Wrestling USA Magazine

www.WrestlingUSA.comMay 30, 2018Volume 53, No. 10$5.00

www.WrestlingUSA.comMay 30, 2018Volume 53, No. 10$5.00

NATIONAL ACTION WRESTLING PHOTO CONTESTSend your best action wrestling photos to [email protected] best photos will be recognized each issue. All photos shouldbe submitted digital at 300 dpi.

2018 Dream Team Classic Wrestling Dual - 113 lbs.Cevion Severado (Christian Brothers College, MO)finishing an inside trip takedown on Jose Diaz (Wheeler,IN). Severado won by decision 11-8. Photo by G WyattSchultz.

Cover Photo

Editor-In-ChiefLANNY BRYANT

Order of MeritNational Wrestling Hall of Fame

AAU National Wrestling Hall of FameManaging EditorCODY BRYANTAssistant EditorANN BRYANT

National EditorDAN FICKEL

National PhotographerG WYATT SCHULTZContributing Editor

BILL WELKERDesign & Art Director

CODY BRYANTAdministrative Assistants

LANANN BRYANTCODI JEAN BRYANT

SHANNON (BRYANT) WOLFEGINGER FLOWERS

Advertising/PromotionCODY BRYANTNational Office

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Wrestling USA (ISSN) 0199-6258Wrestling USA Magazine, Inc. is published tentimes yearly as follows: September, Fall Buyer’sGuide, October, November, December, January,February, March, April and May.Editorial Office: 590 Royal Oak Dr. #18, Pass Christian, MS 39571All contributions are welcome. Please enclose postagewith manuscripts, illustrations and photographssubmitted if they are to be returned. We assume noresponsibility for unsolicited materials. All rights,in letters and photos sent to Wrestling USA, will betreated as unconditionally assigned for publication andcopyright purposes. They are subject to WrestlingUSA’s unrestricted right to edit and to commenteditorially. Printed in USA; entire contents © 2018Wrestling USA; reprinting in whole or in part isforbidden except by written permission of publisher.Subscriptions: One year (10 issues) $35 in UnitedStates and Possessions. All other countries $60 inUS currency or international money order. Send to:Wrestling USA Magazine, 590 Royal Oak Dr. #18,Pass Christian, MS 39571Send National Record Proposals:Cody Bryant590 Royal Oak Dr. #18Pass Christian, MS 39571E-Mail: [email protected] All-American Nominations or Correspondenceon High School and College Wrestling: Dan Fickel, 10757 Woodrun Dr., Strongsville, OH 44136 E-Mail: [email protected] of Address: Six weeks are required tochange your mailing address. Forwarding postageis paid by you and lost copies cannot be replaced.To ensure delivery, send us your old and newaddress at least six weeks before moving. Includeyour new zip code.Advertising: Rates available upon request. ContactCody Bryant, Managing Editor.phone (406) 360-9421.Postmaster: Send address changes to WrestlingUSA Magazine, Inc., 590 Royal Oak Drive #18,Pass Christian, MS 39571. Periodical postage paidat Missoula, MT 59802 and at additional offices.PRINTED IN THE USAE Mail: [email protected] Site: http://www.wrestlingusa.comName: wusa10Password: Cody10

ne of our favorite features of the year is the annual Wrestling USAMagazine All-AmericanTeams. Each year we are proud to recognize the top high school seniors in the country.There are 13 “Dream Teamers”, 13 “Academic Teamers”, 96 other All-Americans, and 120Honorable Mention All-American selections. Forty-nine states are represented from thenumerous nominations received.

The 2018 Dream Team is a tremendously-decorated one, comprised of five-time statechampions Joey Silva (138) of Florida, and David Carr (152) of Ohio, four-time state champions RomanBravo-Young (132) of Arizona, Travis Wittlake (170) of Oregon, Aaron Brooks (182) of Maryland, andGable Steveson (285) of Minnesota, three-time state champions Malik Heinselman (120) of Colorado,Patrick McKee (126) of Minnesota, Shane Griffith (160) of New Jersey, Gavin Hoffman (195) ofPennsylvania, and Mason Parris (220) of Indiana, two-time Pennsylvania state champion Sammy Sasso(145), and Missouri state champion Cevion Severado (113) . Carr won four state titles in Ohio and aKentucky state crown while in eighth grade. The 13 members of the team represent 44 state titles and2,469 match victories. They average an overall win-loss record of 190-9. Parris leads in G.P.A. with a4.28, followed by Griffith with a 3.9 and Heinselman with a 3.8. Silva leads the team with 267 careerwins, while Parris has the most career falls with 141. Bravo-Young heads the team with a 100% winningpercentage, followed by Parris at 99.5%, Wittlake at 99% and Brooks at 98.8%. Steveson secured a JuniorWorld Freestyle Championships title, two Cadet World Freestyle Championships crowns, and a CadetNational Freestyle Championships title, while Heinselman, Bravo-Young, Wittlake, and Brooks cap-tured multiple Cadet National Championships titles. Heinselman, McKee, Carr, and Brooks won titlesat the prestigious Junior National Freestyle Championships. Silva, Sasso, and Carr captured titles at thehighly-regarded Walsh Ironman Tournament. Bravo-Young, Silva, Brooks, and Hoffman were multiplewinners of the esteemed National High School Championships. Silva, Sasso, Carr, and Griffith claimedfirst-place honors at the always-tough Super 32 Challenge Tournament.

The highly-accomplished Academic Team features four-time state champions Ty Smith (120) ofNevada, Alex Thomsen (126) of Iowa, Collin Gerardi (132) of Virginia, Jeremy Schoenherr (138) ofWisconsin, Brock Hardy (145) of Utah, Quincy Monday (152) of North Carolina, Jared Franek (160) ofNorth Dakota, Layne Hatcher (195) of Arkansas, Brandon Whitman (220) of Michigan, and Seth Nevills(285) of California, three-time Ohio state champion Rocky Jordan (170), New York state champion DylanRyder (113) and Illinois state champion Jack Jessen (182). The thirteen members of the team have anastounding 3.93 average G.P.A. and an average win-loss record of 186-6. Nevills leads the team with a99.71% winning percentage, followed by Thomsen at 99.48%, Whitman at 98.54%, and Hatcher at97.96%. Franek accumulated the most career victories with 268 and Hatcher recorded the most careerfalls with 202. Monday leads in G.P.A. with a brilliant 4.65, followed by Gerardi and Jessen at 4.2, andHardy and Franek at 4.0. Hardy and Jordan were victorious at the Walsh Ironman Tournament, whileThomsen and Jessen captured titles at the rugged Junior National Greco-Roman Championships. Smithwas triumphant at the highly-acclaimed Junior National Freestyle Championships. Hardy and Franekseized top honors at the Cadet National Freestyle Championships, while Ryder and Gerardi were cham-pions at the prestigious National High School Championships. Schoenherr and Franek were runner-ups at the Junior National Freestyle Championships. Whitman took second at the Cadet NationalFreestyle Championships and Nevills was victorious at Flo Nationals.

Unfortunately, we did not receive nominations for some deserving young men. We also receivedsome incomplete nominations that lacked necessary information and/or quality photos and receivedsome nominations well past the April 1st deadline.

Eight factors were considered in determining the All-American Teams. They included:(1) Overall varsity high school record and accomplishments at the State High School Championships;(2) National Junior Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships;(3) Performances at prestigious regular season high school tournaments;(4) Cadet National Championships;(5) Super 32 Challenge Tournament;(6) National High School Championships; (7) Nomination forms and letters of recommendation sent by coaches and parents;(8) Academic excellence and citizenship.

OO

WRESTLING USA MAGAZINELETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Wrestling U.S.A. Magazine - May 30, 2018 page 3

22001188 WWrreessttlliinngg UUSSAA MMaaggaazziinnee AAllll--AAmmeerriiccaann TTeeaammssBy Dan Fickel, National Editor

3 LETTER FROM THE EDITORBy Dan Fickel, National Editor

6 NCAA DIVISION I WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPSPenn State Stunning 2018 Wrestling Title Will be Talked About for Years and YearsBy Roger Moore

8 NCAA DIVISION II WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPSSaint Cloud State Wins Third Title in Four YearsBy NCAA

10 NCAA DIVISION III WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPSWartburg Wins 14th Title and Third StraightBy Cody Bryant

12 NAIA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPSGrand View Wins Seventh-Straight National ChampionshipBy NAIA

14 MASTER-OF-WRESTLING Dan LefebvreOtsego, Minnesota

15 COACH-OF-THE-YEARBrian AntonelliBlair AcademyBlairstown, New Jersey

16 ASSISTANT COACH-OF-THE-YEARJohn ConteGarnet Valley High SchoolGlen Mills, Pennsylvania

17 MANAGER-OF-THE-YEARJayden RussellFlathead High SchoolKalispell, Montana

18 OFFICIAL-OF-THE-YEARStan OnoMililani, Hawaii

19 SPORTSWRITER-OF-THE-YEARKim NorthMartins Ferry Times-LeaderBridgeport, Ohio

20 2018 ALL-AMERICAN HONORABLE MENTION

24 DREAM TEAM CLASSICTeam Indiana Brings the Crowd to Their Feet But Lose to Team USABy Cody Bryant

26 ALL-CLASS RANKINGS2018 Best All-Class Final RankingsBy Dan Fickel, National Editor

31 HIGH SCHOOL TEAM RANKINGSTop 50 High School TeamsBy Stuart Mahler

32 GIRLS WRESTLINGA Year of New Opportunities for Girls High School WrestlingBy Joan Fulp

34 STATE AWARDS2018 State Person-of-the-Year Awards

THE NATIONAL VOICE OF HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING

2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship Final141 lbs. Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) trying to keep control of thefoot of Bryce Meredith (Wyoming). Diakomihalis won by decision7-4 to be one of two true freshmen (other being Spencer Lee, Iowa)to win in the finals . Photo by G Wyatt Schultz.

May 30, 2018Volume 53, No. 10

page 4 May 30, 2017 - Wrestling U.S.A. Magazine

W R E S T L I N G U S A M A G A Z I N ETABLE of Contents

NCAA Wrestling Championships

Spencer Lee125-Iowa

Seth Gross133-South Dakota State

Yianni Diakomihalis141-Cornell

Zain Retherford149-Penn State

Jason Nolf157-Penn State

Vincenzo Joseph165-Penn State

Zahid Valencia174-Arizona State

Bo Nickal184-Penn State

Michael Macchiavello197-North Carolina State

Kyle Snyder285-Ohio State

t was a moment that will lead highlight reels for NCAAWrestling Championships for the next 100 years and beyond.

With three days of battles between front-runners Penn Stateand Ohio State reaching its peak, old rivals Bo Nickal andMyles Martin took the mat to decide the 184-pound weight

class. Martin, a senior for Ohio State, beat Nickal in an NCAA finaltwo seasons ago; Nickal, a junior and national champion in 2017,owned wins over Martin twice this season. A Buckeye win and theteam title would come down to Martin’s teammate Kyle Snyder, anOlympic champion.

Quicken Loans Arena’s record wrestling crowd was ready toexplode. Martin started strong, attacking Nickal time and again overthe first two minutes. The deciding attack saw Nickal go to his backand appear to be in trouble. But a small adjustment and the high-fly-ing Texan flipped Martin to his back with a “high-flyer” and when theofficial slapped the mat the arena went wild. Nickal’s pin clinched hissecond individual title and Penn State’s seventh in eight years.

It was a magical moment in the history of collegiate wrestling.“I’ve been doing that move for a really long time,” said Nickal, one

of four champions for PSU. “I try it a lot in practice, just messingaround and play wrestling with guys and stuff like that. So it’s a posi-tion that I’m comfortable in. And I knew what I was doing. I didn’thave to think too much about it.”

For Penn State and head coach Cael Sanderson it marked anothermonumental March run. Ohio State wrestled the Big Ten title awayfrom State College and brought a powerful team to Cleveland. TheBuckeyes led early and regained the lead after a strong Saturdaymorning in consolations. With two finalists, head coach Tom Ryan’sbunch made a move with six additional All-Americans. And when ris-ing star Zahid Valencia, a sophomore for Arizona State, took down2017 champion Mark Hall in the 174-pound final Saturday night,Buckeye fans’ energy rose significantly.

Then Nickal’s dramatics ended any hope.“I’m obviously very proud of these guys,” said Sanderson’s whose

IIPenn State's stunning 2018 wrestling title will

be talked about for years and yearsBy Roger Moore

May 30, 2018 - Wrestling U.S.A. Magazinepage 6

team totaled 141.5 points to edge Ohio State by eight. “I think theyput forth a tremendous effort throughout the whole year. And a greatday today, great day yesterday. And just proud of them and happyfor them, more than anything.”

Both squads had missed opportunities.“We can look at a lot of matches that happened this weekend. The

Ke-Shawn Hayes quarterfinal was huge,” Ryan said. “If Ke-ShawnHayes gets that reversal … We can look back at points everywhere.The bottom line is it wasn’t enough.”

Ohio State’s Kyle Snyder finished what should be considered oneof the best collegiate careers in the history of the sport, all while win-ning Olympic gold in 2016 and a pair of World Championships. Afour-time finalist and three-time champion, Snyder beat Michigan’sAdam Coon in his final match.

“The greatest of all time,” Ryan said. “This is a guy that was doingdouble duty. He was overseas winning World championships whilealso winning national championships. Unheard of. There has notbeen a wrestler like him in my opinion at this point in his career.”

“I’ll look back at my career at Ohio State and just be thankful for notwhat I was able to achieve, but all the moments and camaraderie andexperience I’ve had with my teammates and coaches and myimprovement as a wrestler and as a man and my faith especially, allthat’s grown so much,” Snyder said. “So that’s what I look back on.”

PSU’s Zain Retherford beat Lock Haven’s Ronnie Perry for 149-pound gold. It marked the senior’s 94th straight win and thirdnational title.

Retherford’s teammate, junior Jason Nolf, was injured late duringthe regular season. His health was in question after wrestling just two

bouts at the Big Ten Championships, then defaulting out of the tour-nament to finish sixth. In Cleveland, the 157-pounder rolled to hissecond title, beating North Carolina State rookie Hayden Hidlay inthe finals.

The third PSU title winner, sophomore Vincenzo Joseph, beatIllinois senior Isaiah Martinez in the 165 final for a second straightyear. In 2017, Joseph pinned Martinez; on Saturday night it was adominant decision. Martinez finished a brilliant career that includedfour trips to the NCAA finals and just three career losses. He was achampion in 2015 and 2016.

Iowa’s solid tournament included a massive performance from truefreshman 125-pounder Spencer Lee. A Junior World champion infreestyle, Lee rolled to the final where he beat Rutgers’ talented NickSuriano.

Lee was one of two true freshmen to win a title. Cornell’s YianniDiakomihalis trailed Wyoming’s Bryce Meredith in the third period,but countered a shot and locked up a slick cradle to secure the neces-sary points for victory. It marked the first time since 1947 that twotrue freshman won championships.

South Dakota State totaled three All-Americans and crowned jun-ior 133-pounder Seth Gross. A runner-up in 2017, Gross beat second-seeded Stevan Micic of Michigan in the title bout.

A big fan favorite was Kent State 197-pounder Kyle Conel. Hewrestled a pigtail match on Thursday morning and was the onlyentry to win three bouts on the first day. In Friday’s quarterfinals,Conel tossed top-seeded Kolin Moore to his back for a first periodpin. On Saturday morning, Conel, after falling in the semifinals toMacchiavello on Friday night, beat Moore a second time to finishthird.

Oklahoma State, with 34 NCAA team titles, finished tied for 13th,the second lowest in head coach John Smith’s 27 seasons. Fellow Big12 members Iowa State and Oklahoma, who have a combined 15NCAA titles between them, finished 45th and 56th, respectively,both program lows. The 12 Big 12 programs combined for 11 All-Americans, seven of them between OSU and South Dakota State.

Quicken Loans Arena broke NCAA records for attendance. The six-session total of 113,743 is No. 1 all-time and the 19,776 for Saturdaynight’s final round also set a new standard. The 2019 Championshipsare set for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania March 21-23rd.

2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Final Team Standings

1. Penn State 141.52 Ohio State 134.53 Iowa 97.04 Michigan 80.0 4 NC State 80.06 Missouri 61.57 Cornell 48.08 Virginia Tech 47.59 Nebraska 47.010 Arizona State 43.011 Rutgers 42.512 South Dakota State 42.013 Illinois 37.513 Oklahoma State 37.515 Lehigh 36.516 Lock Haven 35.017 Minnesota 27.517 Wisconsin 27.517 Wyoming 27.520 North Carolina 27.021 Oregon State 26.022 Duke 21.022 Kent State 21.024 Northern Iowa 20.024 Northwestern 20.026 Princeton 17.027 Maryland 12.528 Hofstra 12.028 Purdue 12.030 West Virginia 11.531 Pittsburgh 10.531 Virginia 10.533 CSU Bakersfield 9.534 Stanford 8.535 Drexel 8.036 Edinboro 7.0

36 Navy 7.038 Central Michigan 6.538 Northern Colorado 6.540 Eastern Michigan 5.040 Pennsylvania 5.042 Army West Point 4.543 Columbia 4.043 Utah Valley 4.045 Iowa State 3.045 North Dakota State 3.045 Rider 3.048 Chattanooga 2.548 Northern Illinois 2.550 Appalachian State 2.050 Brown 2.050 Bucknell 2.050 Clarion 2.050 Old Dominion 2.055 Indiana 1.556 American 1.056 Campbell 1.056 Franklin & Marshall 1.056 George Mason 1.056 Harvard 1.056 Oklahoma 1.062 Binghamton 0.562 Cal Poly 0.562 Fresno State 0.565 Air Force 0.065 Buffalo 0.065 Cleveland State 0.065 Gardner-Webb 0.065 Michigan State 0.065 Ohio 0.065 SRN IL-Edwardsville 0.065 The Citadel 0.0


W r e s t l i n g U S A . c o m

2018 NCAA Division I Championship Final Matches125-Spencer Lee (Iowa) dec. Nick Suriano (Rutgers) 5-1.133-Seth Gross (South Dakota St) dec. Stevan Micic(Michigan) 13-8.141-Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell) dec. Bryce Meredith(Wyoming) 7-4.149-Zain Retherford (Penn St) dec. Ronald Perry(Lock Haven) 6-2.157-Jason Nolf (Penn St) dec. Hayden Hidlay (North Carolina St) 6-2.165-Vincenzo Joseph (Penn St) dec. Isaiah Martinez(Illinois) 6-1.174-Zahid Valencia (Arizona St) dec. Mark Hall (Penn St) 8-2.184-Bo Nickal (Penn St) fall Myles Martin (Ohio St) 2:30.197-Michael Macchiavello (NC St) dec. Jared Haught(Virginia Tech) 3-1.285-Kyle Snyder (Ohio St) dec. Adam Coon(Michigan) 3-2.



Elijah Hale125-Central Oklahoma

Josh Walker133-Upper Iowa

Chris Eddins141-Pittsburgh-Johnstown

Daxton Gordon149-California Baptist

Cody Law157-Pittsburgh-Johnstown

Bret Romanzak165-Ashland

Nick Becker174-Wisconsin-Parkside

Noel Torres184-Newman

Luke Cramer197-Ashland

Terrance Fanning285-Wheeling Jesuit

ot every sporting event has a defining moment, that “Ican’t believe what I just saw” highlight that brings every-one out of their seats.

At the 2018 NCAA Division II WrestlingChampionships last weekend, St. Cloud State and LarryBomstad certainly provided a moment to remember.

Defending champion Notre Dame College led theHuskies after the first day of wrestling and sent Fernie Silva to the matagainst Bomstad in a key semifinal bout at 157 pounds. A big thirdperiod takedown gave the talented Falcon a 4-2 lead, but Bomstad, asenior, reversed Silva to his back and scored a monstrous pin thatbrought the SCSU fans out of their seats. A weight class later it wasJames Pleski flattening Wisconsin-Parkside’s Frank Yattoni; VinceDeitz finished off a big semifinal round with a pin in the 197-poundsemifinals

SCSU took a lead it would never relinquish and outdistanced NDCby 8.5 points in the final tally. Throw in Jarred Oftedahl and KoltenEischens, who each had pins in the consolations, and the 10 pointsfrom pins over the course of two hours was the difference.

“We had a great rally,” said head coach Steve Costanzo, who’s ledSCSU to national titles in three of the last four seasons. “The guys werereally feeding off each other. If you could have written the script it wasideal. One of the things I told our kids this morning was that we owedit to them to give our best effort because I thought we had more to give(on Friday). Our crowd wasn’t loud enough because we weren’t enter-taining enough.

“We were much more entertaining (Saturday), got some excitementbuilt up.”

During the Huskies’ 2015 championship run Bomstad also had a bigpin in consolations that sparked the team.

“Bomstad really ignited our team (in 2015),” Costanzo recalled.“We only had six qualifiers and he had a big pin in the blood round

to give us six All-Americans. He really sparked of that tournament forus, the guy that really let us know we could do this. He kind of did thesame this morning; a senior, great kid, great to have a big moment likethat as a senior to help us win a national championship.”

Although Bomstad fell in the finals to Pittsburgh-Johnstown’s CodyLaw, three All-America seasons and helping his team win a title will

NNSaint Cloud State Wins Third Title in Four Years

By NCAA

not soon be forgotten.“It was exciting, obviously,” Bomstad said. “I was tired, exhausted,

but I told myself ‘this is your last tournament ever to wrestle, just doeverything and anything possible to push through.’

“Coach (Costanzo) told us that most of us might never get thechance again; I’m graduated so I won’t get another chance. I just kepttelling myself, get (Silva) to his back and pin him because if I win theteam wins and those points were big.”

SCSU went 0-3 in the finals, but no team could catch them after thethird session. NDC had a tournament-high seven All-Americans, butjust one finalist. The 8.5 point margin wrapped up the team title beforethe finals began.

“We had a good tournament. We brought seven and had seven All-Americans,” said NDC coach Frank Romano. “St. Cloud State was justbetter. I really thought we came back strong (in consolations) after wehad fallen behind. You want to win championships and we have areally strong group of recruits coming in.”

Wisconsin-Parkside’s Nick Becker was rightfully named the tourna-ment’s Outstanding Wrestler. The senior 174-pounder capped off an89-0 career with a third national title by beating the talented NolanKistler in the finals. Kistler, a three-time Elite 90 Award winner, scoredthe bout’s opening takedown, but Becker, a beast on top and soliddefensively, earned an 8-4 decision. Becker’s final bout included anumber of stoppages due to flowing blood from Becker’s nose.

“Felt like a normal match, but there was way too much blood time,”Becker said. “It was tough, but you have to keep wrestling. I’m guess-ing (I broke my nose) because I haven’t bled like that in two or threeyears.

“Winning three or 89-0? I don’t know which is bigger. I think whatis impressive is my coaching staff, my teammates because they helpedme get to this point.”

As a team, the Rangers would have finished with 74 points, whichwould have been good for third place behind St. Cloud State (92.5) andNotre Dame (84). Due to conference sanctions, Parkside is ineligible toplace in the team standings. Third place would have been the bestplace in Parkside history, surpassing the fifth place finish in 2010.

St. Cloud State totaled 92.5 points to edge NDC and its 84 points.California Baptist (70.5), Upper Iowa (58), and Ashland (55) roundedout the top five, Ashland moving past Pittsburgh-Johnston by .5 pointwith its two champions. Thirty-six schools had at least one All-American, 19 with a solo top eight finisher.

The 2019 DII Championships are set for Cleveland.


2018 NCAA Division II Championship Final Matches125-Elijah Hale (Central Oklahoma) technical fallMaleek Williams (Upper Iowa) 17-2.133-Josh Walker (Upper Iowa) decisioned GeorgeFarmah (Minnesota St) 1-0.141-Chris Eddins (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) decisionedDarren Wynn (McKendree) 4-2.149-Daxton Gordon (California Baptist) decisionedJames Pleski (Saint Cloud St) 5-1 SV-1.157-Cody Law (Pittsburgh-Johnstown) decisioned LarryBomstad (Saint Cloud St) 6-3.165-Bret Romanzak (Ashland) decisioned ChristianSmith (California Baptist) 3-2.174-Nick Becker (Wisconsin-Parkside) decisioned NolanKistler (California Baptist) 8-4.184-Noel Torres (Newman) decisioned JaVaughn Perkins(Colorado St-Pueblo) 3-1.197-Luke Cramer (Ashland) decisioned Vince Dietz(Saint Cloud St) 5-1.285-Terrance Fanning (Wheeling Jesuit) decisionedKameron Teacher (Notre Dame) 8-2.

2018 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships Final Team Standings

1 St. Cloud St. 92.52 Notre Dame (OH) 84.03 California Baptist 70.54 Upper Iowa 58.05 Ashland 55.06 Pitt.-Johnstown 54.57 McKendree 52.08 Neb.-Kearney 44.59 Central Okla. 36.510 Minnesota St. 30.511 Colorado St.-Pueblo 30.012 Newman 27.513 Wheeling Jesuit 25.514 Western St. 20.515 UNC Pembroke 19.016 Simon Fraser 15.517 Kutztown 13.518 Northern St. 12.519 King (TN) 12.020 Colorado Mesa 11.520 Ouachita Baptist 11.520 Shippensburg 11.523 LIU Post 11.023 West Liberty 11.025 Limestone 10.526 Findlay 10.0

26 Mary 10.026 Millersville 10.026 Minot St. 10.030 Newberry 9.031 Lindenwood (MO) 8.032 Adams St. 7.033 Augustana 5.533 Fort Hays St. 5.535 UIndy 4.536 Mercyhurst 4.037 Gannon 3.538 Lake Erie 3.039 Belmont Abbey 2.539 Chadron St. 2.539 N.M. Highlands 2.539 Ohio Valley 2.543 San Francisco 1.543 Seton Hill 1.545 Southwest Minn. St. 1.045 Tiffin 1.047 Alderson Broaddus 0.547 Maryville (MO) 0.547 Truman 0.550 Colo. Sch. of Mines 0.050 MSU Moorhead 0.050 Wis.-Parkside 0.0




Jay Albis125-Johnson & Wales

Brock Rathbun133-Wartburg

Ben Brisman141-Ithaca

Cross Cannone149-Wartburg

Ryan Epps157-Augsburg

Lucas Jeske165-Augsburg

Jairod James174-Mount Union

Jordan Newman184 -Wisconsin-Whitewater

Kyle Fank197-Wartburg

Jake Evans285-Waynesburg

he Wartburg wrestling team won it’s 14th NCAANational Title and third straight with 136.5 points withthree champions and two runner-ups. The questionwasn’t who was going to win the team title, it was byhow much. You only have to go back to 2012 when

Wartburg again won the title over Augsburg by 55 points andhold the record back in 2003 when they won the title by 78points.

The Knights three champions were Brock Rathbun at 133 lbs.,Cross Cannone at 149 lbs. and Kyle Fank at 197 lbs. and theirtwo runner-ups Logan Thomsen at 157 lbs. and Tyler Lutes at184 lbs. This was Rathbun’s first career All-American finish andfinished with a 15 match winning streak. Cannone became anAll-American for the second time winning his first nationalchampionship and finishing the season undefeated (34-0). Thiswas also Fank’s second career All-American finish and first

national championship title ending with a 23 match winningstreak. Wartburg would finish with a total of eight All-Americans.

Two Augsburg wrestlers won inddividual titles lifting theAuggies to a second-place team finish edging past third-placeIthaca by 3 points. Lucas Jeske claimed his national title at 165lbs. with a technical fall over Nick Velez of Ithaca. Jeske tourna-ment dominance earned him the Most Outstanding Wrestleraward and finished the season 39-1. Ryan Epps needed sudden-death overtime to win 3-1, winning his national title at 157 lbs.Ryan ended the season 41-1 and on a 26 match winning streak.

Augsburg would finish with five All-Americans includingSam Bennyhoff earning national runner-up honors at 133 lbs.Augsburg has finished among the top two teams at NCAADivision III Nationals 24 times including 12 national titles, 48individual national champions and 206 All-Americans.

By Cody Bryant

TTWartburg Wins 14th Title and Third Straight

Ithaca College finished with five All-Americans including 141pounder Ben Brisman taking home the Bombers’ first individ-ual national title since 2013 and a third place team finish.Brisman became Ithaca’s 12th individual national champion forthe wrestilng program. This was Ithaca’s highest finish forcoach Marty Nichols 22 years at the helm. Coach Nichols wasinducted into the NWCA Division III Wrestling Hall of Fameand named 2018 NWCA Coach of the Year.

Freshman Brett Kaliner national runner-up at 141 lbs. markedthe highest finish for a Stevens wrestler in program history.Kaliner was one of three wrestlers to earn All-American honorsthat also marked the team’s fourth place (55 points) as the bestin program history. This was the Ducks third consecutive topten finish. Sophomore Tory Stanich finished third for the secondconsecutive year and senior Zach Wilhelm placed fourth tobecome a two-time All-American.

Three Wabash wrestlers earned All-American honors with athird place by Austin Bethel at 149 lbs., fourth place for DardenSchurg at 174 lbs. and eighth place for Kyle Hatch at 157 lbs.The Little Giants earned at least one All-American for the eighthconsecutive year. Wabash finish fifth in the team race 44 points.

Johnson & Wales (43.5), Wisconsin-La Crosse (42.5), Messiah(38.0), Wisconsin-Whitewater (35.0), Mount Union (34.5) andSUNY-Oneonta (34.5) rounded out the top ten at this years 2018NCAA Division III team standings.

Jay Albis got a takedown in the final seconds to becomeJohnson & Wales University’s first NCAA National Championin any sport. he defeated Carlos Fuentes (Wheaton) 11-10 tocapture the title at 125 pounds. As a team, the Wildcats finishedsixth with 43.5 points and four All-Americans including seniorJoao Vicente placing six and juniors Joe Ferinde and KhamriThomas placing eighth.

Mount Union’s Jairod James claimed the title at 174 poundswith a 4-1 decision over Jon Goetz (Wisconsin-Platteville) tohelp the Purple Raiders break the top ten in the team standings(only their fifth time in school history). James became MountUnion’s second ever individual wrestling champion since DanBobish won the heavyweight title in 1992. Jairod finished hisfirst season at Mount Union with a 22-1 record. Mount Unionfinished with two All-Americans as senior Nick Mancini placedfifth at 125 pounds.

Senior Jordan Newman captured his second consecutivenational title at 184 lbs. to lead the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to a ninth place finish. Newman became the pro-grams second-ever back-to-back national champion by defeat-ing Tyler Lutes (Wartburg) 9-1. Sophomore Mike Tortoriceplaced third at 125 lbs. to help Wisconsin-Whitewater finish inninth place as a team.

Waynesburg junior Jake Evans decisioned Oneonta State’sJames Bethel 10-5 at 285 lbs. to become their first tounamentchampion in school history. Evans is now a two-time All-American and has become the Yellow Jacket’s ninth All-Amerian during head coach Ron Headlee’s decade with theprogram.


2018 NCAA Division III Team Standings

2018 NCAA Division III Championship Final Matches125-Jay Albis (Johnson & Wales) decisioned CarlosFuentez (Wheaton) 11-10.133-Brock Rathbun (Wartburg) decisioned SamBennyhoff (Augsburg) 12-5.141-Ben Brisman (Ithaca) decisioned Brett Kaliner(Stevens) 10-7.149-Cross Cannone (Wartburg) major decisionedGregory Warner (York) 9-1.157-Ryan Epps (Augsburg) decisioned LoganThomsen (Wartburg) 3-1 SV-1.165-Lucas Jeske (Augsburg) technical fall NickVelez (Ithaca) 15-0.174-Jairod James (Mount Union) decisioned JonGoetz (Wisconsin-Platteville) 4-1.184-Jordan Newman (Wisconsin-Whitewater)major decisioned Tyler Lutes (Wartburg) 9-1.197-Kyle Fank (Wartburg) decisioned Guy Patron(Loras) 8-2.285-Jake Evans (Waynesburg) decisioned JamesBethel (SUNY Oneonta) 10-5.


1. Wartburg 136.52. Augsburg 82.03. Ithaca 79.04. Stevens 55.05. Wabash 44.06. Johnson & Wales (RI) 43.57. Wis.-La Crosse 42.58. Messiah 38.09. Wis.-Whitewater 35.010. Mount Union 34.510. SUNY Oneonta 34.512. Coe 34.013. Millikin 30.514. Wheaton (IL) 29.515. Baldwin Wallace 28.016. Brockport 27.517. Cornell College 25.518. Wesleyan (CT) 24.019. NYU 21.020. Waynesburg 20.021. Loras 19.521. Wis.-Platteville 19.523. Coast Guard 19.023. Wis-Stevens Point 19.025. York (PA) 18.026. Elmhurst 17.027. Elizabethtown 13.527. Western New Eng. 13.529. Wis.-Oshkosh 13.030. Augustana (IL) 12.031. Alma 10.032. Centenary (NJ) 9.033. Lycoming 8.5

34. Central (IA) 8.035. MSOE 7.536. RIT 4.037. Delaware Valley 3.537. Johns Hopkins 3.537. Roger Williams 3.540. Ozarks (AR) 2.540. SUNY Cortland 2.542 North Central (IL) 2.042 TCNJ 2.042 Southern Maine 2.045 Ferrum 1.045 John Carroll 1.045 Manchester 1.045 Southern Virginia 1.045 Wis.-Eau Claire 1.050 Olivet 0.550 Oswego St. 0.552 Adrian 0.052 Concordia Wisconsin 0.052 Gettysburg 0.052 Heidelberg 0.052 Luther 0.052 Merchant Marine 0.052 New England Col. 0.052 Ohio Northern 0.052 Otterbein 0.052 Springfield 0.052 Trinity (CT) 0.052 Wash. & Lee 0.052 Wilkes 0.052 Williams 0.052 WPI 0.0

NAIA Wrestling Championships

Hayden Lee125-Cumberlands

Jake Sinkovics133-Cumberlands

Tyler Fraley141-Williams Baptist

Cam Tessari149-Lindsey Wilson

Nosomy Pozo157-Life

Grant Henderson165-Grand View

Lucas Lovvorn174-Baker

Charles Sharon184-Campbellsville

Evan Hansen197-Grand View

Dean Broghammer285-Grand View

he Vikings of Grand View (Iowa) continues the rewritethe wrestling record book as the program won anunprecedented seventh-straight team title at the 2018NAIA Wrestling National Championships. The 61st

annual event took place at the Jacobson Exhibition Center, DesMoines, Iowa.

Grand View, fueled by 10 All-Americans, scored 171.5 teampoints. The victory makes the Vikings the fourth program incollegiate wrestling history to win seven-straight team titles,joining NCAA Division I Iowa (nine-straight 1978-86), NCAADivision I Oklahoma State (seven-straight 1937-1949) and then-NCAA Division II Cal Poly (seven-straight 1968-1974).

All three of Grand View’s finalists won national titles. GrantHenderson at 165 pounds was the first champion on the nightfor the Vikings, as the senior downed Andrew Simmons ofMissouri Valley, 6-2, to claim his second-straight individualTitle.

Two weight classes later, Evan Hansen joined in with a major

decision (17-4) against Dalton Bailey of Life (Ga.) in a rematchof the 2017 banner match.

Four-time All-American Dean Broghammer capped theevening for Grand View – and his career – with an 8-4 winagainst returning national champion Demetrius Thomas ofWilliams Baptist (Ark.). Broghammer also won the nationaltitle in 2016.

Cumberlands (Ky.) found itself securely in second-place inthe team standings with 107.0 team points, followed byWilliams Baptist (86.5 points) and Montana State-Northern(81.5 points).

The Patriots’ Jake Sinkovics ended his tremendous collegiatecareer with his first national title. The 133-pounder used a take-down in the closing seconds of the third period to win 9-6 overErique Early of Indiana Tech.

Hayden Lee at 125 pounds also won a title for Cumberlands,while 149-pounder Tres Leon finished second to LindseyWilson’s Cam Tessari.

TTBy NAIA

Grand View Wins Seventh-Straight National Championship


Program history was made for Life (Ga.) this evening, asNosomy Pozo won the 157-pound championship. He defeatedreturning national champion Brandon Weber of Montana-StateNorthern, 4-3, in a highly contested bout. The victory makeshim the first-ever national champion in school history.

Seniors Charles Sharon of Campbellsville (Ky.) (184 pounds)and Tyler Fraley of Williams Baptist (Ark.) (141 pounds) both

ended their careers with medals. Sharon, who finished secondat the 2017 championships, knocked off Zach Linton of Doane(Neb.), 10-3, while Fraley defeated Matt Weber of MontanaState-Northern in sudden victory, 6-4.

Lastly, Baker’s Lucas Lovvorn won the fourth national title inprogram history with a 6-2 decision against Adrian Lyons-Lopez at 174 pounds.


1 Grand View (Iowa) 171.52 Cumberlands (Ky.) 107.03 Williams Baptist (Ark.) 86.54 Montana St-Northern 81.55 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 76.06 Missouri Valley 70.07 Indiana Tech 54.58 Life (Ga.) 53.59 Providence (Mont.) 47.010 Menlo (Calif.) 45.511 Campbellsvile (Ky.) 45.012 Baker (Kan.) 44.512 Southeastern (Fla.) 44.514 Midland (Neb.) 40.015 Hastings (Neb.) 32.516 Southern Oregon 30.017 York (Neb.) 23.018 Doane (Neb.) 21.019 Eastern Oregon 19.520 Oklahoma City 19.021 Dickinson State (ND) 18.522 Concordia (Neb.) 18.022 Reinhardt (Ga.) 18.024 Northwestern (Iowa) 17.025 Benedictine (Kan.) 16.026 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 15.526 Kansas Wesleyan 15.5

28 Simpson (Calif.) 13.529 Marian (Ind.) 13.030 Briar Cliff (Iowa) 9.031 Morningside (Iowa) 8.032 Missouri Baptist 7.533 Lourdes (Ohio) 6.034 Cumberland (Tenn.) 4.535 Jamestown (NC) 4.035 St. Andrews (NC) 4.037 Lindenwood-Belleville (IL)3.538 Bacone (Okla.) 3.038 Brewton-Parker (Ga.) 3.038 Calumet (Ind.) 3.041 Bethany (Kan.) 2.041 Lyon (Ark.) 2.041 Waldorf (Iowa) 2.044 Graceland (Iowa) 1.544 Saint Mary (Kan.) 1.544 Warner Pacific (Ore.) 1.547 Hannibal LaGrange (Mo.) 1.047 Truett-McConnell (Ga.) 1.049 Allen (SC) 0.049 Ottawa (Kan.) 0.049 Wayland Baptist (Texas)0.049 William Penn (Iowa) 0.049 WVU Tech 0.0

2018 NAIA Championship Final Matches125 - Hayden Lee, Cumberlands (Ky.) def. JulianGayton, Midland (Neb.), Dec 9-2.133 - Jake Sinkovics, Cumberlands (Ky.) def.Erique Early, Indiana Tech, Dec 9-6.141 - Tyler Fraley, Williams Baptist (Ark.) def.Matt Weber, Montana State-Northern, 6-4 SV-1 .149 - Cam Tessari, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) def. TresLeon, Cumberlands (Ky.), Dec 4-1.157 - Nosomy Pozo, Life (Ga.) def. BrandonWeber, Montana State-Northern, Dec 4-3.165 - Grant Henderson, Grand View def. AndrewSimmons, Missouri Valley, Dec 6-2.174 - Lucas Lovvorn, Baker (Kan.) def. AdrianLyons-Lopez, Providence (Mont.), Dec 6-2.184 - Charles Sharon, Campbellsville (Ky.) def.Zach Linton, Doane (Neb.), Dec 10-3.197 - Evan Hansen, Grand View (Iowa) def.Dalton Bailey, Life (Ga.), MD 17-4.285 - Dean Broghammer, Grand View (Iowa) def.Demetrius Thomas, Williams Baptist (Ark.), Dec 8-4.


2018 NAIA Team Standings

2018 NAIA National Wrestling Championships Final - 133 lbs. Jake Sinkovics (Cumberlands) splitting the legs of Erique Early(Indiana Tech). Sinkovics won by decision 9-6 to help Patriots finish second in the team race. Photo by Wyatt Schultz.


fter 30 years of coaching high schoolwrestling, Dan Lefebvre decided it was timeto finally put down from the mat. What bettertime than for him to see St. Michael-Albertville win the Class AAA Wrestling

Championships outright as their head coach. This wasn’tthe first time, but the last time St. Michael-Albertville hadto share it with perennial powerhouse Apple Valley(12-time defending champions) back in 2013. St. Michael-Albertville Knights took down the Shakopee Sabres 30-25for the title. Shakopee had knocked off Apple Valley inthe Section 2 Championships 34-30,to end Apple Valley’s 35 consecutiveState Tournament Team appearances.

St. Michael-Albertville used twoupset victories during the team tour-nament to capture the progam’s firstchampionship since 2013. Dating to1996, the Knights have won eightcombined state championships in theClass AA and AAA classifications.

To earn a berth against top-seededShakopee in the championship, St.Michael-Albertville had to first getpast No. 2 Anoka in the semifinals,which it did following a 31-29 victory.

For three consecutive seasons, from2010 through 2012, the Knights werethe Class AAA runner-up to AppleValley.

“No sharing this time, this feelsgood,” Knights coach Dan Lefebvresaid. “We’ve had a lot of seconds. This feels good to winon outright.” Lefebvre said the previous close calls madethis one sweeter, but noted, “I would’ve loved to win allthose, too.”

Coach Lefebvre spent one year as an assistant coach atOsseo, Minnesota before becoming an assistant coachat St. Michael-Albertville in 1989. During his 17 years asan assistant coach the St. Michael-Albertville wrestlingteams made 13 state tournament team appearancesincluding winning five team championship and 16individual state champions.

In 2007, Dan would take over the head coaching reigns

for the next 12 years. In those 12 years his St. Michael-Albertville teams would make all 12 state tournamentteam apprearances (extending a streak of 20 straight statetournament apprearances) with three championships,five runner-ups and two 3rd place finishes. His teamswould produce 21 state champions and 67 stateplacewinners. In 2010 St. Michael-Albertville moved upto the largest of the three Minnesota classes. In those nineyears, they were in the state finals seven times with twochampionships (five runner-ups) and two third placefinishes.

Coach Lefebvre is ending his coach-ing career with a 271-46-1 dual meetrecord, two-time Minnesota ClassAAA Coach of the Year and 2013 TheClash champions.

“What I cherish the most is all ofthe relationships you build over 30years of coaching. Relationshipswith wrestlers, managers, parents,coaches on your staff, and coachesaround the state. I will really missthe opportunities to help wrestlersnot only become better wrestlers, butalso help them grow as young men.I really loved the challenge eachnew season of grooming and mold-ing a new team into championshipcontenders.

I always felt it was a successfulseason if every wrestler on the teammaxed out his potential and effort.

My fondest memories were coaching my two sons:Nathan and Ross and coaching in the State tournamentsover the years.”

Dan Lefebvre, a 6th grade math teacher, is a graduateof St. Michael-Albertville High School with a Bachalor ofScience from the University of Minnesota and a Mastersfrom Hamline University.

Wrestling USA Magazine would like to thank DanLefebvre for all his contributions to this great sport ofwrestling and for his selection as 2018 Master-of-Wrestling Award!

DAN LEFEBVREOtsego, Minnesota

AA


hen you thank of high school wrestling pro-grams, Blair Academy in New Jersey has to bethe first to come to mind. Blair Academy’swrestling program traces its roots to 1919 and

officially became a team sport at the school in 1924.Blair’s first National Prep champions were Benny Fodera

in 1937 and Ernest Tallman in 1938. Blair won its firstNational Prep team title in 1974 and had its first NCAA All-American in 1975, when Lehigh’s Mike Lieberman won theNCAAs at 177 lbs.

In the last three decades of the 20th cen-tury, Blair experienced sustained nationalprominence as a result of its wrestlers' suc-cess during their time as students and aftergraduation. During that period, wrestlerscaptured 23 All-American places thatincluded seven NCAA championships,four seconds and five thirds. Blair since2000 has produced 10 indidvidual NCAAcrowns and 42 NCAA All-Americans. Blairbegan a 33-year streak of National Prepteam championships in 1981 and had itsfirst USA number-one teams in the 1995-96and 1996-97 seasons.

After long-time coach Jeff Buxtonstepped down in 2012, Blair Academy forthe fourth time in as many seasons had anew head coach with the hiring of BrianAntonelli in 2014.

"One of the things that we knew from the get-go was thatsuccession planning is a big deal," Fleckman said of Blair'sattempt to replace Buxton. "When he left a little abruptly it wasa tough transition. So when they hired me, I pretty muchpledged to help them find my replacement as soon as I could,whether it was one year, five years or whatever. We wereactively looking pretty early on and then this opportunity cameup and it felt right so we went ahead and made the switch rightnow while we could get our hands on a guy like BrianAntonelli."

“Coach Antonelli’s background in supporting top athletes inthe college recruitment process and his excellent leadershipexperience will allow us to further develop our student-ath-letes to be their best, on and off the mat,” Head of School ChrisFortunato said.

"I am honored to lead Blair Academy’s wrestling program,”

Coach Antonelli said. “Preparing Blair wrestlers to meet thechallenges and opportunities they will face in college and inlife is a great responsibility, one to which I am very much look-ing forward. The level of support from Blair’s faculty, staff,administration and the larger community is truly amazing. Iam grateful to Head of School Chris Fortunato and AthleticDirector Jim Stone for this opportunity, and my family and I areexcited about joining the Blair family."

Coach Antonelli graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy,coached his alma mater’s wrestling teamfor nine seasons, serving as interim headcoach in 2013. He was a varsity wrestler atNavy and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. inthe Marine Corps upon graduation in 1997.As a Marine officer, he attained the rank ofCaptain and served in Operation RapidCheetah, patrolling the borders betweenKosovo and Bosnia, and later as a NavalAcademy admission officer and MarineCorps Green Belt instructor. In 2004-2005,he was the head wrestling coach at TheLawrenceville School.

A New Jersey native, Antonelli graduatedfrom the McDonogh School in 1992 wherewas the Maryland state wrestling champi-on at 160 pounds and a two-time all-statefootball player. He went on to spend a yearat Blair Academy in 1993, winning the 160-pound prep state title and was the quarter-

back of the undefeated state championship football team.Since Blair alumnus Brian Antonelli (class of 1993) took over

the program in 2014, he has lead the team to National Prepteam titles from 2015 through 2018 and to the #1 ranking in theUSA for the 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons, mark-ing Blair’s 13th, 14th and 15th selections as the top high schoolteam in the United States. In addition, coach Antonelli hascoached five Walsh Ironman champions (considered the pre-miere high school tournament in the country) and 23 NationalPrep champions.

Wrestling USA Magazine would like to thank Coach BrianAntonelli for all he does for the great sport of wrestling and for hisselection as 2018 National Wrestling Coach-of-the-Year Award!

W

BRIAN ANTONELLIBlair Academy

Blairstown, New Jersey


ehigh Valley, proudly known as District XI and tomany as the hot bed for wrestling inPennsylvania, is “home” for current GarnetValley Assistant Coach John Conte. In the late

1990s, John wrestled for Pocono Mountain High Schoolwhere he was a P.I.A.A. State medalist. He continued hiswrestling career for the Colonials of Wilkes University andin 2000 achieved All-American status. John not onlyachieved on the mat, but also in theclassroom and was a two time NCAAAcademic All-American. John had suchan impact as a student and wrestlerthat he was inducted to both his highschool and college halls of fame.

While John Conte’s wrestling resumespeaks for itself, it is his passion formolding kids into wrestlers, wrestlersinto medalists, and medalists intoyoung men that makes him stand outas a wrestling coach. In 2003, GarnetValley was fortunate enough to hireJohn Conte as our assistant wrestlingcoach. That was a turning point for theGarnet Valley program. From day one,Coach Conte articulated his philoso-phies to the wrestlers of Garnet Valley.The District IX mindset became part ofour program and has led us to be a con-tender in our area and well respected inour district and throughout the state.

Those who know John know that he is a person whowears his heart on his sleeve. He is passionate aboutwrestling and his job as a coach. What people don’t knowis that his passion as a coach runs deep. John spends count-less hours preparing for competition by analyzing data andscouting opponents. What impresses me the most, though,is how much John cares for his wrestlers. He has beenknown to coach wrestlers at off-season tournaments andtake wrestlers (former and current) under his wing to helpthem with the pressures of life. John has taught them towork hard, to keep fighting, and to never quit, telling themand showing them, “If you can succeed on the mat that you

can achieve in life.” Many of John’s quotes (“Make a namefor yourself”, “Beat someone better than you”, “Don’t besatisfied”) have become the foundation of our culture andyou can hear them echoed by all who are or who have beenpart of our wrestling program, from the alumni and upperclassmen down to the freshman.

In the 15 years that John has been an assistant coach atGarnet Valley, he has helped to coach 22 state qualifiers, 6

of whom brought home state medals.John was also instrumental in our 3rdand most recent Central LeagueChampionship and the trip that GarnetValley took in 2014 to the State teamDuals. If you ask Coach Conte aboutwhat his most gratifying accolade is, itwould be that his wrestlers have goneon to be successful in college and inlife. I am very fortunate to have anassistant coach like John Conte. He is acoach who takes on countless responsi-bilities; he is a coach who is willing togo above and beyond his duties to helpthe kids and the team, and he hasbecome one of my best friends, a trust-ed ally whom I can rely on to helpmake difficult decisions.

With all that Coach John Conte hasdone for the sport of wrestling, for ourprogram, and for each of the wrestlers

he has coached, it is without hesitation that I recommendthat he be recognized as the Wrestling Assistant Coach ofthe Year.

Congratulations to John Conte, recipient of WrestlingUSA Magazine’s 2018 National Wrestling Assistant Coach-of-the-Year Award.

Rocco FantazziHead Wrestling CoachGarnet Valley High School

JOHN CONTEGarnet Valley High SchoolGlen Mills, Pennsylvania

L


ayden Russell has been a huge benefit toFlathead High School wrestling. Jayden enteredinto the sport of wrestling due to her youngerbrother Tanner wrestling since the age of five.

She has been involved in Flathead wrestling for the lastthree years. Jayden originally got into managing to beable to support her younger brother. However, she neverimagined that she would find herhidden talent and ability in managingour team. The last three seasons,Jayden has been an official managerof the Flathead wrestling team buthas helped out in every aspect of ourteam year-round. Jayden is an amaz-ing young woman with such a strongwork ethic and has been awesome forour program. Jayden has shown hercommitment to this team day in andday out with her year around dedica-tion. She has put in over 1200 hoursworking with the Flathead wrestlingprogram and entered over 1700matches into our statistics program.

Through Jayden being a wrestlingmanager, I have had many chances toobserve the level and manner inwhich Jayden processes information.Jayden is extremely intelligent butgoes beyond this with her amazing work ethic. She has alot of natural business ability but goes beyond this talentby working and studying to achieve excellence. This isvery evident by the manner she managed the wrestlingprogram. She would score matches with the computer-ized statistics program at the same time as filmingmatches. She was so good at multi-tasking. She certain-ly possesses the intellectual ability and work ethic to bea fantastic wrestling manager in college. Jayden hasbeen accepted into North Idaho College for the fall of2018 and will carry on her managing abilities for CoachPat Whitcomb in their wrestling program.

Jayden is also one of the major reasons why Flathead

High School has one of the strongest wrestling teams inthe state (2X Montana AA State Champions). She is thebest wrestling manager that we have ever had for ourFlathead wrestling program. Jayden also goes waybeyond just managing. The coaches like to refer to her asan administrative assistant or our business consultant.Jayden did the stats for the wrestling team, checked in

and out gear, filmed, ordered meals,prepared the team for travel, andbasically helped run the entirewrestling organization. This showsthat Jayden is willing to help othersand give up some of her precious freetime. Jayden has also held a steadyjob during the season and has beenvery successful in the work environ-ment.

Jayden is a young lady with signifi-cant inner direction and personalstrength. She sets very high goals andhas the resolve to make certain thatthese goals are attained. She is friend-ly, likable, and has been an outstand-ing role model for our wrestling pro-gram and wrestlers. Jayden is a 3.7GPA student and is a 2X All-StateSoftball player for Flathead HighSchool. She is a very well-rounded

individual who will, no doubt be successful in life. Iheartily recommend Jayden for the Manager of the Year.

Congratulations to Jayden Russell, recipient ofWrestling USA Magazine’s 2018 National WrestlingManager-of-the-Year Award.

Jeffrey N. ThompsonHead Wrestling CoachFlathead High School

JAYDEN RUSSELLFlathead High School

Kalispell, Montana

J


tan Ono was a high school football playerwhen he stumbled upon the sport ofwrestling nearly by chance. As a junior atLeilehua High School in Hawaii, he need-

ed to participate in another sport to stay in shapeand the school just added wrestling to their athlet-ic program. Being new to wrestling, Ono assertsthat he was not very good, but he was hooked any-way.

Stan started officiating wrestling in Hawaii in1999 and never looked back. In fact, that sameyear, his daughter Kelli took up wrestling as asophomore at Mililani High School and Ono wouldserve as assistant coach, workingwith the girls team. He jokes that“it was a way to keep an eye onher.” When asked what it was liketo coach his daughter, Ono chuck-les, “It’s hard because she doesn’tlisten,” and quips that it was easi-er to coach his younger brother.But despite the challenge, thegirls team won the league cham-pionship that year.

After Kelli graduated from highschool, Ono was able to focussolely on officiating and has beenan active official with the HawaiiWrestling Officials Associationsince 1999. He was elected treas-urer from 2002 to 2004 and presi-dent from 2005 to present.

Ono’s officiating resume is quite impressive.Since 1999, Stan has officiated the Hawaii GirlsState Wrestling Championships. From 2006 untilnow, Ono serves as the Officials’ Coordinator forthe girls’ states. He is also a member of MeetProtest Committee for the event. Since 2007, Stanhas been appointed to both the girls and boys statechampionships.

Most recently, Stan Ono was instrumental indeveloping the HHSAA Wrestling OfficialsEvaluation Program.

Retired longtime wrestling coach and HawaiiHigh School Athletic Association wrestling coordi-

nator Carl Schroers is most impressed with StanOno’s leadership abilities over fellow officials.

He states, “Stan developed an officiating crewthat is now a cohesive group, many of whom areveterans of decades of officiating,” says Schroers.“This does not happen by chance. Officiating inany sport is difficult, and by far, it is the singlemost thankless task in all of sports. Officiating inwrestling is no exception. Someone has to keepthem motivated, trained, and up to date. Stan hasdone that exceptionally well.”

As one of his educational strategies for fellowofficials, Stan continually encourages them to

watch other state association orcollegiate tournaments on TV. “Itsharpens your mind,” says Ono.“Every year there are new rules sowe can learn a lot by watching andasking questions.”

Over his nearly 20-year officiat-ing career, Ono manages to keephis association of officials motivat-ed. “I tell the guys that you need tohave thick skin as well as knowingthe rules inside and out so thewrestlers can receive the best inofficiating. That’s all I ask for.”

Ono’s philosophy is simple. “Asan official, we only see the red andgreen ankle band and we call thebest match that we can,” he says.“When you’re on the mat, you

want to be invisible. You don’t want the crowd tosee you. The focus is on the kids and not the offi-cials,” he adds.

Stan concludes by emphasizing, “As long as I canwalk, I will continue to officiate the sport I love –wrestling.”

Congratulations to Stan Ono – WUSA’s 2018National Official of the Year

Congratulations to Stan Ono, recipient ofWrestling USA Magazine’s 2018 National WrestlingOfficial-of-the-Year Award.

STAN ONOMililani, Hawaii

S


former high school wrestler, Kim Northhas been covering scholastic and collegewrestling since 1983 in the upper OhioValley for numerous papers: Weirton (WV)

Daily News, Steubenville (Ohio) Herald-Star,Wheeling (WV) News-Register, and Martins Ferry(Ohio) Times-Leader.

North is also a professional pho-tographer and has been praised forhis superb action shots at dualmeets and tournaments over theyears.

He has covered the prestigiousRon Mauck Ohio Valley AthleticConference Wrestling Tournamentfor 20+ years. It is the biggest con-ference mat sport competition inthe country.

In 1985, North covered the RonMauck OVAC Tournament, theWest Virginia state tournament andthe NAIA National Tournament, allof which were held inside theWheeling WesBanco Arena.

He has also covered various WestVirginia state tournaments andOhio state tournaments. Last year, North coveredthe Ohio Team Duals in Columbus and has coveredvarious sectional and district tournament sin theBuckeye State, as well as sectional and regionalevents in the Mountain State.

As a sports columnist, Kim North spotlightedmany area wrestlers and schools with story linesthat have promoted wrestling throughout the entireOhio Valley for decades. In recent years, North hasbeen instrumental in publishing a special wrestlingpreview issue featuring over 40 area wrestlingteams for the Martins Ferry Time-Leader.

For his efforts highlighting wrestling in the

Mountain State, Kim North was named twice as the“Snyder-Miller West Virginia Media Person of theYear” in 1990 and 2017. This distinguished award isespecially gratifying to Kim North who stated:

“This honor means a lot to me because it is thestate wrestling coaches who make the selection. Mypassion and love for the sport of wrestling has been

unwavering ever since the first dayI stepped on the mats as a middleschool grappler. What I enjoy themost about wrestling, no matterhow heated a match may be, thecompetitors end the match with ahandshake.”

North also promotes wrestling asa regular on a weekly areawrestling radio show, spotlightinglocal wrestlers’ successes on themats.

In his first high school match, hesuffered a broken left arm, whichwas not all that bad because it ledto Kim North’s extended andaward-winning career in journal-ism.

A 1977 graduate of Troy HighSchool in Troy, Ohio, North also received hisBachelor of Science in Physical Education at SalemCollege. Kim North is a widowed father of three:daughter, Meika; and sons Skyler and Tyler. He hasfive grand-daughters: MaeLynn, Sydney, Lyndsay,Aria and Kaia. He resides in Bridgeport, Ohio.

Congratulations to Kim North, recipient ofWrestling USA Magazine’s 2018 National WrestlingSportswriter-of-the-Year Award.

KIM NORTHMartins Ferry Times-Leader

Bridgeport, Ohio

A

BARRETT BLAKELY - 170Oak Mountain High School

Coach Steve Burrough182-20 100 Falls GPA 3.5

State Champion 2x, 2nd7A State MOW 2x

ALABAMA

ALASKA

ISAIAH ELVSAAS - 138Wasilla High SchoolCoach Shawn Hayes

80-36 32 FallsState Champion 2x, 3rd

All-State 3x

ALABAMA

ANDREW SMITH - 113Southside High School

Coach Kyle Routon190-20 114 Falls GPA 3.9

State Champion 2x, 5thAll-State 3x

ALABAMA

CARIAL TARTER - 160Mortimer Jordan High School

Coach Jeremy Saint183-11

State Champion 2x, 2nd/5thState GR Champion

LEVI KING - 195Homer High SchoolCoach Bubba Wells

93-26 66 Falls GPA 3.28State Champion 2x, 4th

All-State Football

JACKSON ALLEN - 160Show Low High School

Coach Tim Williams160-8 128 Falls GPA 3.0

State Champion 4xAll-State 4x

MARCO GROVES - 160Chandler High School

Coach Vidal Mejia186-8 101 Falls GPA 3.9


ALASKA

TOMMY MOMMER - 285Cibola High School

Coach Mike Jankowski121-16 76 Falls

State Champion 3xReno TOC 3rd

ALASKA

CALEB HOPKINS - 182Colony High SchoolCoach Todd Hopkins

147-25 72 Falls GPA 4.234State Champion, 2nd 2x/4th

Gut Check Champion

ARIZONA

ARIZONA

GATOR GROVES - 145Chandler High School

Coach Vidal Mejia195-6 91 Falls GPA 4.7

State Champion 4xCollege Plans: Harvard

JONATHAN PRATA - 106Downey High SchoolCoach Miguel Soto

126-19State Champion, 3rd

College Plans: Cerritos

ALEX FELIX - 132Gilroy High SchoolCoach Greg Varela170-15 GPA 3.2

State 2nd, 3rd 2x/4thCollege Plans: Ohio State

JAKE LEVENGOOD - 285Vacaville High School

Coaches: Birch/Orozco168-30 97 Falls GPA 3.4

State 2nd, 5th/8thCollege Plans: Oregon State (Football)

MIKE MCFADDEN - 138Cheyenne Mountain High School

Coach Tyler Seaney132-35 GPA 3.84

State Champion, 2nd/4th/6thCollege Plans: Oklahoma

ARKANSAS

CASH JOHNNY JONES - 170Bentonville High School

Coach James Rappe209-12 186 Falls GPA 3.4

State Champion 3xCollege Plans: Campbell

CALIFORNIA

COLORADOETHAN LEAKE - 126

Buchanan High SchoolCoach Troy Tirapelle

182-32 64 Falls GPA 3.4State Champion, 3rd/4th

College Plans: Northern Colorado

DARRICK STACEY - 120Shelley High SchoolCoach Robert Cox

180-17 105 Falls GPA 3.5State Champion 3x, 2nd

USA Folkstyle Nationals 3rd

CALEB CALL - 132Shelley High SchoolCoach Robert Cox


Tiger Grizz Champion

BRAXTON BALMFORTH - 138Shelley High School Coach Robert Cox

187-29 88 Falls GPA 3.9State Champion, 2nd 2x/3rd

All-State Football

IDAHO

KONNOR CORDINGLEY - 138Highland High School

Coach Kolby Cordingley204-13 136 Falls GPA 3.935State Champion 2x, 2nd/3rd

All-Region Football

COREY CABANBAN - 126Saint Louis School

Coach Al Chee106-1 74 Falls GPA 3.36

State Champion 4xNHSCA 7th

IDAHO

WILLIAM EDELBLUTE - 126Lakeland High SchoolCoach Rob Edelblute


Tri-State Champion

ROBBIE ROSSER - 120Milford High SchoolCoach Don Parsley


Beast of the East 8th

DAWSON BATES - 132Jefferson High SchoolCoach Doug Thurmond


College Plans: Appalachian State

BRADEN JOHNSON - 182Creekview High School

Coach Ty Brown204-12 132 Falls

State Champion 3x, 2ndCollege Plans: Athens Technical

TATE SAMUELSON - 182Castle View High School

Coach Ike Anderson162-24 88 Falls GPA 3.58

State Champion 2x, 2ndCollege Plans: Wyoming

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

RYAN CHAUVIN - 126Lake Highland PrepCoach Mike Palazzo

138-20State Champion 2x, 2nd

College Plans: Army West Point

THOMAS DYMENT - 113Bethel High SchoolCoach Darren Lieb

128-7 87 Falls GPA 3.23State Champion 4x

State MOW

MACON EDWARDS - 120Fultondale High School

Coach Billy Hughes293-10 211 Falls GPA 3.2

State Champion 2x, 2ndCadet National GR 7th

ALABAMA

ALASKA

ARIZONA

ARIZONA

CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA

COLORADO

DELAWARE

GEORGIA

GEORGIA

HAWAII

IDAHO

IDAHO

IDAHO

NOAH LILES - 170Bremen High SchoolCoach Tony Armas

153-18 98 Falls GPA 3.5State Champion 2x, 3rd/6th

College Plans: Tennessee Chattanooga

Wrestling U.S.A. Magazine - May 30, 2018page 20


HUNTER BURNETT - 132Pipestone High School

Coach Brian Bos187-15 100 Falls

State Champion 3xCollege Plans: Augustana (SD)

NATE LARSON - 145Apple Valley High School

Coach Josh Barlage149-36 93 Falls GPA 3.0

State Champion, 3rd/4th/6thAll-State 4x

CADEN STEFFEN - 182Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School

Coach Link Steffen174-41 78 Falls

State Champion 2x, 2ndCollege Plans: Minnesota

MINNESOTA JEFFREY DITTER - 132

Whitfield SchoolCoach Charlie Sherertz

141-19 78 Falls GPA 3.86State Champion 2xDistrict Champion

MICHAEL SUDA - 126Pipestone High School

Coach Brian Bos232-13 123 Falls GPA 3.329State Champion 3x, 2nd/5th

College Plans: Augustana (SD)

MINNESOTA

MISSOURI

JAKE GLIVA - 132Simley High School

Coach Will Short214-27 88 Falls GPA 3.7State Champion 3x, 2nd

College Plans: Minnesota

JACK FLYNN - 195Francis Howell High School

Coach Kevin Stroh161-21 95 Falls GPA 3.1

State Champion, 2nd/4th/5thNHSCA Champion

MISSOURI

MISSOURI

PETER ENOS - 152Francis Howell High School

Coch Kevin Stroh124-11 75 Falls GPA 3.0

State Champion 1x (MO), 2x (NV)NHSCA 2nd

JUSTIN CARDANI - 113Centennial High School

Coach Ed Mears152-19 83 Falls GPA 3.66

State Champion 2xCollege Plans: Illinois

KRISTIAN RUMPH - 138Portage High School

Coach Leroy Vega106-24 60 Falls

State Champion, 2nd/4thAll-State 3x

NOAH WARREN - 170Perry Meridian High School

Coach Matt Schoettle168-10 112 Falls GPA 3.44

State Champion, 2nd/7thNHSCA 3rd

BEN SARASIN - 170John F. Kennedy High School

Coach Dennis Hynek144-19 71 Falls GPA 4.125

State Champion, 3rd/4thCollege Plans: Chicago

LARRY JOHNSON - 145Lakeland High SchoolCoach Rob Edelblute


Tri-State Champion

DANNY BRAUNAGEL - 160Althoff Catholic High School

Coach Josh Harper191-13 64 Falls GPA 4.45

State Champion 2x, 2ndCollege Plans: Illinois

FRANCIS DUGGAN - 220Iowa City West High School

Coach Mark Reiland136-22

State Champion, 5th/6th/7thCollege Plans: Iowa State

JOHN MCCONKEY - 285Atlantic High School

Coach Tim Duff157-26 110 Falls GPA 3.465

State Champion, 2nd/8thCollege Plans: Northern Iowa

MARCUS ROBINSON - 138Arkansas City High School

Coach Greg Buckbee161-25 GPA 3.673State Champion 4x

College Plans: Buffalo

IOWA

KANSAS

BOONE MCDERMOTT - 220Wahlert Catholic High School

Coach Joel Allen130-33 68 Falls

State Champion, 3rdAll-State 2x

RYAN FREDETTE - 182Winslow High SchoolCoach Tony Dalisio


New England Champion, 2nd

ANDREW MARSHALL - 220Lincoln-Sudbury High School

Coach Nick Avery163-19 109 Falls

State Champion, 3rd/4thNew England Champion 2x

AUSTIN FRANCO - 119Niles High School

Coach Todd Hesson164-5

State Champion, 2nd 2x/3rdPre-Season Nationals 2nd

MAINE

MICHAEL MARS - 125John Glenn High School

Coach Bill Polk218-8 140 Falls GPA 3.4State Champion 3x, 2ndCollege Plans: Michigan

JACOB FEREDAY - 170Catholic High School

Coach Tommy Prochaska189-37 85 Falls GPA 3.18

State Champion, 2nd 2xMetro MVP 2x

LUCAS CORDIO - 160Nashoba High SchoolCoach Pete Connery

170-20 100 Falls GPA 3.38State Champion 3x, 4thNew England Champion

JAKE BEESON - 145Arkansas City High School

Coach Greg Buckbee142-20 67 Falls

State Champion 2x, 2nd/3rdCollege Plans: Central Oklahoma

CAGEN WALLACE - 120Wayne County High School

Coach Danny Upchurch216-13 119 Falls GPA 4.2

State Champion 2x, 2nd/5thCollege Plans: Lindsey Wilson

MASON SMITH - 170Walton-Verona High School

Coach John Roth195-26 134 Falls GPA 3.52State Champion, 3rd 3x/4th


KENTUCKY

BLAKE MATEU - 120Archbishop Rummel High School

Coach Robert Pinero170-8 101 Falls GPA 2.9State Champion 3x, 2nd

Louisiana Classic Champion 3x

CONNER WARD - 145Mill Valley High School

Coach Travis Keal153-16 65 Falls GPA 3.3State Champion, 2nd 3xKC Stampede Champion

KENTUCKY

LOUISIANAJALIN HARPER - 160

Manhattan High SchoolCoach Robert Gonzales

165-13State Champion, 2nd 2x/3rd

USA Folkstyle Champion

IDAHO

ILLINOIS

ILLINOIS

INDIANA

INDIANA

IOWA

IOWA

IOWA

KANSAS

KANSAS

KANSAS

LOUISIANA

MICHIGAN

MICHIGAN

MINNESOTA

MINNESOTA

MINNESOTA

MASSACHUSETTS

MASSACHUSETTS

CHARLIE KLEPPS - 132Billings Senior High School

Coach Josh Beeman164-18 88 Falls GPA 4.3

State Champion 4xAll-State Soccer 2x

NATHAN WEBER - 132Forsyth High SchoolCoach Scott Weber

169-33 97 Falls GPA 2.810State Champion 2x, 2nd 2x

College Plans: Montana St-Northern

MONTANA

BRENT TEZAK - 160Beaverhead County High School

Coach TJ Nelson153-15 89 Falls GPA 3.618

State Champion 3x, 3rdAll-State Football

MONTANA

MAX DARRAH - 285Whitfield School

Coach Charlie Sherertz165-18 92 Falls GPA 3.51

State Champion 2x, 2nd/4thCollege Plans: Army West Point

CAMERON RIGGS - 138Maxwell High School

Coach Ryan Jones204-0 146 Falls GPA 3.1

State Champion 4xCollege Plans: Saint Cloud State

LEE HERRINGTON - 285Kearney High School

Coach Ty Swarm114-16 85 Falls GPA 3.0State Champion 2x, 5th

All-State Football

NEBRASKA

NEVADA

JOEY MAZZARA - 170Bishop Gorman High School

Coach Ricky Lundell116-4 83 Falls GPA 3.5State Champion 3x, 2nd

College Plans: North Carolina

MONTANA

TUCKER NADEAU - 182Flathead High SchoolCoach Jeff Thompson

138-40 GPA 4.0State Champion, 3rd/5thNational Merit Finalist

NEBRASKA

DEREK ROBB - 152Sidney High SchoolCoach John Ganser


National Honor Society

ZACH SHUPP - 106Fairfield High SchoolCoach Jason Laflin

151-15 80 Falls GPA 3.6State Champion, 2nd/6th

College Plans: Central Michigan

TOMMY HOSKINS - 126Legacy Christian Academy

Coach Thomas Hoskins165-7

State Champion 3x, 3rdWalsh Ironman 3rd

OHIO

JD STICKLEY - 138Graham High School

Coach Jeff Jordan97-7 GPA 3.345

State Champion, 3rdWalsh Ironman Champion

NEW

YORK

JUSTIN VINES - 132Wantagh High SchoolCoach Paul Gillespie

202-27 GPA 3.32State Champion, 2nd/4th

NHSCA Champion

OHIO

OHIO

DEONTE WILSON - 285Amityville High School

Coach Greg McCoy170-21 GPA 3.43

State Champion, 2ndNHSCA 2nd

BRIAN LINDSAY - 138Kingswood High School

Coach Brett Lindsay129-19 86 Falls GPA 3.736

State Champion 3x, 2ndNew England 5th

MALCOLM ROBINSON - 138Blair Academy

Coach Brian Antonelli110-21 GPA 3.1

National Prep Champion, 2nd/4th/5thCollege Plans: Rutgers

NEW

MEXICO

NEVADA

JOE MILLER - 195McQueen High SchoolCoach Jeromy Mumm

168-46 100 Falls GPA 3.68State Champion 2x, 3rd


NEW

JERSEY

NEW

JERSEY

JAKE BENNER - 138Ocean Township High School

Coach Cip Apicelli146-13

State Champion, 2ndCollege Plans: Rutgers

MISSOURI

MONTANA

NEBRASKA

NEVADA

OHIO

JOEY SANCHEZ - 152Graham High School

Coach Jeff Jordan140-24 GPA 3.374

State Champion, 4th/5thCollege Plans: Wisconsin

NEW

MEXICO

OHIO

CODY HOWARD - 195St. Edward High School

Coach Greg Urbas108-34 44 Falls GPA 3.08

State 2nd 2xJunior National FS 5th

DAVID CRAWFORD - 182Canfield High School

Coach Steve Pitts167-32 GPA 3.9

State Champion 2x, 4th/6thCollege Plans: Pittsburgh

OHIO

WES RAYBURN - 138Piedra Vista High School

Coach Mike Bejar187-17 132 Falls GPA 3.6

State Champion 4x, 2ndCollege Plans: Colorado Mines

NICK RINO - 145Piedra Vista High School

Coach Mike Bejar138-11 81 Falls

State Champion 4xCollege Plans: Utah Valley

CAMERON THOMPSON - 113Battle Mountain High School

Coach Mitch Domagala167-21 97 Falls GPA 3.5


NEW

HAMPSHIRE

NEW

YORK

GAIGE WILLIS - 220Pymatuning Valley High School

Coach David Miller179-17 86 Falls GPA 3.041State Champion 2x, 2nd/8th

College Plans: Edinboro

JORDAN EARNEST - 285Wadsworth High SchoolCoach John Gramuglia

122-16 GPA 3.7State Champion, 4thCollege Plans: Ohio

RHETT GOLOWENSKI - 120Tuttle High SchoolCoach Matt Surber

163-21 72 Falls GPA 3.9State Champion 3x, 2ndCadet National FS 4th

RODRICK MOSLEY - 152Heritage Hall SchoolCoach Floyd Lorne

134-4 75 FallsState Champion 3x

College Plans: Gardner-Webb

DYLAN SCHICKRAM - 132Ponca City High School

Coach Jason Leavitt114-21 71 Falls GPA 3.0

State Champion, 3rdJunior National GR 8th

COLTON DENNEY - 170Heritage Hall SchoolCoach Floyd Lorne121-11 71 Falls

State Champion 2x, 2nd/3rdAll-State 4x

OKLAHOMA

OKLAHOMA

OHIO

OHIO

OKLAHOMA

OKLAHOMA

Wrestling U.S.A. Magazine - May 30, 2018page 22

HUNTER SPARKS - 120Roseburg High SchoolCoach Steve Lander

156-33State Champion 2x, 2nd/6th

College Plans: Cal Poly

LOGAN MACRI - 120Canon McMillan High School

Coach Jeff Havelka152-30 GPA 3.1

State Champion, 5thCollege Plans: Tennessee Chattanooga

JUSTIN MCCOY - 152Chestnut Ridge High School

Coach Greg Lazor167-18

State Champion, 2nd/6th/7thCollege Plans: Virginia

OREGON

SAM LYNCH - 138Ponaganset High School

Coach Mike Joyce82-9 GPA 4.39

State Champion, 2ndNew England Champion

COLE MURPHY - 152Liberty High SchoolCoach Nathan Day166-20 GPA 3.2

State Champion 4xState Wrestler of the Year

JAMES GAINYARD - 170Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School

Coach Jake Stewart164-22 93 Falls GPA 3.9

State Champion 2xCollege Plans: The Citadel

KOHL GAGUM - 182Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School

Coach Jake Stewart216-15 114 Falls GPA 3.6

State Champion 2x, 2nd/3rdAll-State Football

SOUTH

CAROLINA

LUKE MCGONIGAL - 195Clearfield High School

Coach Jeff Aveni135-21 GPA 4.0

State Champion, 2ndCollege Plans: Lock Haven

SOUTH

CAROLINA

JACOB BRASSEUR - 120Lexington High SchoolCoach Derek Strobel

209-9 110 Falls GPA 4.2State Champion 2x, 2nd/3rdNational Honor Society 4x

TYLER BURGESS - 152Mount Anthony Union High School

Coach Brian Coon195-41 102 Falls

State Champion 2x, 3rd/4thNew England 4th/6th

BRYAN WALLACE - 285Clarke County High School

Coach Jon Vansice221-9 164 Falls GPA 3.0

State Champion 4xAll-State Football

VIRGINIA

CALEB REA - 132Weir High SchoolCoach Tom Taylor

163-13 88 Falls GPA 3.802State Champion, 2nd/3rd 2x

All-State 4x

VIRGINIA

GARRETT RICKS - 120Box Elder High SchoolCoach Mike Ripplinger


Folkstyle Nationals 5th

WEST

VIRGINIA

PATRICK MCCORMICK- 126Poquoson High School

Coach Eric Decker173-9 84 Falls GPA 4.0

State Champion 4xCollege Plans: Virginia

WILLIAM TURMAN - 132T. F. Riggs High School

Coach Shawn Lewis174-17 96 Falls GPA 3.87

State Champion 4xCollege Plans: Nebraska

JUWAN ROBINSON - 160Allen High SchoolCoach Jerry Best110-10 GPA 3.2

State Champion 3x, 2ndCollege Plans: Old Dominion

TENNESSEE COLIN LAWLER - 285

The Kinkaid SchoolCoach Brian Notch

161-9 75 Falls GPA 3.2National Prep Champion, 4th

Super 32 3rd

UTAH

VERMONT

CHRISTIAN SALTER - 182Siegel High SchoolCoach Lee Ramsey

154-23 85 Falls GPA 3.0State Champion, 2nd

College Plans: Gardner-Webb

PENNSYLVANIA

PENNSYLVANIA

PENNSYLVANIA

RHODE

ISLAND

SOUTH

CAROLINA

SOUTH

CAROLINA

WEST

VIRGINIA

UTAH

TEXAS

SOUTH

DAKOTA

SOUTH

DAKOTA

MICHAEL LUSK - 145T. F. Riggs High School

Coach Shawn Lewis138-17 GPA 3.41

State Champion 3x, 2ndCollege Plans: South Dakota State

TEXAS

LOGAN BROWN - 126Allen High SchoolCoach Jerry Best174-23 GPA 3.62

State Champion, 2nd 2x/3rdCollege Plans: Army West Point

TEXAS

LOGAN JENSEN - 152Herriman High School

Coach Pat Garcia154-19 GPA 3.563

State Champion 2x, 2nd/5thCollege Plans: Wyoming

TEXAS

BRAEDEN REDLIN - 170Allen High SchoolCoach Jerry Best

170-10State Champion 4x

College Plans: Ohio State

COLE LAYA - 120East Fairmont High SchoolCoaches: Geary/Whorton189-7 103 Falls GPA 3.85

State Champion 3x, 2ndCollege Plans: Wheeling Jesuit

SOUTH

DAKOTA

LINCOLN TURMAN - 120T. F. Riggs High School

Coach Shawn Lewis137-16 71 Falls GPA 3.92

State Champion 2x, 2ndCollege Plans: Mary

SAM STUHL - 138Ellsworth High SchoolCoach Mark Matzek169-12 GPA 3.997State Champion 4x

College Plans: North Dakota State

KEATON KLUEVER - 285Kaukauna High School

Coach Jeff Matczak171-37 103 Falls GPA 3.256

State Champion 2xCollege Plans: North Carolina

WISCONSIN

BRETT BRENTON - 170Natrona County High School

Coach Scott Russell170-18 103 Falls GPA 3.75

State Champion 3x, 3rdAll-State Football

WISCONSIN

WYOMING

DREW SCHARENBROCK - 145Sun Prairie High School

Coach Jim Nelson191-14 93 Falls GPA 3.954

State Champion 2x, 4thCollege Plans: Wisconsin

WISCONSIN

WYOMING

WISCONSIN

AJ SCHOENFUSS - 126Stratford High SchoolCoach Joe Schwabe


College Plans: Wisconsin-Oshkosh

TREVOR JEFFRIES - 145Thunder Basin High School

Coach Mikah Kadera163-9 92 Falls GPA 4.0

State Champion 2x, 2nd 2xNHSCA 2nd



he 21st Dream Team Classic dual was held in Indiana forthe first time. This was a great opportunity for not onlyTeam Indiana to showcase their senior class but for theBrownsburg community to showcase their impressiveathletic facilities. This included a state of the art new

wrestling room that actually opened the week of the Dream TeamClassic dual and a 10,000 square foot weight room.

The Dream Team Classic dual started at 160 lbs. to help feature themarque matchup at 152 lbs. between Brownsburg’s three-time Indianastate champion Brayton Lee and four-time New York state championJacori Teemer.

Jared Franek, a four-time state champion (Fargo West, ND) usedtakedowns against Jack Eiteljorge (Carmel) in both the first and secondperiods to take a 5-1 lead into the third period. Eiteljorge would get anescape in the third as the only scoring with Franek winning 5-2.

Oklahoma State recruit Travis Wittlake, Jr. and four-time Oregon

state champion at 170 lbs. would secure the only technical fall of thedual. Travis would use four near falls against Noah Warren (PerryMeridian) in the match to win 17-1 in 3:33.

Team USA would win their third match in a row to start the dualwhen Wisconsin state champion Jared Krattiger (Waterford) at 182lbs. would decision Conner Graber (Northridge). Krattiger usedsix takedown in the first two periods to extend his lead to 15-5before winning 17-10.

Team Indiana would get their first win of the dual at 195 lbs. whenLucas Davison (Chesterton) decisioned Iowa state champion TannerSloan from Alburnett 6-3.

Indiana would win two matches in a row in another top match upwhen top ranked three-time Indiana state champion Mason Parris(Lawrenceburg) would major decision second ranked and four-timeMichigan state champion Brandon Whitman (Dundee) 16-4. Parriswould dominate on his feet with seven takedowns.

Team USA would start another three match streakwhen Oregon State football recruit Jake Levengood(Vacaville, CA) would use a takedown, escape andpenalty point to decision Brandon Streck(Merrillville) 4-0.

Cevion Severado at 113 lbs., the first of two ChristianBrothers College wrestlers from Missouri, took a 8-2lead before Indiana wrestler Jose Diaz from Wheelerfought back to lose 11-8.

At 120 lbs. was top ranked two-time state championJoey Melendez, the first of two Montini Catholicwrestlers from Illinois, used five takedowns to majordecision Colin Poynter (Portage) 10-2.

Malik Johnson, the second of Christian BrothersCollege wrestlers, took a 4-0 lead into the third periodagainst Ty Mills, the second of three Brownsburgwrestlers. Mills would take the top position and lock upa cradle and secure the pin at 5:33 to ignite theBrownsburg faithful home crowd to their feet.

132 lbs. would see the second of the Montini Catholicwrestlers in second ranked Real Woods (three-time statechampion) taking on the second of Brownsburgwrestling in Blake Mullkey. Woods would use an escape,takedown and nearfall in the second period to take acommanding lead 6-0 and finish with a 7-1 victory.

Cole Matthews the only Pennsylvania wrestler onTeam USA would see Indiana wrestler Kris Rumph(Portage) tie the score late in the third period 6-6.Matthews, a two-time state champion, would use atakedown and nearfall in the last 5 seconds of the match

T

DREAM TEAM Classic

By Cody Bryant

Wrestling USA Magazine/Cliff Keen AthleticTeam Indiana brings crowd to

their feet but lose to Team USA

2018 Dream Team Classic Wrestling Dual - 126 lbs. Ty Mills (Brownsburg, IN)catches Malik Johnson (Christian Brothers College, MO) with a reverse cradle to comefrom behind to pin Johnson in 5:27. Photo by G Wyatt Schultz.


to win 10-6.Three-time Minnesota state champion Alexander Lloyd from

Minnesota AA state championship team Shakopee take on ChristianHunt from Yorktown. Lloyd would use three first period takedownsto take a 6-2 lead into the second period. This would be enough todecision Hunt 8-5.

The marque match up at 152 lbs. would not disappoint anyoneas hometown favorite Brayton Lee would take on New YorkerJacori Teemer. Jacori would score a takedown in the first periodand Brayton would get the escape to make the score 2-1 going intothe second period. Only scoring in the second period was anescape from Teemer to extend his lead to 3-1 going into the thirdperiod. Lee would get an escape and two stalling points to take alate 4-3 lead late in the third period. Then Jacori would get astalling point for himself in the waning seconds to send the matchinto overtime. Brayton Lee would secure the sudden victory take-down to bring the crowd back to their feet.

This event wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of all thepeople involve in this great sport. A special thanks to Joe Caprino(IndianaMat) host parents, wrestling parents, coaches andwrestlers of both Team USA and Team Indiana for taking time outof their busy schedules to be part of this year’s Dream TeamClassic! Hats off to the Brownsburg High School administrationfor usage of their amazing facilities.

I can’t end without thanking Cliff Keen Athletic for supplying sin-glets, two-piece wrestling uniforms, headgear, wrestling backpacks,etc. for both Team USA and Team Indiana. Their continual support ofthis event means a lot to not only the wrestlers competing, but to ourWrestling USA Magazine family.

Team USA 30 Team Indiana 16160 lbs. #6 Jared Franek (West Fargo, ND) decisionedJack Eiteljorge (Carmel, IN) 5-2.170 lbs. #1 Travis Wittlake (Marshfield, OR) technical fallNoah Warren (Perry Meridian, IN) 17-1, 3:33.182 lbs. #7 Jared Krattiger (Waterford, WI) decisionedConner Graber (Northridge, IN) 17-10.195 lbs. #4 Lucas Davison (Chesterton, WI) decisioned#28 Tanner Sloan (Alburnett, IA) 6-3.220 lbs. #1 Mason Parris (Lawrenceburg, IN) majordecisioned #2 Brandon Whitman (Dundee, MI) 16-4.285 lbs. #9 Jake Levengood (Vacaville, CA) decisionedBrandon Streck (Merrillville, IN) 4-0.113 lbs. #2 Cevion Severado (Christian BrothersCollege, MO) decisioned Jose Diaz (Wheeler, IN) 11-8.120 lbs. #1 Joey Melendez (Montini Catholic, IL) majordecsioned Colin Poynter (Portage, IN) 10-2.126 lbs. #22 Ty Mills (Brownsburg, IN) pinned #5 MalikJohnson (Christian Brothers College, MO) 5:27.132 lbs. #2 Real Woods (Montini Catholic, IL) deci-sioned #15 Blake Mullkey (Brownsburg, IN) 7-1.138 lbs. #7 Cole Matthews (Reynolds, PA) decisionedKris Rumph (Portage, IN) 10-6.145 lbs. #3 Alexander Lloyd (Shakopee, MN) decisionedChristian Hunt (Yorktown, IN) 8-5.152 lbs. #2 Brayton Lee (Brownsburg, IN) decisioned#1 Jacori Teemer (Long Beach, NY) 6-4 SV-1.


2018 Dream Team Classic Wrestling Dual - 132 lbs. Real Woods (Montini Catholic, IL) with a bar and tight waist trying to secure back pointsagainst Blake Mullkey (Brownsburg, IN). Woods won by decision 7-1. Photo by G Wyatt Schultz.

106 Pounds1. Jacob Decatur, 11, (CVCA, OH)2. Richard Figueroa, 9, (Selma, CA)3. Jeremiah Reno, 10, (Liberty, MO)4. Jake Rundell, 10, (Oak Park-River Forest, IL)5. Cullan Schriever, 10, (Mason City, IA)6. Yusief Lillie, 9, (Bonney Lake, WA)7. Jakason Burks, 10, (Omaha Burke, NE)8. Carter Young, 9, (Sand Springs, OK)9. Zach Shupp, 12, (Fairfield, OH)

10. Joey Olivieri, 9, (Hanover Park, NJ)11. Brendon Garcia, 11, (Pueblo County, CO)12. Joey Thompson, 10, (Maple Grove, MN)13. Dustin Norris, 9, (Cincinnati LaSalle, OH)14. Ryan Miller, 10, (Blair Academy, NJ)15. Jonathan Prata, 12, (Downey, CA)16. Logan Agin, 10, (Lancaster, OH)

17. Dean Peterson, 9, (St. John Vianney, NJ)18. Jacob Moran, 11, (Portage, IN)19. Nico Nardone, 9, (Delbarton, NJ)20. Nick Kayal, 10, (Bergen Catholic, NJ)21. Cooper Flynn, 9, (McDonogh, MD)22. Wil Guida, 10, (St. Paul’s, MD)23. Anthony Noto, 10, (Honoeye Falls, NY)24. Drake Ayala, 9, (Fort Dodge, IA)25. Braxton Brown, 9, (Allen, TX)26. Dominic Chavez, 10, (Arlington Martin, TX)27. Alejandra Herrera, 9, (Seneca Valley, PA)28. Kurtis Phipps, 10, (Norwin, PA)29. Jordan Titus, 9, (Center Moriches, NY)30T. Matt Griffin, 12, (Jamesville Dewitt, NY)30T. Daniel Kimball, 11, (Don Bosco, IA)30T. Kyle Rowan, 10, (Perry, OH)30T. Carlos Negrete, 9, (Clovis North, CA)

113 Pounds1. Trevor Mastrogiovanni, 10, (Blair Academy, NJ)2. Kurt McHenry, 11, (St. Paul’s, MD)3. Noah Surtin, 11, (Edwardsville, IL)4. Anthony Clark, 10, (Delbarton, NJ)5. Cevion Severado, 12, (Christian Brothers, MO)6. Greg Diakomihalis, 10, (Hilton, NY) 7. Dylan Ragusin, 10, (Montini Catholic, IL)8. Lucas Byrd, 11, (Cincinnati LaSalle, OH)9. Maximo Renteria, 9, (Buchanan, CA)

10. Tanner Jordan, 11, (St. Paris Graham, OH)11. Dylan Ryder, 12, (Half Hollow Hills West, NY)12. Matt Ramos, 11, (Lockport, IL)13. Antonio Lorenzo, 11, (St. John Bosco, CA)14. Sam Alvarez, 11, (St. Joseph Regional, NJ)15. Eddie Ventresca, 10, (Pope John, NJ)16. Dylan Shawver, 10, (Elyria, OH)17. Eric Barnett, 11, (Hortonville, WI)18. Nick Oldham, 11, (WDM Valley, IA)19. Brayden Curtis, 11, (Yorktown, IN)20. Aizayah Yacapin, 10, (Curtis, WA)21. Nic Bouzakis, 8, (Lake Highland Prep, FL)22. Aaron Nagao, 10, (Esperanza, CA)23. Josh Boozel, 12, (Mount Union, PA)24. Brock McMillen, 9, (Glendale, PA) 25. Dante Mininno, 12, (Gateway, NJ)26. Nick Masters, 10, (Woodward Academy, GA)27. Andrew Chambal, 10, (Davison, MI)28. Garrett Steidley, 10, (Tuttle, OK)29. Tristan Lujan, 10, (Selma, CA)30T. Jarod Kosman, 12, (Fitch, CT)30T. Beau Bayless, 11, (Reynolds, PA)30T. Killian Delaney, 10, (W.C. Henderson, PA)30T. Caleb Rathjen, 9, (Ankeny, IA)

120 Pounds1. Robert Howard, 10, (Bergen Catholic, NJ)2. Malik Heinselman, 12, (Castle View, CO)3. Michael Colaiocco, 11, (Blair Academy, NJ)4. Nic Aquilar, 12, (Gilroy, CA)5. Julian Tagg, 10, (Brecksville, OH)6. Ben Kamali, 12, (Detroit Catholic Central, MI)7. Travis Ford-Melton, 11, (Marian Catholic, IL)


ditor’s Note: Here are final rankings of the Nation’s Best 2017-18 High School Wrestlers. These rankings representwrestlers regardless of year in school. Seven factors were considered in determining these rankings. They include:(1) Accomplishments at the state high school championships (folkstyle); (2) National Junior Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships; 3) Performances at prestigious regular season high school tournaments; (4) Super 32Challenge Tournament; (5) Cadet National Championships; (6) NHSCA Championships; (7) Flo Nationals. Rankingswere finalized on 4-15-18. For any corrections, E-mail: [email protected]

ALL-CLASS Rankings

EE

2018 Dream Team Classic Wrestling Dual - 285 lbs. Jake Levengood (Vacaville, CA) in controlas he works on top of Brandon Streck (Merrillville, IN). Levengood won by decision 4-0. Photo byG Wyatt Schultz.

2017-18 Wrestling USA Magazine

BBeesstt AAllll--CCllaassss FFiinnaall RRaannkkiinnggssBy Dan Fickel, National Editor


8. Zeke Escalera, 9, (Wyoming Seminary, OH)9. Joey Melendez, 12, (Montini Catholic, IL)

10. Brandon Kaylor, 12, (Bonney Lake, WA)11. Ty Smith, 12, (Virgin Valley, NV)12. Jaret Lane, 12, (Southern Columbia, PA)13. Kyle Biscoglia, 12, (Waukee, IA)14. Kyle Gollhofer, 11, (Woodland, GA)15. Anthony Molton, 11, (Lockport, IL)16. Brendon Fenton, 12, Elyria, OH)17. Kai Orine, 11, (Seckman, MO)18. Aden Reeves, 11, (Albia, IA)19. Mitchell Polito, 12, (East Brunswick, NJ)20. Nate Keaton, 12, (Circleville, OH)21. Joe Manchio, 12, (Seneca, NJ)22. Antonio Mininno, 12, (Gateway, NJ)23. Logan Macri, 12, (Canon-McMillan, PA)24. Sean Pierson, 11, (Nazareth, PA)25. Jake Svihil, 11, (Totino-Grace, MN)26. Devin Murphy, 10, (Clovis North, CA)27. Jacob Allen, 12, (Poway, CA)28. Hunter Lewis, 11, (Stoughton, WI)29. Kysen Terukina, 10, (Kamehameha, HI)30T. Rhett Golowenski, 12, (Tuttle, OK)30T. Sam Latona, 11, (Thompson, AL)30T. Bretli Reyna, 10, (South Dade, FL)30T. Henry Porter, 9, (Oakdale, CA)

126 Pounds1. Adam Busiello, 11, (Eastport-South Manor, NY)2. Patrick McKee, 12, (St. Michael-Albertville, MN)3. Patrick Glory, 12, (Delbarton, NJ)4. Beau Bartlett, 10, (Wyoming Seminary, PA)5. Gavin Teasdale, 12, (Jefferson-Morgan, PA)6. Alex Thomsen, 12, (Underwood, IA)7. Brody Teske, 12, (Fort Dodge, IA)8. Malik Johnson, 12, (Christian Brothers, MO)9. Chris Cannon, 11, (Blair Academy, NJ)

10. Sam Hillegas, 10, (North Hills, PA)11. Jakob Camacho, 12, (Danbury, CT)12. Ridge Lovett, 11, (Post Falls, ID)13. Dominick Serrano, 10, (Windsor, CO)14. Phil Moomey, 11, (Kearney, NE)15. Malyke Hines, 11, (Osceola, FL)16. Jace Koelzer, 12, (Olathe South, KS)17. Asa Garcia, 11, (Avon, IN)18. Cleveland Belton, 11, (St. John Bosco, CA)19. Cody Phippen, 12, (Platte County, MO)20. Chris Wright, 12, (Central Dauphin, PA)21. Brock Whorton, 12, (East Fairmont, WV) 22. Ryan Franco, 9, (Clovis North, CA)23. Ethan Leake, 12, (Buchanan, CA)24. Cole Mattin, 11, (Delta, OH)25. Tommy Hoskins, 12, (Legacy Christian, OH)26. Cameron Fusco, 12, (Seckman, MO)27. Robbie Precin, 12, (Andrew, IL)28. Mike McAteer, 12, (Whitfield, MO)29. Mel Ortiz, 12, (New Milford, CT)30T. Angelo Martinoni, 12, (Folsom, CA)30T. Jackson DiSario, 11, (Ola, GA)30T. Fabian Lopez, 10, (DeKalb, IL)30T. Shayne Van Ness, 9, (Blair Academy, NJ)

132 Pounds1. Roman Bravo-Young, 12, (Sunnyside, AZ)2. Real Woods, 12, (Montini Catholic, IL)3. Jesse Vasquez, 10, (Santiago, CA) 4. Jordan Decatur, 11, (CVCA, OH)5. Theorius Robison, 11, (Pomona, CO)6. Connor McGonagle, 11, (Timberlane, NH)7. Josh Saunders, 10, (Christian Brothers, MO)8. Dylan D’Emilio, 11, (Genoa, OH)9. Drew Bennett, 12, (Fort Dodge, IA)

10. Jack Davis, 12, (Wyoming Seminary, PA)11. Gabe Tagg, 11, (Brecksville, OH)12. Lucas Revano, 11, (Camden Catholic, NJ)13. Nick Raimo, 11, (Hanover Park, NJ)

14. Jarrett Trombley, 12, (Lake Fenton, MI)15. Travis Mastrogiovanni, 9, (Blair Academy, NJ)16. Jared Van Vleet, 12, (Stillman Valley, IL)17. Alex Felix, 12, (Gilroy, CA)18. Chase Zollmann, 12, (Poway, CA)19. Collin Gerardi, 12, (Powhatan, VA)20. Kyle Slendorn, 12, (Howell, NJ)21. Keegan O’Toole, 10, (Arrowhead, WI)22. Zach Price, 12, (Johnstown, IA)23. Ryan Moore, 12, (Walton-Verona, KY)24. Justin Vines, 12, (Wantagh, NY)25. Matt Kazimer, 12, (St. Edward, OH) 26. Clay Carlson, 12, (Willmar, MN)27. Garret Kloeppel, 11, (Parkway South, MO)


SIXTH ANNUAL BEVERLY HILLS BOOK AWARDS

DR. BILL WELKER

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ALL-CLASS Rankings

28. Manzona Bryant, 10, (Culver Academies, IN)29. Matt Fields, 12, (Brunswick, OH)30T. Caleb Rea, 12, (Weir, WV)30T. Jordan Hamdan, 11, (Hudson, MI)30T. Peyton Hall, 10, (Oak Glen, WV)30T. Justin Mastroianni, 9, (New Canaan, CT)

138 Pounds1. Joey Silva, 12, (Lake Highland Prep, FL)2. Jaden Abas, 11, (Rancho Bernardo, CA)3. Cole Matthews, 12, (Reynolds, PA)4. Quinn Kinner, 12, (Kingsway, NJ)5. Carson Manville, 9, (Wyoming Seminary, PA)6. Ryan Anderson, 11, (Bethlehem Catholic, PA)7. James Whitaker, 11, (St. Johns, MI)8. Marshall Keller, 12, (Christiansburg, VA)9. Jeremy Schoenherr, 12, (Stratford, WI)

10. JoJo Aragona, 11, (Pope John, NJ)11. Michael Blockhus, 12, (New Hampton, IA)12. Bryce Andonian, 11, (St. Edward, OH)13. Alex Cruz, 12, (Orting, WA)14. J.D. Stickley, 12, (St. Paris Graham, OH)15. Jake Benner, 12, (Ocean Township, NJ)16. Lawrence Saenz, 12, (Vacaville, CA) 17. Matthew Olguin, 11, (Buchanan, CA)18. Luke Baughman, 11, (Wadsworth, OH)19. Saul Ervin, 12, (Union County, KY)20. Riley Gurr, 12, (Frenchtown, MT)21. Trevor Chumbley, 11, (Marmion Academy, IL)22. Colton Yapoujian, 11, (Pomona, CO)23. Devin Schwartzkopf, 11, (Francis Howell, MO)24. Malcolm Robinson, 12, (Blair Academy, NJ)25. Sam Stuhl, 12, (Ellsworth, WI)26. Legend Lamer, 11, (Crescent Valley, OR)27. Jacob Butler, 12, (Elgin, OK)28. Kris Rumph, 12, (Portage, IN)29. Fidel Mayora, 10, (Montini Catholic, IL)30T. Seth Koleno, 12, (Bald Eagle, PA)30T. Dawson Sihavong, 11, (Bullard, CA)30T. Luke Surber, 10, (Tuttle, OK)30T. Luka Wick, 9, (San Marino, CA)30T. Bennett Berge, 8, (Kasson-Mantorville, MN)

145 Pounds1. Sammy Sasso, 12, (Nazareth, PA)2. Frankie Gissendanner, 12, (Penfield, NY)3. Brock Hardy, 12, (Box Elder, UT)4. Mason Phillips, 12, (Stanwood, WA)5. Andrew Alirez, 11, (Greeley Central, CO)6. Jake Stiles, 11, (Montini Catholic, IL)7. Kendall Coleman, 12, (Mt. Carmel, IL)8. Mitch Moore, 12, (St. Paris Graham, OH)9. Vic Voinovich, 9, (Brecksville, OH)

10. Peyton Omania, 12, (De La Salle, CA)11. Kevon Davenport, 11, (Detroit Cath. Central, MI)12. McKay Foy, 11, (Altamont, UT)13. Jason Kraisser, 11, (Centennial, MD)14. Michael Weber, 11, (Forsyth, MT)15. Ricky Cabanillas, 11, (DePaul Catholic, NJ)

16. Jacob Greenwood, 12, (Poudre, CO)17. Grant Aronoff, 12, (St. Thomas Aquinas, FL)18. Chris Donathan, 11, (Mason, OH)19. Austin Boone, 10, (Lowell, MI) 20. Sam Dover, 11, (St. Edward, OH)21. Michael North, 11, (Wadsworth, OH)22. Nick Freeman, 12, (Walled Lake Central, MI)23. Drew Scharenbrock, 12, (Sun Prairie, WI)24. Kasper McIntosh, 12, (Portage, IN)25. Tony Mendoza, 12, (Selma, CA)26. Bernie Truax, 12, (Rancho Buena Vista, CA)27. Cade DeVos, 11, (Southeast Polk, IA)28. Christian Hudson, 11, (Caldwell, ID)29. Kolby Ho, 12, (Dubois, PA)30T. Trent Johnson, 12, (John Hardin, KY)30T. Ben Pasiuk, 11, (Carrollton, OH)30T. Connor Kievman, 10, (Wyoming Seminary, PA)30T. Nicholas Steele, 9, (San Pasqual, AZ)

152 Pounds1. David Carr, 12, (Massillon Perry, OH)2. Brayton Lee, 12, (Brownsburg, IN)3. Jacori Teemer, 12, (Long Beach, NY)4. Justin Ruffin, 12, (Union Grove, GA)5. Anthony Artalona, 12, (Tampa Prep, FL)6. Markus Hartman, 12, (Barrington, IL)7 Will Lewan, 12, (Montini Catholic, IL)

8. Brevin Balmeceda, 11, (South Dade, FL)9. Alex Lloyd, 12, (Shakopee, MN)

10. Quincy Monday, 12, (Carrboro, NC)11. Josh Humphreys, 12, (Parkersburg South, WV)12. Josiah Rider, 12, (Grand Junction, CO)13. Alex Facundo, 9, (Davison, MI)14. Brock Mauller, 12, (Father Tolton, MO)15. Tyler Eischens, 12, (Anoka, MN)16. Connor Brady, 11, (Olentangy Liberty, OH)17. Dominic Mata, 10, (Poway, CA) 18. Cole Corrigan, 12, (Toms River South, NJ)19. Cameron Amine, 11, (Detroit Cath. Central, MI)20. Jake Hart, 12, (Fort Mill, SC)21. Justin McCoy, 12, (Chesnut Ridge, PA)22. Harlan Steffensmeier, 12, (Fort Madison, IA)23. Cayd Lara, 12, (Fort Dodge, IA) 24. Jake Marsh, 12, (Marysville, OH) 25. Farouq Mohammed, 11, (Elyria, OH)26. Logan Jensen, 12, (Herriman, UT)27. Brian Meyer, 12, (Phillipsburg, NJ)28. Peter Enos, 12, (Francis Howell, MO)29. Matthew Grippi, 12, (Fox Lane, NY)30T. Rodrick Mosley, 12, (Heritage Hall, OK)30T. Dawon Andrews, 11, (Safford, AZ)30T. Aaron Gandara, 10, (Cibola, AZ)30T. Paddy Gallagher, 9, (St. Edward, OH)

2018 Dream Team Classic Wrestling Dual - 152 lbs. Jacori Teemer (Long Beach, NY) working tofinish a takedown on Brayton Lee (Brownsburg, IN). Lee would bring the Indiana crowd to their feetwith a sudden victory takedown to win 6-4 . Photo by G Wyatt Schultz.


160 Pounds1. Shane Griffith, 12, (Bergen Catholic, NJ)2. Peyton Robb, 12, (Owatonna, MN)3. Dustin Plott, 10, (Tuttle, OK)4. Andrew Merola, 12, (Blair Academy, NJ)5. Jaden Mattox, 12, (Central Crossing, OH)6. Jared Franek, 12, (West Fargo, ND)7. Ryan Thomas, 12, (St. Paris Graham, OH)8. Carter Starocci, 11, (Erie Cathedral Prep, PA)9. Jarrett Jacques, 12, (Father Tolton, MO)

10. Nelson Brands, 12, (Iowa City West, IA)11. Josh Kim, 12, (Santiago, CA)12. Kevon Freeman, 12, (Lake Catholic, OH)13. Mason Reiniche, 11, (Baylor School, TN)14. Peyton Mocco, 12, (Nathan Hale, WI)15. Tyler Dow, 12, (Stoughton, WI)16. Phil Conigliaro, 12, (Belmont Hill, MA)17. Jaryn Curry, 12, (Choctaw, OK)18. Robert Kanniard, 11, (Wall, NJ)19. Jake Silverstein, 12, (Hauppauge, NY)20. Josh Ramirez, 12, (Dubuque Wahlert, IA)21. Colt Yinger, 12, (Nelsonville-York, OH)22. Michael Vernagallo, 12, (Cape Fear, NC)23. Logan Meek, 12, (Crater, OR)24. Joel Romero, 12, (Buchanan, CA)25. Isaac Wilcox, 11, (Olympus, UT)26. Zach Hartman, 12, (Belle Vernon, PA)27. Garrit Nijenhuis, 10, (Canon McMillan, PA)28. Drew Eller, 10, (Evans, GA)29. Matt Ortiz, 11, (Montini Catholic, IL)30T. Danny Braunagel, 12, (Althoff Catholic, IL)30T. Alex Cramer, 11, (Grayslake Central, IL)30T. Kai Bele, 10, (Lake Highland Prep, FL)

170 Pounds1. Travis Wittlake, 12, (Marshfield, OR)2. Trent Hidlay, 12, (Mifflin County, PA)3. Rocky Jordan, 12, (St. Paris Graham, OH)4. Julian Ramirez, 11, (Blair Academy, NJ)5. Carson Kharchla, 11, (Olentangy Liberty, OH)6. Emil Soehnlen, 12, (Massillon Perry, OH)7. Grant Cuomo, 12, (Brewster, NY)8. Michael O’Malley, 12, (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ)9. Chris Foca, 11, (Bergen Catholic, NJ)

10. Tyler Barnes, 12, (Ballston Spa, NY)11. Jeremiah Kent, 12, (Hickman, MO)12. Billy Higgins, 12, (Omaha Skutt, NE)13. Braeden Redlin, 12, (Allen, TX)14. Joe Mazzara, 12, (Bishop Gorman, NV)15. Robert Patrick, 12, (Ligonier Valley, PA)16. Noah Warren, 12, (Perry Meridian, IN)17. Ben Sarasin, 12, (CR Kennedy, IA)18. Mason Smith, 12, (Walton-Verona, KY)19. Abe Assad, 11, (Glenbard North, IL)20. Jackson Turley, 11, (St. Christopher’s, VA)21. Edmond Ruth, 11, (Susquehanna Township, PA)22. Zane Coleman, 11, (Choctaw, OK)23. Layne Malczewski, 12, (Dakota, MI)

24. Colton Denney, 12, (Heritage Hall, OK)25. Trent Tracy, 11, (Frontier, CA)26. Anthony Zach, 11, (Waukee, IA)27. Gabe Martinez, 11, (Oakdale, CA)28. Christian Rodriguez, 11, (Selma, CA)29. Troy Fisher, 11, (Goddard, KS)30T. Nate Jimenez, 12, (Marmion Academy, IL)30T. Parker Keckeisen, 11, (Nicolet, WI)30T. Rocky Elam, 10, (Staley, MO)

182 Pounds1. Aaron Brooks, 12, (North Hagerstown, MD)2. Patrick Kennedy, 10, (Kasson-Manorville, MN)3. Bill Janzer, 12, (Delsea, NJ)4. Joel Shapiro, 12, (WDM Valley, IA)5. Jared Krattiger, 12, (Waterford, WI)6. Cody Mulligan, 12, (Saegertown, PA)7. Jack Jessen, 12, (Willowbrook, IL)8. Anthony Montalvo, 12, (Buchanan, CA)9. Leo Tarantino, 12, (Blair Academy, NJ)

10. D.J. Shannon, 12, (Christian Brothers, MO)11. Josh Stillings, 12, (Pennridge, PA)12. Victor Marcelli, 12, (Massillon Jackson, OH)13. Erich Byelick, 12, (Lake Highland Prep, FL)14. Cole Moody, 12, (Brighton, UT)15. Zac Braunagel, 12, (Althoff Catholic, IL)

16. Darrien Roberts, 11, (Wyoming Seminary, PA)17. Trevor Lawson, 12, (Olentangy Liberty, OH)18. Joey Baughman, 12, (Wadsworth, OH)19. Tim Wallace, 12, (Albert Gallatin, PA)20. Devin Winston, 11, (Park Hill, MO)21. Conner Graber, 12, (Northridge, IN)22. Nathan Walton, 12, (Brownsburg, IN)23. Caden Steffen, 12, (Zumbrata-Mazeppa, MN)24. Josh McKenzie, 11, (Bergen Catholic, NJ)25. David Crawford, 12, (Canfield, OH)26. Gary Wokojance, 11, (Barberton, OH)27. Jack Parr, 11, (St. Paul’s, MD)28. Jonathan Fagen, 11, (Fruitland, ID)29. Christian Knop, 11, (Alexandria, AL)30T. Tate Samuelson, 12, (Castle View, CO)30T. Jake Logan, 11, (New Rochelle, NY)30T. Gaige Garcia, 10, (Southern Columbia, PA)30T. Kyle Haas, 9, (Maize, KS)

195 Pounds1. Gavin Hoffman, 12, (Montoursville, PA)2. Michael Beard, 12, (Malvern Prep, PA)3. Albert Ferrari, 10, (Allen, TX)4. Lucas Davison, 12, (Chesterton, IN)5. Tony Andrade, 12, (Gilroy, CA)6. Jacob Cardenas, 11, (Bergen Catholic, NJ)


ALL-CLASS Rankings


7. Jake Thompson, 12, (Moeller, OH)8. Colbey Harlan, 12, (Oakdale, CA)9. Ryan Reyes, 11, (Clovis West, CA)

10. Jonathan Loew, 12, (Wantagh, NY)11. Beau Yineman, 12, (Neenah, WI)12. Bryce Esmoil, 12, (West Liberty, IA)13. Tony Wuest, 12, (Smyrna, DE)14. Luke McGonigal, 12, (Clearfield, PA)15. Cole Urbas, 11, (State College, PA)16. Cody Howard, 12, (St. Edward, OH)17. Tyrie Houghton, 12, (Weddington, NC)18. Jack Flynn, 12, (Francis Howell, MO)19. Garrett Joles, 12, (Boyceville, WI)20. Wyatt Hendrickson, 11, (Newton, KS)21. Jayden Woodruff, 12, (Ponderosa, CO)22. Peter Christensen, 11, (Montini Catholic, IL)23. Ashton Sharp, 10, (Park Hill, MO)24. Sam Hansen, 12, (Roncalli, IN)25. Stone Day, 12, (Valley View, OH)

26. Gage Braun, 12, (St. Paris Graham, OH) 27. Dylan McBride, 12, (Fort Morgan, CO)28. Layne Hatcher, 12, (Pulaski Academy, AR)29. Trey Rogers, 12, (Hastings, MN)30T. Jared Ball, 12, (Hilliard Darby, OH)30T. Yaraslau Slavikouski, 11,

(Northfield Mt. Hermon, MA)30T. Santos Cantu, 10, (Sprague, OR)30T. Peyton Craft, 9, (Blair Academy, NJ)

220 Pounds1. Mason Parris, 12, (Lawrenceburg, IN)2. Daniel Kerkvliet, 11, (Simley, MN)3. Brandon Whitman, 12, (Dundee, MI)4. Zach Elam, 12, (Staley, MO)5. Braxton Amos, 10, (Parkersburg South, WV)6. Luke Luffman, 11, (Urbana, IL)7. Anthony Walters, 12, (Bishop McCort, PA)8. Ben Goldin, 12, (Lake Highland Prep, FL)

9. Tyler Curd, 11, (Oak Grove, MO)10. Pete Acciardi, 12, (Don Bosco Prep, NJ)11. Matt Hennessey, 12, (Plainfield North, IL)12. Joey Daniel, 12, (Santa Ana, CA)13. Chance Trussell, 12, (Morgan, UT)14. Owen Trephan, 11, (Blair Academy, NJ)15. Boone McDermott, 12, (Dubuque Wahlert, IA)16. Francis Duggan, 12, (Iowa City West, IA)17. Aric Bohn, 12, (Mukwonago, WI)18. Isaiah Perez, 12, (Pitman, CA)19. Victor Jaquez, 11, (Bellarmine, CA)20. Zach Marcheselli, 11, (Broken Arrow, OK)21. Gaige Willis, 12, (Pymatuning Valley, OH)22. Antonio McCloud, 12, (Cincinnati Elder, OH)23. Jacob Bullock, 11, (Cahokia, IL)24. Hunter Catka, 10, (Sun Valley, PA)25. Cole Fibranz, 11, (Sartell, MN)26. Ian Edenfield, 12, (Laurel Highlands, PA)27. Maverick McPeak, 12, (Dakota, IL)28. Maika Tauteoli, 11, (Pleasant Grove, UT)29. Andrew Marshall, 12, (Lincoln-Sudbury, MA)30T. Jordan Baumler, 12, (North Fayette Valley, IA)30T. Chase Dockter, 11, (Bismarck, ND)30T. Cody Fleming, 10, (Ninety-Six, SC)

285 Pounds1. Gable Steveson, 12, (Apple Valley, MN)2. Cohlton Schultz, 11, (Ponderosa, CO)3. Seth Nevills, 12, (Clovis, CA)4. Anthony Cassioppi, 12, (Hononegah, IL)5. Isaac Reid, 12, (Kiski, PA)6. Nash Hutmacher, 10, (Chamberlain, SD)7. Austin Emerson, 12, (Bedford, MI)8. Nick Casperson, 12, (Beresford, SD)9. Terrese Aaron, 12, (Mexico, MO)

10. Paul Robinson, 12, (Bremen, GA)11. Jake Levengood, 12, (Vacaville, CA)12. Montana Phillips, 11, (MacArthur, OK) 13. Eli Pokorney, 11, (Chesterton, IN)14. Deonte Wilson, 12, (Amityville, NY)15. Colin Lawler, 12, (Kinkaid TX)16. John McConkey, 12, (Atlantic, IA)17. Caleb Sanders, 12, (Glenwood, IA)18. Jonathan Birchmeier, 11, (Broad Run, VA) 19. Lewis Fernandes, 11, (Voorhees, NJ)20. Keaton Kluever, 12, (Kaukauna, WI)21. Michael Kramer, 11, (Wilson Central, TN)22. Michael Wolfgram, 11, (Central York, PA)23. Jack DelGarbino, 11, (Girard, OH)24. Brooks Baker, 11, (Broomfield, MO)25. Max Darrah, 12, (Whitfield School, MO)26. Bryan Wallace, 12, (Clarke County, VA)27. Tommy Mommer, 12, (Cibola, AZ)28. Jace Punke, 11, (Washington, IL)29. Louden Haga, 11, (Parkersburg South, WV)30T. Dan Scheib, 12, (Tri-Valley, PA)30T. Jorden Pryor, 11, (Dunbar, MD)30T. Andy Garcia, 10, (Pueblo East, CO)

2018 Dream Team Classic Wrestling Dual - 170 lbs. Travis Wittlake Jr. (Marshfield, OR) attackingwith a low single leg on Noah Warren (Perry Meridian, IN). Wittlake won by technical fall 17-1, 3:33.Photo by G Wyatt Schultz.


HIGH SCHOOL Team Rankings

1. Blair Academy, New Jersey2. Bergen Catholic, New Jersey3. St. Paris Graham, Ohio4. Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania5. Montini Catholic, Illinois6. Lake Highland Prep, Florida7. Buchanan, California8. St. Edward, Ohio9. Nazareth, Pennsylvania

10. Bethlehem Catholic, Pennsylvania11. Gilroy, California12. Brecksville, Ohio13. South Dade, Florida14. Detroit Catholic Central, Michigan15. Poway, California16. Delbarton, New Jersey17. Reynolds, Pennsylvania18. Wadsworth, Ohio19. Camden County, Georgia20. Allen, Texas21. Choctaw, Oklahoma22. Selma, California23. Parkersburg South, West Virginia24. LaSalle, Ohio25. Fort Dodge, Iowa

26. Oak Park River Forest, Illinois27. Indianapolis Cathedral, Indiana28. Christian Brothers College, Missouri29. Brownsburg, Indiana30. Erie Cathedral Prep, Pennsylvania31. Apple Valley, Minnesota32. Park Hill, Missouri 33. Davison, Michigan34. Anoka, Minnesota35. Waukee, Iowa36. Broken Arrow, Oklahoma37. Flathead (Kalispell), Montana38. Lowell, Michigan39. Kiski Area, Pennsylvania40. Southeast Polk, Iowa41. Grand Junction, Colorado42. Olathe, Kansas43. Lincoln East, Nebraska44. Rio Rancho, New Mexico45. Shakopee, Minnesota46. Goddard, Kansas47. Aztec, New Mexico48. Sidney-Fairview, Montana49. Kearny, Nebraska50. Lake Gibson, Florida

Top 50 High School TeamsBy Stuart Mahler

OOVERVER T THEHE L LASTAST Y 10 YEARS,EARS, S 60 STATETATE T TEAMEAM T TITLESITLES H HAVEAVE B BEENEEN WWONON B BYY T TEAMSEAMS U USINGSING O OURUR S SERIES.ERIES.

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o describe the 2017-18 high school season as a banneryear for girls wrestling would be an understatement.Change is coming for the sport and the tide is turn-ing fast. From 1998 to 2018 there were only six statesholding girls high school wrestling championships.

Since February, four new interscholastic governing bodies havevoted to open the doors and provide more opportunities for girlsto wrestle girls.

Which states took those giant leaps in 2018? First to announcethey will hold a girls’ state championships in the 2018-2019wrestling season was Georgia, Oregon, and Colorado. TheGeorgia High School Association (GHSA) made their announce-ment at the boys’ state championship on February 10th. Georgiawas somewhat of a surprise, as the GHSA leadership provided

the momentum for this decision with input from their statewrestling advisory committee. According to our research, therewere no tournaments being held specifically for high school girlsduring the wrestling season. It will be exciting to watch Georgia’snumbers and wrestling opportunities for girls grow next season.On Monday February 12th, the Oregon School ActivitiesAssociation (OSAA) voted to approve a separate girls divisionand official girls’ state championship. Oregon has run an exhibi-tion championship for girls since 2009. It took dedicated grassroots support from coaches, parents, and athletes, along withOregon coaches Scott Shannon and Trent Kroll, to lobby the statechampionship committee for the desired girls championship tocome to fruition.

On Feb 21st, the Colorado High School Activities Association(CHSAA) approved girls wrestling as a two-yearpilot program. CHSAA created a girls wrestlingadvisory committee in 2016, and studied the grow-ing numbers of girls wrestling boys. As a result ofleadership from the top down, this new pilot pro-gram received the go ahead. Colorado held six tour-naments this past season helping promote the sportand creating the opportunity for girls to wrestleonly girls. These events were either divisions at acurrent boys event, or stand alone tournaments. Itwas the second year Colorado afforded these tour-nament opportunities. Within one year, Colorado’snumbers of girls participating in wrestling grewfrom 172 in 2016-17 to 220 in 2017-18.

Rounding out the group of four is Massachusetts.“The MIAA is excited to offer the first Girls’ OnlyState Wrestling Tournament beginning in the winterof 2018-19” said Phil Napolitano, MIAA WrestlingLiaison (Massachusetts Interscholastic AthleticAssociation). “We are thrilled to provide an oppor-tunity to showcase the tremendous female wrestlersthat work tirelessly throughout the season. We lookforward to the continued growth of Girls Wrestlingin the state of Massachusetts.” The MIAA isapplauded for the decision from the state inter-scholastic level to support the growth of girlswrestling with a championship tournament.

While these four states join Alaska, California,Hawaii, Tennessee, Texas and Washington by creat-ing girls state championship tournaments, whattype of opportunities are other states creating forgirls wrestling in high school? Which states are cur-rently working to provide girls only competition?

New Mexico made wrestling news as the New

T

GIRLS Wrestling

By Joan Fulp

A Year of New Opportunities forGirls High School Wrestling

2017 Junior National Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Championship Final - 138 lbs.Emma Bruntil (Washington) looking to finish a takedown on Jerzie Estrada (Colorado).Bruntil won by fall in 4.32. Photo by G Wyatt Schultz.

Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) took a positive step andran an exhibition girls’ state alongside their boys’ championshipthis past season. They used eight weight classes and an eight-per-son bracket. This was an initial step to garner and determineinterest in girls wrestling. Despite only recording 115 girls partic-ipating in the 2017-18 season, the NMAA leadership chose to cre-ate an opportunity to grow the sport for girls. In our committeefindings, this is the type of conscientious example more states canfollow. Small or large numbers, girls should be provided theopportunity to wrestle their own gender.

While other states are creating committees to determine the fea-sibility of sanctioning girls wrestling at the high school level,numerous coaches are taking action by providing stand-alonegirls tournaments or girls divisions at a JV or Varsity tournamentto provide the much-needed competition. Here are examples ofwhat other states are doing.

Kansas has put rubber to the road and has promoted girlswrestling for the past two seasons. Doug Kretzer, head boys andgirls coach at McPherson High School, McPherson, Kansas, hasspearheaded the push and the growth has been exponential. Girlsonly tournaments began with four the first year, and has grown tonine for the 2017-18 season. Numbers of girls attending theKansas girls high school state (unofficial) championship grewfrom 56 competing in 2017, to 145 girls competing in 2018.According to Kretzer’s statistics, total participation numbers forgirls wrestling grew from 112 to 234 in one year. Clearly, provid-ing the opportunity for girls only competition allows for a moreequitable playing field, less resistance from parents, and newopportunities for female athletes who previously were not inter-ested in competing against males.

Virginia and Florida has offered either girls only tournaments orgirls divisions during the past two wrestling seasons. Florida’s2018 participation numbers are right at 600. They run numerousgirls tournaments during the season, and had 300 participants attheir unofficial Florida Girls State championship. LikewiseVirginia, with participation numbers over 275, ran four girls divi-sions or tournaments this past season.

Illinois does not offer girls only competi-tion during the season, however the IllinoisWrestling Coaches and Officials Association(IWCOA) ran the Illinois Girls State HighSchool tournament for the second year. TheIWCOA has also created a regional qualifi-cation system for this tournament, and willhold this competition again next year.

I would be remiss in reviewing opportuni-ties happening across the country withoutnoting the national college news makinghistory for womens wrestling. The NAIA(National Association of IntercollegiateAthletics) announced on April 14 theywould hold a national women’s wrestlinginvitational. This is the first national inter-collegiate athletic association to establish aprogram for women’s wrestling.

Each state involved in pushing the growthof girls wrestling have their own process.Although at different stages in their journey,New York, Missouri, Indiana, Idaho, Utah,Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin are current-ly creating a support system for female ath-

letes with big hopes towards sanctioning the sport. Why now? What has created the excitement? And which cir-

cumstances can we attribute the growth in numbers? There arethree key points our committee believes has attributed to thegrowth:

1. The success of Team USA’s women at the 2016 Olympic Games,and Helen Maroulis’ gold medal win.

2. More coaches are willing to welcome girls into the high schoolwrestling room. As young ladies step into the practice room andon the competition mat, old attitudes are taking a backseat.Those attitudes are being replaced by acceptance and an appreci-ation of a girl’s desire to excel in wrestling.

3. The push and dogged persistence by coaches and advocates toprovide more opportunities. Girls’ divisions are being held attournaments nationwide.

The acceptance and excitement is growing! Girls wrestling isclearly alive all across the country even while there remains “wel-come mats” that are far from visible for many females taking theirfirst step into a wrestling room. Surely as states take the lead andprovide more opportunities for girls to wrestle their own gender,numbers will only skyrocket. Without a doubt… girls wrestling isfoot sweeping the nation.

Joan Fulp is a volunteer committee member for the USA-WrestlingGirls High School Development Committee. Her family has beeninvolved in the sport of wrestling for over 50 years. Her husband, LeeAllen was a 2X Olympian and the USA Greco Roman World andOlympic coach from 1977-1980. Daughters Sara Fulp-Allen Bahouraand Katherine Fulp-Allen Shai have twelve years between them on theUSA National Team.



Nestor VaronaFlorida

2018 STATEPerson-of-the-Year AWARDS

STATE Awards

This Year's Wrestling USA Magazine’sFlorida Person-of-the-Year is a lifetimesupporter of wrestling.

Nestor Varona wrestled at CoralGables High School and was a stateplace finisher as a senior. Both ofNestor's sons, Isaiah and Elijah made

the Junior World Team in Greco and won 4 national titlesand 22 other All American honors between them.

Nestor has been a successful coach in all phases of thesport and at all levels. Nestor’s USA Wrestling Club,Garage Boyz has produced 14 Greco/Freestyle NationalChampions, 49 All Americans and 4 World Team Membersand that’s just from his double car garage!!

Besides his contribution as a coach, Nestor has volun-teered his services as a photographer, providing individualand team shots of FHSAA State Champions to be used bymany publications for the last 10 years.

The state of Florida and all of our different phases ofwrestling are better because of men like Nestor Varona.The wrestling community here in Florida is very gratefulfor his many contributions.


Mark JensenMinnesota

Mark attended Brainerd HighSchool, graduating in 1975. His highschool record was 85-15, and he was aRegion Champion and a two-timestate participant, placing fourth at 132lbs. in 1974.

He attended Concordia College inMoorhead, and earned a 102-29 record, placing 2nd and5th at the NCAA Div III National Tournament in 1978 and1979 respectively. Mark was voted as a wild card to wres-tle in the Division I Tournament at College Park,Maryland. He earned a degree in both Physical Educationand Biology, graduating in 1979.

Mark then began teaching and coaching at Howard LakeWaverly in 1980-81. He married his wife Karla and relocat-ed to the Brainerd area and was assistant coach underBruce Thompson in the early 1980s. Mark coached andtaught Physical Education at Pierz High School from 1987-2017. His teams at Pierz had a record of 377-112-2. He wasSection Coach of the year seven-times, and selected asMinnesota State Coach of the Year in 2005. He coached 114state entrants, 7 state champions, and coached 11 teams tothe State Tournament. Pierz was crowned team champi-ons in both 2004 and 2005, second in 2017 and third in2016. They earned consolation champions in 2003, 2006,and 2014. They placed sixth in 1996 and 2002.

Mark is a member of the Brainerd High School Hall ofFame and their Wrestling Hall of Fame, the ConcordiaCollege Athletic Hall of Fame for both football andwrestling.

Mark’s wife’s name is Karla, and they have four kids:Kristine, Kaley, Kaitlyn, and Kaari.

A member of the one of the most pro-lific wrestling families in the nation,she has done everything but actuallycompete on the wrestling mat. She hasserved as a wrestling official; has givenher time as a PA Chapter NationalWrestling Hall of Fame Board Member

for 19 years (the last several as Pennsylvania ChapterPresident); and has served on the National Wrestling Hall ofFame Board Advisory and Veterans Boards.

She contributes to all of Pennsylvania wrestling includingthe upstart female wrestling programs.

Her family is royalty in the wrestling nation. Her fatherRex, her brothers Hugh and Ed were all three-time NCAAchampions.

Pennsylvania is proud to honor Ann Peery Ritter as the2018 Wrestling USA Magazine’s Person-of-the-Year.

Ann Perry RitterPennsylvania

www.kennedyindustries.com 215.443.3313

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