led his teams to two Group IV State Championships, as well as four Central Jersey Group IV Sectional titles. Each season Goodale spent with Jackson Memorial, the Jaguars were crowned District 21 Team Champions, as well as winning four Class A-South Shore Conference titles. During the 2005-06 season, the Jaguars finished ranked No. 10 in the country. The following year, Goodale and the Jaguars bettered that performance, finishing the year ranked seventh nationally. In every year Goodale was at Jackson Memorial, he led his team to a top 10 finish in the New Jersey wrestling polls. Prior to being named head coach at Jackson Memorial, Goodale served as a top assistant for the wrestling program, while also working as the offensive coordinator for the football team. During his time with the Jaguars football squad, he was a part of three state championship teams. On a national level, he has spent the last 11 years as the Junior and Cadet State Team Coach for national wrestling tournaments held in Fargo, N.D. Following the 2005-06 season, he served as the head coach for Team New Jersey at the Junior National Duals. Goodale wrestled for Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, earning his bachelor's degree in Health and Physical education in 1995. He then went to New Jersey City University where he earned a certification in Special Education in 1997. As a collegiate wrestler, Goodale made three trips to the NCAA Championships, as well as placing second at the Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) tournament twice in his career. During his time with the Bald Eagles, the team was ranked as high as ninth in the country. Goodale finished with 99 wins at Lock Haven. Goodale, and his wife Lisa, are the parents of Shelby and Zachary, and reside in Toms River.

This week's edition of "On the Mat" will feature Mike Finn and Ron Finley Finn is currently the editor of Wrestling International Newsmagazine. He was awarded the National Wrestling Media Association's Journalist of the Year for 2006. Finn will be providing a live update of the Junior Nationals, which are being held in Fargo, ND. Finley was the head wrestling coach at the University of Oregon for 27 years before retiring in 1998. As a wrestler he competed on the 1964 Olympic team and was an NCAA runner-up in 1963. University of Oregon Athletic Department announced on July 13 2007, the addition of Varsity Baseball and Competitive Cheerleading program, and the discontinuation of the Wrestling program. Finley is currently the Save Oregon Wrestling Director. "On the Mat" is a weekly wrestling radio program that airs every Wednesday night. This week's broadcast can be heard live from 6-7 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, hosts the show. "On the Mat" can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa on 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.

SANTA ANA, CA –- Nine student-athletes from the Santa Ana College wrestling team will continue their academic and athletic careers at four-year universities. Freshmen Ivan Sanchez (125; Santiago HS) and Devin Velasquez (157; Tascosa HS) have both committed to Cal State Fullerton. CSUF competes in the Pac 10 Conference in the NCAA Division I. Sophomore Matt Mungo (165; Mission Viejo HS) has committed to San Francisco State. SFSU competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in NCAA Division II. Sophomores Jose Hernandez (125; Santa Ana HS), Jesse Ruiz (285; Santa Ana Valley HS), and Sabas Cruz (149; Santiago HS) have all committed to Menlo College. Menlo is located in Atherton, Calif., and competes in the West Region in the NAIA. Sophomore Eddie Sanchez (165; Santiago HS) has committed to Cumberland University. Cumberland is located in Lebanon, Tenn., and competes in the East Region in the NAIA. Sophomore Tom Eaton (174; Jefferson HS) has committed to Northwestern College. Northwestern is located in Orange City, Iowa and competes in the Great Plains Athletic Conference in the NAIA. Freshman Nicholas Reale (157; Canyon HS) has committed to Lindenwood University. Lindenwood is located in St. Charles, Mo., and competes in the East Region in the NAIA. The Santa Ana College wrestling team has established one of the highest transfer rates to four-year universities in the nation amongst all community college and junior college wrestling teams with a combined total of 15 Santa Ana College wrestlers who have transferred onto four-year universities over the past two years.

Fargo, ND -- NIACC wrestling recruit DaVaughn Perkins of Omaha, NE brought home the bronze medal at the 2007 Junior Greco National Championships recently held at the Fargodome in Fargo, ND. Perkins competed in the 145 pound weight class against many of the nation's top high school juniors and seniors. Perkins finished in third place defeating Luke Mellmer of North Dakota in the bronze medal match 6-0, 2-3, and 7-0. Perkins lone loss was to eventual national champion Jake Deitchler of Minnesota. The bronze medal was Perkins' third All-American honor in Fargo after claiming a Cadet National Championship in Greco-Roman and sixth place in Cadet Freestyle. Perkins was also a three-time undefeated state champion in Nebraska completing his high school career 86-0. Other NIACC recruits competing in Fargo were T.J. Moen (Saydel, IA) and Albert White (Harvey, IL). Both wrestlers have previously won national championships in Fargo, but fell short of placing in 2007. "I am very excited about all three of these dynamic young men and their abilities," stated Head Coach Richard Fergola. I am very happy for DaVaughn as well as TJ and Albert as they now prepare for doing great things at the college level. NIACC will be starting its first wrestling season since cutting the program in 1976. Coach Fergola's Trojans kick off their competitive schedule at home on November 3 with the Kaye Young/NIACC Open.

Portland- Portland State's head wrestling coach Mike Haluska announced the signing of freshman Alan Dickey and junior Henry Kofa to a national letter of intent for the 2007-08 season. Dickey had an extensive career at Willamina High School under PSU alum and 1993 All-American wrestler Ariah Fasana. Dickey qualified for the Oregon high school state tournament four times. He accumulated two championships and two third-place finishes. Recently, Dickey placed eighth at the 2007 Junior Greco National Tournament. He is the son of Vane and Denise Dickey of Sheridan, Ore. Kofa is coming to PSU as a transfer from Lassen Community College in Susanville, Calif., where he was a two time All-American. Kofa placed fifth as a freshman and second as a sophmore at the national tournament. Kofa graduated from Denver East High School where he won the 2004 Colorado high school state championships and was selected into the Denver East High School's Hall of Fame. He is the son of Rose Dunn and Randy Gallegos of Denver, Colo.