Inspiring for coaches and wrestlers...

[Sommers]

Once again,UTC Student-Athletes Shine In Classroom...

 

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2015/12/30/315192/UTC-Student-Athletes-Shine-In-Classroom.aspx

 

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

 

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is enjoying an impressive run of competitive success to this point in the 2015-16 academic year. The Mocs won their third straight Southern Conference Championship in football and took home their first league title in volleyball since 1998. UTC is also picked to win the SoCon in three winter sports, including men's basketball, women's basketball and wrestling.

 

As good as things are going in competition, the performance of UTC student-athletes in the classroom is even more impressive.

 

The Mocs finished with a school-record 3.113 grade-point-average for the 2015 fall semester. It is the fourth-straight term with a 3.0 and the second in a row over a 3.1.

 

"The Vision of Chattanooga Athletics is to achieve excellence, and you are definitely seeing that across the board," stated UTC Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics David Blackburn. "The efforts of our student-athletes in the classroom and in competition are tremendous, and their hard work is paying off with outstanding results. They represent themselves, our athletics program and our University in an exemplary fashion, and I am proud of all they have accomplished."

 

A school-record 157 made the Dean's List, while a record 189 were on the Athletics Director's Honor Roll. Over half of all Mocs (53.8%) were on the Dean's List with a 3.2 g.p.a. and 64.7% made the honor roll with at least a 3.0.

 

This is the 13th-straight semester over half of all Mocs scored a 3.0 or better. It is also the fifth consecutive term a school-record 12 teams posted a 3.0.

 

"Our coaches and staff should also be recognized for their willingness to grow a competitive mindset in their programs," said Blackburn. "A tone is set from the beginning with how we recruit, and our Academic Staff does an outstanding job guiding our student-athletes throughout their careers."

 

The men's golf (3.65), softball (3.40) and wrestling (3.04) teams all had program records. The golfers set a new high for the second term in a row, with all seven team members making the Dean's List. The wrestlers broke the 3.0 mark for the first time and also set new highs with 22 on the A.D. Honor Roll and 16 on the Dean's List.

 

The SoCon Champion football team had its best fall on record with a 2.69. The football team also had program bests with 29 on the Dean's List and 40 on the honor roll.

 

The men's cross country team had its best fall with a 3.79, capturing the highest mark of any team this semester. Women's golf had its best fall with a 3.76, while soccer's 3.35 is second only to the 3.41 posted in the fall of 2010.

 

Individually, there were some notable Mocs among the 34 who made 4.0s. Three-time SoCon Football Offensive Player of the Year Jacob Huesman is among those with a 4.0. Emily Drouin and Paul Stuart both made the Cross Country All-SoCon teams while also having a perfect semester in the classroom.

 

"It takes a lot of hard work to maintain the success we have experienced in the classroom in recent years," added Blackburn. "It is important to celebrate these achievements, without getting complacent. Our coaches and academic support staff are always searching for new and innovative ways to equip our student-athletes for success. It is a constant challenge to maintain such a high level of performance, but one that our student-athletes keep achieving each and every semester."

[Sommers]

Here's an overview...

 

http://www.gomocs.com/news/2015/12/31/WR_1231154529.aspx

 

The preseeds for the 2016 Defense Soap & Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle are listed below.  We are just a day after from the start of action, so here is where the top competitors sit in each weight class. 

 

Hosted by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the Southern Scuffle takes place in the McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Jan. 1-2.  For tickets, local attractions and hotel information, visitwww.TheSouthernScuffle.com.

 

Flowrestling and Trackwrestling provide complete coverage of the event through live video and live scoring.  Links for both are on www.TheSouthernScuffle.com.

 

Once again, the official hashtag of the Southern Scuffle is #LetsScuffle.  The tournament trended nationally on social media each year it has been in Chattanooga.  Be sure to use the #LetsScuffle hashtag when tweeting about the event.

 

125

1. Nico Megaludis- Penn State

2. Zeke Moisey- West Virginia

3. Eddie Klimara- Oklahoma State

4. Darian Cruz- Lehigh

5. Drew Templeman- Wyoming

6. Connor Schram- Stanford

7. Sean Russell- Edinboro

8. Joseph Martinez- Virginia

9. Dalton Macri- Cornell

10. Brent Fleetwood- Central Michigan

 

133

1. Nahshon Garrett- Cornell

2. Jordan Conaway- Penn State

3. George DiCamillo- Virginia

4. Kaid Brock- Oklahoma State

5. Josh Martinez- Air Force

6. David Pearce- Drexel

7.  Caleb Richardson- Penn

8.  Nathan Kraisser- Campbell

9. Sam Brancale- Minnesota

10. Keegan Moore- West Virginia

 

141

1. Dean Heil- Oklahoma State

2. Jimmy Gulibon- Penn State

3. Joey McKenna- Stanford

4. Tommy Thorn- Minnesota

5. Bryce Meredith- Wyoming

6. Randy Cruz- Lehigh

7. Zach Horan- Central Michigan

8. Kevin Devoy- Drexel

9. Kade Moss- Penn State

10. Javier Gasca- Michigan State

 

149

1. Zain Retherford- Penn State

2. Evan Henderson- North Carolina

3. C.J. Cobb- Penn

4. Colin Heffernan- Central Michigan

5. Jake Short- Minnesota

6. Matthew Cimato- Drexel

7. Anthony Collica- Oklahoma State

8. Patricio Lugo- Edinboro

9. Laike Gardner- Lehigh

10. Paul Fox- Stanford

 

157

1. Jason Nolf- Penn State

2. Joe Smith- Oklahoma State

3. Lucas Smith- Central Michigan

4. Mitch Minotti- Lehigh

5. Dylan Cottrell- West Virginia

6. Dylan Palacio- Cornell

7. Russell Parsons- Army

8. Aaron Walker- The Citadel

9. Andrew Atkinson- Virginia

10. Zack Beitz- Penn State

 

165

1. Alex Dieringer- Oklahoma State

2. Jim Wilson- Stanford

3. Duke Pickett- Cornell

4. Casey Fuller- Edinboro

5. Jake Faust- Duke

6. Geno Morelli- Penn State

7.  Shakur Rasheed- Penn State

8. Ryan Preisch- Lehigh

9. Garrett Hammond- Penn State

10. Logan Massa- Michigan

 

174

1. Brian Realbuto- Cornell

2. Kyle Crutchmer- Oklahoma State

3. Ethan Ramos- North Carolina

4. Bo Nickal- Penn State

5. Mike Ottinger- Central Michigan

6. Jadaen Bernstein- Navy

7. Benjamin Stroh- Wyoming

8. Chandler Rogers- Oklahoma State

9. Brian Harvey- Army

10. Casey Kent- Penn

 

184

1. Gabe Dean- Cornell

2. Ian Brown- Lehigh

3. Lorenzo Thomas- Penn

4. Matt McCutcheon- Penn St

5. Matthew Miller- Navy

6. Nolan Boyd- Oklahoma State

7. Alex Utley- North Carolina

8. Jordan Rogers- Oklahoma State

9. Jordan Ellingwood- Central Michigan

10. Austin Severn- Central Michigan

 

197

1. Morgan McIntosh- Penn State

2. Conner Hartmann- Duke

3. Brett Pfarr- Minnesota

4. Jacob A. Smith- West Virginia

5. Zach Nye- Virginia

6. John Bolich- Lehigh

7. Marshall Haas- The Citadel

8. J.T. Goodwin- Cal Poly

9. Vince Pickett- Edinboro

10. Scottie Boykin- Chattanooga

 

285

1. Austin Marsden- Oklahoma State

2. Michael Kroells- Minnesota

3. Denzel Dejournette- Appalachian State

4. Max Wessell- Lehigh

5. Riley Shaw- Cleveland State

6. Jared Johnson- Chattanooga

7. Tanner Harms- Wyoming

8. Billy Miller- Edinboro

9. Nathan Butler- Stanford

10. Jeramy Sweany- Cornell

 

[Sommers]

UTC's Johnson Finishes Fourth At Southern Scuffle

 

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2016/1/2/315328/UTC-s-Johnson-Finishes-Fourth-At.aspx

 

Saturday, January 2, 2016

 



 

UTC's Jarod Johnson in the consolation finals. 

- photo by Greg Davick

 

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrapped up another outstanding Defense Soap & Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle in McKenzie Arena tonight. Penn State won its fifth straight title with 183 points, while the Mocs placed 20th in the loaded field.

 

"Fantastic event, stated head coach Hearth Eslinger. "I think it's the best event we've put on here in Chattanooga. I just think the more the machine goes and the more oil we put on it, things just run smoothly. Good attendance and great wrestling, which makes for a great atmosphere.

 

From the smallest detail to the major things, it was an absolutely phenomenal event."

 

UTC junior Jared Johnson had a strong showing with a fourth place finish at heavyweight. Ranked No. 14 in the nation heading into the tournament, he did better than his No. 6 seed at 285. 

 

Johnson opened the day with a loss in the quarterfinals against Appalachian State's No. 13 Denzel Dejournette. He gave up an escape in the second and lost the riding time point for the 0-2 margin.

 

Johnson followed with a 4-0 decision against West Virginia's A.J. Vizcarrondo in the sixth round of wrestlebacks and a 4-3 decision against Edinboro's William Miller in the blood round.   

 

He had another big win in the consolation semifinals with a 5-2 decision over Cleveland State's 12th-ranked Riley Shaw. That put him in the third place match against sixth-ranked Michael Kroells of Minnesota. He battled hard against Kroells before falling 5-2. 

 

"I thought Jared Johnson at heavyweight had a great performance," added Eslinger. "He had a stellar performance, and that's why he was wrestling. He's winning matches against the best guys in the country and its close matches."

 

"That's a matter of consistency. When you can win four or five close matches in a row, you're showing guys that you can be on the podium in the tournament. Anybody can win one good match, but to win four or five is tough"

 

Some of the other action included an early win from senior John Lampe at 184. He defeated Michigan's Ben Ralston with a 13-4 major decision in the fourth round of consos. He was knocked out in the next round by Stanford's Garet Krohn (5-3). 

 

Junior Sean Mappes looked to be cruising in his match against Wyoming's Ben Stroh. However, Stroh was able to get the pin in the final minute and score a win. 

 

Freshman Kamaal Shakur looked good with an early takedown in his match against Penn State's No. 3 ranked and top-seeded Jason Nolf. He eventually gave up a fall and was knocked out of the backdraw by Lehigh's Drew Longo. 

 

The top-ranked Nittnany Lions beat out No. 2 Oklahoma State (158) in the team race. Lehigh was third with 104.5 points, followed by Cornell (98.5) and North Carolina (97.5)

 

Another great crowd was at the finals and total attendance for day two at the Southern Scuffle was 3,172. It marks the third year in a row with 3,000+ on the second day of competition. 

 

Scuffle Attendance in Chattanooga

Jan. 2, 2014 – 3,436

Jan. 2, 2015 – 3,320

Jan. 2, 2016 – 3,172

Jan. 1, 2014 – 2,894

Jan. 2, 2013 – 2,856

Jan. 1, 2015 – 2,805

Jan. 1, 2016 – 2,670

Jan. 1, 2013 – 2,543

Jan. 1, 2012 – 2,210

Jan. 2, 2012 – 2,163

 

The Mocs are right back at it next weekend, traveling to Hampton Virginia for the Virginia Duals. Action takes place Jan. 8-9 at the Hampton Coliseum. Be sure to check GoMocs.com for any live links or follow the Mocs on twitter @utcwrestling.

 

Southern Scuffle Results for Chattanooga – Day 2

141

Michael Pongracz

            Zac Hall (Michigan) – L-D, 5-8

 

149

Roman Boylen

            Christopher Vassar (Gardner Webb) – L-Fall (1:44)

157

Kamaal Shakur

            No. 3 Jason Nolf (Penn State) – L-Fall (5:45)

            Drew Longo (Lehigh) – L-D, 11-14

 

174

Barrett Walthall

            Fox Baldwin (Virginia) – L-D, 6-9

Sean Mappes

            Ben Stroh (Wyoming) – L-Fall (6:20)

184

John Lampe

            Ben Ralston (Michigan) – W-MD, 13-4

            Garet Krohn (Stanford) – L-D, 3-5

 

197

Scottie Boykin

            Sam Wheeler (Cleveland State) – W-D, 9-3

285

Jared Johnson – 4th Place

            No. 13 Denzel Dejournette (Appalachian State) – L-D, 0-2

            A.J. Vizcarrondo (West Virginia) – W-D, 4-0

            William Miller (Edinboro) – W-D, 4-3

            No. 12 Riley Shaw (Cleveland State) – W-D, 5-2

            No. 6 Michael Kroells (Minnesota) – L-D, 3-5

Individual Champions

125 – Nico Megaludis – Penn State

133 – Nahshon Garrett – Cornell

141 – Dean Heil – Oklahoma State

149 – Zain Retherford – Penn State

157 – Jason Nolf – Penn State

165 – Alex Dieringer – Oklahoma State

174 – Bo Nickal – Penn State

184 – Gabe Dean – Cornell

197 – Morgan McIntosh – Penn State

285 – Austin Marsden – Oklahoma State

Most Outstanding Wrestler

Bo Nickal – Penn State (174)

Team Scores

1. Penn State - 183

2. Oklahoma State - 158

3. Lehigh - 104.5

4. Cornell - 98.5

5. North Carolina - 97.5

6. Minnesota - 79.5

7. West Virginia - 76.5

8. Central Michigan - 65.5

9. Stanford - 59.5

10. Penn - 56.5

11. Virginia - 53.5

12. Duke - 43.5

13. Appalachian State - 40.5

14. Campbell - 38.5

15. Edinboro - 37.5

16. Air Force - 37

17. Navy - 35.5

18. Army - 32.5

19. Drexel - 32

20. Chattanooga - 31.5

21. Wyoming - 29.5

22. Gardner Webb - 28.5

23. Northern Colorado - 26.5

24. Michigan State - 24.5

25. Cleveland State - 20

26. The Citadel - 19

27. Cal Poly - 16

28. Michigan - 8

29. Utah Valley - 0

[Sommers]

More BB Tidbits for Scuffle...

 

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2016/1/2/315310/2016-Southern-Scuffle-Championship.aspx

 

2016 Southern Scuffle: Championship Finals - Wt by Wt Matchups

 

Finals at 7 p.m.

 

Saturday, January 2, 2016 - by B.B Branton

 

 

 

Led by Penn State placing six in the finals, the 2016 Southern Scuffle finals at 7 p.m. should be a showcase of great collegiate wrestling.

 

Oklahoma State has three finalists and Cornell has two.

 

Highlights: At 125, Penn State senior Nico Megaludis looks for his second Scuffle title … at 133, two All-American senior go at it, but the Hahshon Garrett (Cornel) has the nod … At 141, Dean Heil (Okla State) is an All-American … at 149, Penn State’s Zain Retherford also looks for his second  Scuffle crown … at 157, Jason Nolf (Penn State) looks to improve on his 2015 Scuffle second place finish … 165 – Two-time NCAA champ Alex Dieringer (Okla State) is solid favorite … 174 – Penn State redshirt freshman Bo Nickal is on a roll and just might win it tonight … at 184, NCAA Champ Gabe Dean (Cornell) is solid favorite … at 197 – Morgan McIntosh (Penn State) is 2x All-American and the favorite tonight … wonder of Minnesota’s Bret Pfarr can throw at football as well as he wrestles … at 285, App State Junior  Denzel Dejournette looks as though he could play linebacker

 

* 125- No.

 

1 Nico Megaludis (Penn State) vs. No. 3 Eddie Klimara (Okla State)

 

Megaludis (Sr.) - won Scuffle in 2013 … Scuffle runner-up in 2014 … redshirted in 2015 2x NCAA runner-up …

 

Klimara (Sr.) - 2015 NCAA All-American … 4th at 2015 Scuffle

 

* 133 – No.1 Hahshon Garrett (Cornell) vs. No.2 Jordan Conaway (Penn State)

 

Garrett (Sr.) -  2015 Scuffle runner-up … 3x All-American

 

Conaway (Sr.) - 7th at 2015 Scuffle … 2015 All-American

 

* 141 – No.1 Dean Heil (Okla. State) vs. No.3 Joey McKenna (Stanford)

 

Heil (So.) – 8th at 2015 Scuffle … 2015 All-American

 

McKenna (Fr.)

 

* 149 – No.1 Zain Retherford (Penn State) vs. No.2 Evan Henderson (UNC)

 

Retherford (So.)  - 2014 Scuffle champion … 2014 All-American

 

Henderson – two pins and a tech fall to reach tonight’s finals

 

* 157 – No.1 Jason Nolf (Penn State) vs. No.2 Joe Smith Unatt. Oklahoma)

 

Nolf (So.) – 2015 Scuffle runner-up

 

Smith

 

* 165 – No.1 Alex Dieringer (Okla State) vs. Logan Massa (Unatt Michigan)

 

Dieringer (Sr.) – 2x Scuffle Champ … 2x NCAA champ … 3 pins, a tech fall and major on the way to tonight’s final

 

Massa (Fr.) -  beat No.3 Duke Pickett (Cornell), 7-3 in semis … 3x Michigan state champ … FILA Jr. National champ

 

* 174 -  No.4 Bo Nickal (Penn State) vs. No.3 Ethan Ramos (UNC)

 

Nickal (RS Fr.) – beat No.1 seed and NCAA runner-up Brian Realbuto in semis, 14-7 … Nackal (Allen Texas) and 3x Texas state champ and won Dapper Dan Classic … dominated Realbuto

 

Ramos – beat No.2 seed Kyle Crutchmer (Okla. State), 6-5, in semis.

 

First weight class where No.1 seed is not in the finals

 

* 184 – No.1 Gabe Dean (Cornell) vs. No.2 Nate Brown (Lehigh)

 

Dean (Jr.) - 2015 NCAA Champion – 2x Scuffle Champion

 

Brown dec. No.3 seed Lorenzo Thomas (Penn State), 5-3 in semis

 

* 197 – No.1 Morgan McIntosh (Penn State) vs. No.3 Bret Pfarr (Minn.)

 

McIntosh (Sr.) – 2x All-American … 3rd at 2015 Scuffle

 

Pfarr (Jr.) -  beat No.2 seed, 4-3, in semis

 

*  285 – No.1 Austin Marsden (Okla. State) vs. No.3 Denzel Dejournette (Appy State)

 

Marsden (Sr.) – 2015 Scuffle Champion … 2014 All-American

 

Dejournette (Jr.)  - beat No.2 seed in semis … SoCon champ

 

 

[Sommers]

More evidence of how wrestling influences athletes to greatness in other more high profile sports... Thanks BB!!

 

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2016/1/1/315255/Baylor-School-Linebackers-Bowl-Games.aspx

 

Baylor School Linebackers: Bowl Games, All-Americans and the Academic Heisman

 

Friday, January 1, 2016 - by B.B Branton

 

 

"To be a great linebacker you have to like contact and want to hit people. Ryan Parker likes to hit people."

 

- Baylor head football coach Phil Massey

 

 

 

Penn State has been labeled over the years as Linebacker U. and Baylor School can lay claim to the title of "Linebacker Prep" for the greater Chattanooga area.

 

While the impressive Penn State linebacker honor roll includes touts teammates and College Football Hall of Famers Jack Ham and Dennis Onkotz, Baylor has produced a pair of college All-Americans in Rufus Guthrie (Ga. Tech) and Chip Healy (Vanderbilt) and an Academic Heisman winner in David Helton (Duke).

 

Choosing at least one ‘backer per decade since the 1950s, the Baylor grads excelled in more than one sport in high school and some led their college teams to bowl wins. Six of these linebackers were champion wrestlers in either the Mid-South Association or the TSSAA or at the national prep tourney.

 

Player and years playing for Baylor in (  )

 

1950s

 

RUFUS GUTHRIE  (played fall of 1956-57-58) …. All-American guard at Ga. Tech (1962) … All-City, All-Mid-South at Baylor … 2x Mid-South wrestling champion, 1958-59

 

1960s …

 

CHARLIE MOORE (played fall of 1959-60-61) … defensive end and defensive back at LSU … Academic All-SEC in 1965 …. linebacker at Baylor … All-City and All-Mid-South … national prep wrestling champion (1962) … played on LSU teams which won the 1964 Sugar Bowl (1963 season) and 1966 Cotton Bowl (1965 season) .. as a senior at Baylor in winter of 1962 he won four wrestling titles … City Prep, Mid-South, TSSAA State and National Prep … also was three-time Mid-South champion in the high hurdles.

 

HAPPY DICKS (played fall of 1962-63-64) - linebacker at Georgia … all-city and all-Mid-South in high school … All-SEC (2nd team) and Academic All-SEC for the Dawgs … Member of SEC champion Georgia team in 1966 … beat SMU in Cotton Bowl … led Georgia with 11 tackles that afternoon … two other Chattanooga natives – Bobby Etter (3 PATs and 1 FG) and Dickie Phillips (9 tackles) - were Chattanooga Central grads for the Dawgs on that Cotton Bowl team.

 

CHIP HEALY (played fall of 1962-63-64) … played two years in the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals … All-SEC and All-American linebacker at Vanderbilt … All-South and All-American in high school … was 2x national prep champion in wrestling

 

ROB HEALY (played fall of 1966-67-68) … running back at Ga. Tech … played in three bowl games … all-state and all Mid-South linebacker at Baylor … 2x national prep champion in wrestling … scored touchdown in 1970 Sun Bowl win against Texas Tech as a freshman and three touchdowns in losing effort to Ole Miss in 1971 Peach Bowl … Tech also won the 1972 Liberty Bowl against Iowa State.

 

ROB DAVIS (played fall of 1971-72-73) member of 1973 national championship team … all-city … all-state … played at UTC

 

CHRIS FITZGERALD (played fall of 1988-89-90) … all-star linebacker/fullback for Red Raiders … founder of the Orion Cooker …

 

DAVID HELTON (played fall of 08-09-10) … All-ACC linebacker at Duke … led ACC in tackles and tackles per game as a junior and senior … won the Academic Heisman award (William V. Campbell Trophy), the most prestigious award given to a student-athlete for academics   â€¦ a CoSIDA Academic All-American … all-state in football and state champion in wrestling for Baylor

 

RYAN PARKER (played fall of 2012-13-14-15) … TSSAA 2015 Mr. Football ... will attend Notre Dame as a preferred walk-on next fall … all-state in football and 3x state champion in wrestling and state champ in the discus.

 

Baylor Red Raiders in College Bowl Games

 

1964 Sugar Bowl - LSU - Charlie Moore was a So. Defensive end/defensive back … interesting match-up … he was a 2x national prep wrestling champion … Syracuse fullback JIm Nance was an NCAA wrestling champion …. Moore did score a takedown of sorts on Nance in the game with a tackle of the big running back

 

50 Years Ago Today

 

1966 Cotton Bowl – LSU 14, Arkansas 7 … Moore also played in the bowl win as the Tigers from Baton Rouge upset No.2 Arkansas and ended the Hogs 22-game winning streak.

 

Was first domino to fall to open the way for Alabama to win the national championship that day.

 

Cotton Bowl - LSU defeated No.2 Arkansas, 14-7

 

Rose Bowl - UCLA defeated No.1 Michigan State, 14-12

 

Orange Bowl – No.4 Alabama def. No.3 Nebraska and moved past Arkansas and Michigan State and was crowned national champions

 

Sugar Bowl – Missouri defeated Fla. but had no effect on national championship

 

The SEC won four of the eight bowls that year as Ole Miss (Liberty) and Tennessee (Bluebonnet) were also victors.

 

 1967 Cotton Bowl – Happy Dicks led with 11 tackles as SEC champ Georgia beat SMU, 24-9, in a game actually played on Saturday, Dec. 31 since Jan. 1 fell on a Sunday. He also played in the Liberty and Sugar Bowls as the Dawgs lost both games.

 

Ga. Tech â€“ Rob Healy played in three bowl games, scoring a touchdown in a 31-30 win against Texas Tech and scored three times in 1971 Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss.

 

Duke – David Helton played in three bowl games, but unfortunately the Blue Devils lost all three – Belk, Chik-fil-A and Sun

 

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.ne

[Sommers]

 

Eagle wrestlers go 4-1 in Alcoa's Rooster Rumble

Staff Report Jan 1, 2016 Comments

ALCOA— The Seymour Eagles wrestling team left the Rooster Rumble duals at Alcoa High School on Tuesday with a successful 4-1 record on the day. The day's matches were held outdoors on what was an unusually warm winter day, and Seymour came away with wins over Hardin Valley, Kingston, Fairview and Notre Dame. The Eagles only defeat was to William Blount.

 

Individual winners for Seymour in the 36-33 win over Hardin Valley were Jared Hinshaw (106-lb. weight class), Ishmael Fernandez (120), Grant Wallen (152), JT Walker (160), Tristan Weaver (170), Chris Caldwell (182) and Blake Lambson (195).

 

Winning for the Eagles in their 60-18 defeat of Kingston were Hinshaw, Jacob Baird (120), Fernandez, Brandon Dyke (132), Abie DeBusk (138), Brady Dyke (145), Wallen, Caldwell, Lambson and Jakob Doster (285).

 

In the Eagles' 42-39 win over Fairview, individual victors included Fernandez, Brandon Dyke, DeBusk, Wallen, Walker, Weaver and Hinshaw. And Baird, Walker, Wallen, Weaver, Caldwell, Lambson and Hinshaw all scored individual victories to lead Seymour to a 36-33 team win over Notre Dame.

 

The only blemish to the Eagles' day on Tuesday was a 45-36 loss to William Blount. Baird, Brandon Dyke, DeBusk, Brady Dyke, Lambson and Hinshaw all scored individual victories in this dual.

Edited January 3, 2016 by Sommers

[wingman10]

More evidence of how wrestling influences athletes to greatness in other more high profile sports... Thanks BB!!

 

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2016/1/1/315255/Baylor-School-Linebackers-Bowl-Games.aspx

 

Baylor School Linebackers: Bowl Games, All-Americans and the Academic Heisman

 

Friday, January 1, 2016 - by B.B Branton

 

 

"To be a great linebacker you have to like contact and want to hit people. Ryan Parker likes to hit people."

 

- Baylor head football coach Phil Massey

 

 

 

Penn State has been labeled over the years as Linebacker U. and Baylor School can lay claim to the title of "Linebacker Prep" for the greater Chattanooga area.

 

While the impressive Penn State linebacker honor roll includes touts teammates and College Football Hall of Famers Jack Ham and Dennis Onkotz, Baylor has produced a pair of college All-Americans in Rufus Guthrie (Ga. Tech) and Chip Healy (Vanderbilt) and an Academic Heisman winner in David Helton (Duke).

 

Choosing at least one ‘backer per decade since the 1950s, the Baylor grads excelled in more than one sport in high school and some led their college teams to bowl wins. Six of these linebackers were champion wrestlers in either the Mid-South Association or the TSSAA or at the national prep tourney.

 

Player and years playing for Baylor in (  )

 

1950s

 

RUFUS GUTHRIE  (played fall of 1956-57-58) …. All-American guard at Ga. Tech (1962) … All-City, All-Mid-South at Baylor … 2x Mid-South wrestling champion, 1958-59

 

1960s …

 

CHARLIE MOORE (played fall of 1959-60-61) … defensive end and defensive back at LSU … Academic All-SEC in 1965 …. linebacker at Baylor … All-City and All-Mid-South … national prep wrestling champion (1962) … played on LSU teams which won the 1964 Sugar Bowl (1963 season) and 1966 Cotton Bowl (1965 season) .. as a senior at Baylor in winter of 1962 he won four wrestling titles … City Prep, Mid-South, TSSAA State and National Prep … also was three-time Mid-South champion in the high hurdles.

 

HAPPY DICKS (played fall of 1962-63-64) - linebacker at Georgia … all-city and all-Mid-South in high school … All-SEC (2nd team) and Academic All-SEC for the Dawgs … Member of SEC champion Georgia team in 1966 … beat SMU in Cotton Bowl … led Georgia with 11 tackles that afternoon … two other Chattanooga natives – Bobby Etter (3 PATs and 1 FG) and Dickie Phillips (9 tackles) - were Chattanooga Central grads for the Dawgs on that Cotton Bowl team.

 

CHIP HEALY (played fall of 1962-63-64) … played two years in the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals … All-SEC and All-American linebacker at Vanderbilt … All-South and All-American in high school … was 2x national prep champion in wrestling

 

ROB HEALY (played fall of 1966-67-68) … running back at Ga. Tech … played in three bowl games … all-state and all Mid-South linebacker at Baylor … 2x national prep champion in wrestling … scored touchdown in 1970 Sun Bowl win against Texas Tech as a freshman and three touchdowns in losing effort to Ole Miss in 1971 Peach Bowl … Tech also won the 1972 Liberty Bowl against Iowa State.

 

ROB DAVIS (played fall of 1971-72-73) member of 1973 national championship team … all-city … all-state … played at UTC

 

CHRIS FITZGERALD (played fall of 1988-89-90) … all-star linebacker/fullback for Red Raiders … founder of the Orion Cooker …

 

DAVID HELTON (played fall of 08-09-10) … All-ACC linebacker at Duke … led ACC in tackles and tackles per game as a junior and senior … won the Academic Heisman award (William V. Campbell Trophy), the most prestigious award given to a student-athlete for academics   â€¦ a CoSIDA Academic All-American … all-state in football and state champion in wrestling for Baylor

 

RYAN PARKER (played fall of 2012-13-14-15) … TSSAA 2015 Mr. Football ... will attend Notre Dame as a preferred walk-on next fall … all-state in football and 3x state champion in wrestling and state champ in the discus.

 

Baylor Red Raiders in College Bowl Games

 

1964 Sugar Bowl - LSU - Charlie Moore was a So. Defensive end/defensive back … interesting match-up … he was a 2x national prep wrestling champion … Syracuse fullback JIm Nance was an NCAA wrestling champion …. Moore did score a takedown of sorts on Nance in the game with a tackle of the big running back

 

50 Years Ago Today

 

1966 Cotton Bowl – LSU 14, Arkansas 7 … Moore also played in the bowl win as the Tigers from Baton Rouge upset No.2 Arkansas and ended the Hogs 22-game winning streak.

 

Was first domino to fall to open the way for Alabama to win the national championship that day.

 

Cotton Bowl - LSU defeated No.2 Arkansas, 14-7

 

Rose Bowl - UCLA defeated No.1 Michigan State, 14-12

 

Orange Bowl – No.4 Alabama def. No.3 Nebraska and moved past Arkansas and Michigan State and was crowned national champions

 

Sugar Bowl – Missouri defeated Fla. but had no effect on national championship

 

The SEC won four of the eight bowls that year as Ole Miss (Liberty) and Tennessee (Bluebonnet) were also victors.

 

 1967 Cotton Bowl – Happy Dicks led with 11 tackles as SEC champ Georgia beat SMU, 24-9, in a game actually played on Saturday, Dec. 31 since Jan. 1 fell on a Sunday. He also played in the Liberty and Sugar Bowls as the Dawgs lost both games.

 

Ga. Tech â€“ Rob Healy played in three bowl games, scoring a touchdown in a 31-30 win against Texas Tech and scored three times in 1971 Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss.

 

Duke – David Helton played in three bowl games, but unfortunately the Blue Devils lost all three – Belk, Chik-fil-A and Sun

 

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.ne

thanks...some very tough athletes listed

[Sommers]

Some fabulous out of state Coverage and obviously Penn State exceptionally happy with their blonde headed underclassman from the mediocre wrestling state of Texas...

 

 

“The first two periods were especially fun to watch,†Sanderson said of Nickal’s semifinal match and title run to the Penn State Sports Network. “It was a great tournament for Bo. It was probably one of the deeper weight classes. For Bo to win convincingly, that’s a good thing.â€

 

Nickal squared off in the final with North Carolina’s Ethan Ramos, who upset No. 2 Kyle Crutchmer from Oklahoma State. Nickal used four takedowns and three escapes to earn the 11-7 victory. Nickal opened the day with a decision before his semifinal victory.

 

“It’s so much fun,†Nickal said of his tournament. “It’s what I live for. I believe that God put me out here for a purpose.â€

 

http://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/psu-wrestling/article52796710.html

 

Nittany Lions see five champions crowned at Southern Scuffle

 

Penn State picks up 6th straight team title

 

Nittany Lions earn medals in 9 of 10 weight classes

 

Matt McCutcheon pulls out of tournament with back injury

 

From CDT staff reports

 

CHATTANOOGA, TENN.

 

The new year started with another victory for Penn State.

 

The Nittany Lions had five champions crowned and 10 wrestlers place in their run for a sixth straight Southern Scuffle title on Saturday at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Penn State finished with 183 points to top Oklahoma State by 25. Lehigh finished third with 104.5 points with Cornell and North Carolina rounding out the top five.

 

“I think that just shows the depth that we have,†Penn State’s Bo Nickal, who was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament, said to the Penn State Sports Network. “Every weight class we have multiple guys that are solid. It’s awesome to be in that environment in the room with those training partners on top of the partners from the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.â€

 

The Nittany Lions had six wrestlers in the finals with Nico Megaludis (125 pounds), Zain Retherford (149), Jason Nolf (157), Nickal (174) and Morgan McIntosh (197) taking the top spots. Jordan Conaway (133) joined the quintet but ran into No. 1-ranked Nashon Garrett of Cornell and suffered a 14-4 loss. Last year, Penn State didn’t have a single champion.

 

Megaludis, Retherford, Nolf and McIntosh were top seeds. Nickal was a No. 4 seed, and had to face No. 1 Brian Realbuto from Cornell in the semifinals. It’s safe to say he passed the test well with a dominating 14-7 upset. It was a run Nittany Lion coach Cael Sanderson enjoyed.

 

“The first two periods were especially fun to watch,†Sanderson said of Nickal’s semifinal match and title run to the Penn State Sports Network. “It was a great tournament for Bo. It was probably one of the deeper weight classes. For Bo to win convincingly, that’s a good thing.â€

 

Nickal squared off in the final with North Carolina’s Ethan Ramos, who upset No. 2 Kyle Crutchmer from Oklahoma State. Nickal used four takedowns and three escapes to earn the 11-7 victory. Nickal opened the day with a decision before his semifinal victory.

 

“It’s so much fun,†Nickal said of his tournament. “It’s what I live for. I believe that God put me out here for a purpose.â€

 

Megaludis started the day off with a milestone win in the quarterfinals. He picked up a 15-5 major decision for his 100th career victory. He beat Lehigh’s Darian Cruz 6-3 in the semifinals and finished with an 8-1 win over Eddie Kilmara of Oklahoma State in the finals.

 

Retherford and Nolf dominated their opponents for their titles. Retherford used two technical falls and a major decision, with one tech fall coming in the finals against North Carolina’s Evan Henderson. Nolf used two falls to open the day and then had a tough 7-3 win over JoJo Smith. Smith was wrestling unattached and is the son of Oklahoma State coach John Smith.

 

McIntosh was steady, opening with two falls. He used a takedown with 27 seconds left to edge Minnesota’s Brett Pfarr 3-2 for his first Southern Scuffle title.

 

Kade Moss (141), Zack Beitz (157), Geno Morelli (165) and Garett Hammond (165) were the other place winners for the Nittany Lions.

 

Morelli was the lone wrestler of three entered by the Nittany Lions in the 165 field to be in the championship bracket. He lost his quarterfinal in sudden victory and was in the consolation bracket with Hammond and Shakur Rasheed. Hammond wrestled his way to the consolation quarterfinals to face Morelli. Morelli picked off Hammond with a 2-1 tie-breaker victory to move into the fifth-place match while Hammond dropped into the seventh-place bout.

 

Rasheed won his first match of the day before being eliminated in the next round. Morelli received a medical forfeit to finish fifth. Hammond pinned Campbell’s Paul Duggan in the first period for seventh.

 

Moss and Beitz each started the day in the quarterfinals but dropped their first matches of the day. Moss fell to Dean Heil of Oklahoma State with Beitz falling to Smith. They both went on to win their first consolation matches, then Moss fell in the consolation quarterfinals as Beitz moved on the semifinals. Moss’ day finished in the seventh-place match, where he fell 9-6 to West Virginia’s Tony DeAngelo. Beitz earned an 8-6 win to finish fifth.

 

Matt McCutcheon was unable to wrestle in the 184 quarterfinals after he apparently suffered a back injury in his win over Michael Macchiavello in Friday’s third round. Macchiavello is the same opponent McCutcheon suffered his other back injury against in the Nittany Lion Open.

 

Facing a stretch of six straight Big Ten opponents through the rest of January, the Nittany Lions stay on the road to visit Purdue and Indiana on Jan.8 and 10, respectively.

 

“We go on a fun run here,†Sanderson said. “You got to enjoy it. Back-to-back is part of the process. The Big Ten is a tough schedule. But, history will show you that that tough schedule works and prepares you for what you need to do.â€

 

 

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/psu-wrestling/article52796710.html#storylink=cpy

Edited January 4, 2016 by Sommers

[Sommers]

Notable Scuffle Coverage, The South a Risen...

 

“We felt like (the change) was the best decision for our team. It’s not easy to wrestle in this kind of tournament at a new weight class, but we just wanted our guys to get out on the mat and wrestle.†— Scott on the weight-class changes.

 

http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2016/01/unc-wrestling-earns-fifth-place-finish-in-southern-scuffle

 

UNC wrestling earns fifth-place finish in Southern Scuffle MOHAMMED HEDADJI | PUBLISHED 01/04/16 1:57AM

 

Despite two finals losses in the 2016 Defense Soap & Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle, the North Carolina wrestling team left Chattanooga, Tenn., with newfound momentum.

 

The Tar Heels faced off against top-tier competition, which included seven top-ranked wrestlers in their respective weight classes. Despite multiple players changing weight classes entering the tournament, UNC finished fifth in team points — its best finish in the event since 2008.

 

UNC’s wrestlers opened the tournament on Friday with a series of dominant wins, as five Tar Heels earned their way into the quarterfinals. Joey Ward (141), Evan Henderson (149), John Michael Staudenmayer (165), Ethan Ramos (174) and Alex Utley (184) all finished the tournament on the podium. Of these five wrestlers, only Utley wrestled in a familiar weight class. But these changes didn’t seem to bother the Tar Heels.

 

Coach Coleman Scott said he wanted to use this tournament as the stage to introduce his wrestlers at their new weight classes.  The Tar Heels who appeared at a new weight class during the tournament will most likely remain in their current weight class for the remainder of the season. These changes were made to help these players in pursuit of a national championship and to strengthen the team’s lineup heading into dual meets.

 

The Tar Heels who made switches all wrestled comfortably and successfully in their new places. Still, no Tar Heel was able to finish tournament with a first-place finish.

 

UNC will use the remainder of its nonconference games to grow accustomed to the recent changes.

 

Quotable “We felt like (the change) was the best decision for our team. It’s not easy to wrestle in this kind of tournament at a new weight class, but we just wanted our guys to get out on the mat and wrestle.†— Scott on the weight-class changes.

 

Read more:http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2016/01/unc-wrestling-earns-fifth-place-finish-in-southern-scuffle

Quoted from The Daily Tar Heel

 

 

Significant Southern Exposure...

NCAA wrestling notebook: Penn State wins 6th consecutive Scuffle title

 

Roger Moore | NCAA.com

Last Updated - Jan 5, 2016 14:58 EST

 

http://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2016-01-05/ncaa-wrestling-notebook-penn-state-wins-6th-consecutive-scuffle

 

Penn State rolled to four straight NCAA Championships from 2011 to 2014, doing it with flair and a high-scoring lineup that held off Oklahoma State in 2013 and Minnesota in 2014. Post David Taylor and Ed Ruth, a duo that combined to win five national titles between, head coach Cael Sanderson and staff put Nico Megaludis, a three-time All-American, and talented Zain Retherford, an All-American as a true freshman, on redshirt during the 2014-15 campaign.

 

As the 2015-16 season hits its business end, Megaludis, Retherford, and a new crew of point-scoring Nittany Lions appear to be the team to beat again. They made a major statement at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn., Jan. 1-2, with a 25-point margin of victory over preseason No. 1 Oklahoma State. Megaludis, Retherford, senior Morgan McIntosh, and redshirt-freshmen Jason Nolf and Bo Nickal all won their weight classes. And like the Taylor-Ruth squads, they did it in style.

 

“I think this team is comparable to some of those teams we’ve had,†Megaludis said, a 125-pounder. “You look at our guys and they score points; it’s a fun team and great to be a part of. It’s fun to watch for everybody.

 

“We are all working toward March, toward getting back to where we want to be. I think we focus more on bonus points, not just about winning, but about going for majors, tech falls, pins.â€

 

Nickal, from Texas, won perhaps the toughest weight class in Chattanooga, 174 pounds. The first-year starter beat top-seeded Brian Realbuto of Cornell, 14-7, in a semifinal match that had enough highlights for two or three matches. In a tournament with two-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer of Oklahoma State, 2015 NCAA champion Gabe Dean of Cornell, and lightning quick three-time All-American Nahshon Garrett of Cornell, coaches voted Nickal the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.

 

“I just wrestle as hard as I can every match,†said Nickal, now ranked No. 1 with McIntosh (197) for PSU. “I am grateful for the coaches that voted for me in a tournament like this.

“It’s awesome to be a part of this program right now. Everybody works really hard and it’s fun to be a part of it. We really work on putting people on their backs, chain wrestling going from feet to back.â€

 

Nolf, from Pennsylvania, was equally impressive during his run to the 157-pound trophy. He beat true freshman Joe Smith, son of Oklahoma State head coach John Smith, 7-3, in the finals after hammering four other opponents. Retherford might have been the best of the bunch, recording three technical falls, a pin, and a major decision on his way to 149-pound gold. Retherford, unbeaten this season like Nolf, Nickal, and McIntosh, won 17-1 in the finals.

 

“What (Penn State) is doing better than everybody right now is taking people from their feet to their backs,†said Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro, whose squad was a distant third in Chattanooga. “With the 4-point near fall, and the way they score points, it is not just about winning. You have to really go after bonus points in tournaments to stay with (PSU).â€

 

The Nittany Lions were sixth at the 2015 NCAA Championships, a tournament won by Ohio State. When Division I’s best convene in New York City two months from now expect the field to be chasing Sanderson’s bunch once again.

 

Speaking of Buckeyes

 

The 2015 NCAA champions lost a significant piece to their puzzle when four-time champion Logan Stieber finished his career and Kyle Snyder decided to take an Olympic redshirt after shocking the wrestling world with a gold medal in freestyle at the 2015 World Championships. Hunter Stieber’s health was and is a concern for head coach Tom Ryan.

 

But the news out of Columbus over the last seven days has Snyder enrolling for the spring semester and joining the Buckeyes in February as a 285-pounder and Stieber expected to make one final run.

 

“Once I figured out it was possible for me not only to travel overseas twice and wrestle in international events and wrestle in the trainings camps, but I could also help the team and compete at heavyweight, and hopefully score enough points that we can win a second team title in a row, I decided that it was the best thing for me,†Snyder told USA Wrestling’s Richard Immel. “My goal of being an Olympic champion still hasn’t changed. I think these couple folkstyle matches that I’m going to wrestle are just going to help me sharpen my technique up for the Trials and then for the Olympic Games.†Snyder is expected back for the Feb. 5 dual against Penn State.

 

Stieber, a two-time All-American, battled through pain last March and inspired his teammates by qualifying for the NCAA meet where, with both elbows heavily bandaged, the 149-pounder made a go of it. After surgery on both elbows in the spring, the senior is expected to step on the mat soon. It will be just his seventh match in three years. All involved do not quite know what to expect, but if Stieber can return to his pre-injury form, Ohio State might just be in the mix again.

 

Hawks claim 53rd Midlands

 

Iowa won its third consecutive Midlands Championship last week with Thomas Gilman (125), Brandon Sorensen (149), and Nathan Burak (197) claiming titles in a 17-point victory over Nebraska. Rutgers, North Carolina State, and Rider rounded out the top five in the 53rd edition in Evanston, Ill.

 

“We’ve got to do a better job of scoring takedowns,†said Iowa head coach Tom Brands after the tournament. “We’ve got to score takedowns. Positive is that we had three in the finals and we went three for three, that’s important to me. Winning finals is important.â€

 

Sorensen beat Northwestern’s Jason Tsirtsis with an overtime takedown in a battle of one versus two in the rankings. There should be a rematch this Sunday when the second-ranked Hawkeyes, who beat preseason No. 1 Oklahoma State to open the season, wrestle at Northwestern. Iowa wrestles at No. 10 Illinois (8-1) on Friday.

 

The Carolinas

 

North Carolina State may have announced its return to DI prominence with dual victories over Minnesota and Oklahoma State before Christmas and a strong showing at the Midlands Championships. Thomas Gantt (157) and two-time NCAA champion Nick Gwiazdowski (285) each won titles. North Carolina had a good two days at the Southern Scuffle, finishing fifth, just one point behind fourth-place Cornell. Evan Henderson (149) and Ethan Ramos (174) advanced to the finals and Joey Ward (141) and John Mark Staudenmayer (157) each took third.

 

Both programs have had success in March; NC State finished seventh in 1993 and the Tar Heels were fifth in 1982, but the last quarter century has not seen a ton of success.

 

“Getting these guys to believe that they compete at a high level is part of it,†said NCSU head coach Pat Popolizio following his team’s win over the Cowboys in Stillwater. “The program has had success in the past, so it is nothing new for North Carolina State to be competitive.â€

 

“I think we are getting more respect,†said Gwiazdowkski, a winner of 71 straight matches. “We have a good team, but until you do it against the better teams like Oklahoma State and Minnesota you fly under the radar.â€

 

The Wolfpack (11-0) are ranked third in the latest USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll. UNC (6-1) is No. 15. The two meet Jan. 25.

 

Quick Hits

 

• No. 20 Pittsburgh was originally scheduled to attend the Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill., but, due to weather conditions, changed its plans and suited up at last Tuesday’s Lock Haven Classic a little closer to home. The Panthers had a pair of champions ― Dom Forys (133) and Mikey Racciato (141) ― and edged Indiana by 6.5 points to win the team title.

 

• Tom Minkel, in his 25th year at Michigan State, announced this season would be his last running the program. Since 1930 there have only been four Spartan coaches ― Fendley Collins (1930-62, Grady Peninger (1963-86), Phil Parker (1987-91), and Minkel (1991-2016). Longtime MSU assistant Roger Chandler is next in line in East Lansing.

 

• The 184-pound final at the Southern Scuffle was a rematch of the 2015 NCAA final between Cornell’s Gabe Dean and Lehigh’s Nate Brown won by Dean. On Jan. 2, Dean beat Brown, 7-3, to claim his third Scuffle title and solidify is No. 1 ranking.

 

• Oklahoma State senior 165-pounder Alex Dieringer also won his third Scuffle title and moved his win streak to 64 straight. Illinois 157-pounder Isaiah Martinez is off to a 50-0 start for his career.

 

• Lehigh had three 157-pounders finish among the top eight at the Scuffle: freshman Ian Brown (3rd), All-American Mitch Minotti (4th), Drew Longo (8th).

 

• No. 13 Michigan did not take its starters to the Scuffle. But a future starter, true freshman Logan Massa, certainly turned a few heads. The 165-pounder who finished among the top eight at the U.S. Senior Nationals/Olympic Trials qualifier in Las Vegas in December, advanced to the finals where he dropped a 7-3 match to Dieringer, the top-ranked man in the country.

 

• No. 5 Virginia Tech leads the contingent at the Virginia Duals, this Friday and Saturday in Hampton.

 

Division I Power Rankings #1

 

1 ― Penn State: Cael Sanderson’s high-flying Nittany Lions are back after taking sixth in 2015. Might Jason Nolf and Bo Nickal, both redshirt freshmen, be the next superstars? Zain Retherford is only a sophomore and seniors Nico Megaludis and Morgan McIntosh are pretty salty. This Penn State squad, if they wrestle like they did in Chattanooga, will be tough to beat in March.

 

2 ― Oklahoma State: Sure the Cowboys dropped a dual in Iowa City in mid-November and were surprised by North Carolina State in Gallagher-Iba Arena. But this team has tournament power with Alex Dieringer and Dean Heil, plus three other All-Americans. Two questions Stillwater? Will Joe Smith, an uber-talented freshman 157-pounder join the mix and will rookie 133-pounder Kaid Brock, who pinned 2015 NCAA champion Cody Brewer, return after an injury in the Scuffle final?

 

3 ― Iowa: The Hawkeyes’ chances depend on Cory Clark, injured at the Midlands. Thomas Gilman, Brandon Sorensen, and Nathan Burak will contend for the big stage in March. Questions in Iowa City? Can Alex Meyer and Sam Brooks make some noise when it counts? The second-ranked Hawkeyes (8-0) wrestle at No. 10 Illinois this Friday and at No. 9 Nebraska on Jan. 24.

 

4 ― Lehigh: Pat Santoro had another good team. The Mountain Hawks lost a November dual to Nebraska, but have won five straight including a 30-7 whipping of Oklahoma in Norman. LU showed its tournament strength at the Scuffle, reaching the century mark and taking third. There is some depth and the EIWA powers always show up in March.

 

5 ― Missouri: Another year, another good Missouri team. 2014 NCAA champion J’Den Cox and All-American Lavion Mayes lead another strong dual team that is 5-0 with a win over Ohio State. The Tigers host No. 14 Cornell this Sunday and have a big dual meet at Oklahoma State on Jan. 22. Question around Columbia? Can Missouri put it together at the end and make a run at No. 1?

 

6 ― North Carolina State: The Wolfpack had a solid first semester, beating Minnesota and Oklahoma State and performing well at the Midlands. When you have a star like Nick Gwiazdowski, plus the solid trio of Kevin Jack, Thomas Gantt, and Max Rohskopf, you have a chance against anybody in a dual meet. The ACC has five teams inside the top 20 and Pat Popolizio’s group may be the best.

 

7 ― Virginia Tech: The Hokies were good against Penn State back in November and have plenty of firepower with Vegas champ Ty Walz, plus Joey Dance, Nick Brascetta, and Zach Epperly. They wrestle an ACC-heavy schedule the next two months and, like Missouri, will have to wrestle better in the postseason if they are to contend with the traditional powers. Tech was a program-best eighth at the NCAAs in 2014 and 10th in 2015 and 2013.

 

8 ― Ohio State: Time will tell with the 2015 NCAA champions. Getting All-World Kyle Snyder back will help bolster a lineup that already includes 2015 champion Nathan Tomasello, outstanding rookie Micah Jordan, and rising star Bo Jordan. The Buckeyes finally got over the hump after knocking on the door the last decade. OSU meets Nebraska on Jan. 17 and faces Penn State the first weekend in February. There is a long time and a lot of matches between now and Madison Square Garden.

 

Knocking on the door

 

Nebraska, Rutgers, Michigan, Illinois, Cornell, North Carolina

 

 

© 2016 NCAA | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.

 

NCAA.com is a part of Bleacher Report - Turner Sports Network, part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Network.

 

 

 

Very Interesting Scuffle Stuff Here...

 

http://ronjohnrinaldi.sportsblog.com/posts/10123205/challenging-competition-clash-in-chattanooga.html

 

RON JOHN WRESTLING

 

January 6

 

Challenging Competition Clash in Chattanooga

 

 

SOUTHERN SCUFFLE SHOWDOWN

 

Well Folks that wraps up the crazy competition down in The CHOO-CHOO CITY!! The Penn State Nittany Lions (6-0, 1-0 B1G) used its powerful offensive style to run away from the field at the 2016 Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Head coach Cael Sanderson's along with his solid staff and wrestling squad won its 6th straight Southern Scuffle title and crowned 5 individual Wrestlers to start off 2016!

 

The Penn State Nittany Lions competed solid throughout the whole tournament, which gave them a comfortable lead heading into the finals on Saturday night. Coach Cael and his brigade were a perfect 6-0 in semifinal action, including two pins, a major and a win over a top-ranked opponent. The Nittany Lions followed that up with a compact final session, going 5-1 in the championship finals and 3-1 in medal placing bouts. Penn State won the team title with 183.0 points, out-distancing 2nd place Oklahoma State (158.0), 3rd Place Lehigh (104.5), 4th Place Cornell (98.5) and 5th Place The North Carolina Tar Heels (97.5).

 

Senior All-American Nico Megaludis PA born and talented light-weight who is ranked #4 at 125lbs, won the 125 pound tile where he overcame a championship battle against #5  "Fast Eddie" Klimara of Oklahoma State. Megaludis countered an early Klimara attack for a first period takedown and a 2-0 lead at the 1:05 mark of the 1st period. Nico rode Klimara out the whole second and controlled the action until about 20 seonds left in the period Klimara's flurried for an  escape to cut the lead to 2-1 but Megaludis quickly too him down again to up his lead to 4-1. Leading by 3-points, Megaludis chose down to start the 3rd period and quickly escaped to a 5-1 advantage and he eventually went on to post the dominant 8-1 win. The Cowboy was simply outwrestled as Megaludis picked up three takedowns thoughout the 7 min scrap. Earning his best finish at the event, Klimara went 5-1. He now holds 93 career wins. Megaludis went 5-0 on the weekend to claim the title and Penn State's first of the night.

 

The second championship clash of the night was between another Penn State Nittany Lion representative Jordan Conaway who took on  #1 Nashon Garrett of Cornell. Nashon is on another level this year folks, looking, tough, mean and fast throughout all 7 minutes of his matches. Garrett took a 2-0 lead with a fast takedown in the 1 st period and then turned Conaway for 2 back points and a 4-0 lead after the opening period. Garrett chose down to start the second and quickly escaped to a 5-0 lead. He added two more takedowns and Conaway trailed 9-1 after two. Conaway cut the lead to 9-2 with an escape to start the 3rd period but Garrett continued his offense and posted a blowout 14-4 major decision.

 

 

The 141-Pound Championship bout we had Cowboy Dean Heil take on the new-comer to NCAA D1 Wrestling-Buxton Bred Boy Joey McKenna representing the Stanford Cardinals (Yes folks the tree mascot). Heil became the first champion for the Pokes, defeating a world-known brute opponent Joey McKenna of Stanford. The two wrestled carefully, caught up in some southern scrmables but ended up tying the match 1-1 throughout a 7 min regulation. With no points scored in sudden victory, the bout went into ride out overtime. Heil went down first and was not able to escape, but McKenna was hit with two stalling calls, resulting and awarding1 point for Heil. The Cowboy stud was able to ride out McKenna for the second part of the tiebreaker and  went onto win the title, 2-1. Dean Heil is one heck of a competitor folks but do NOT fall asleep on the Runner-Up here at the Scuffle, Joey McKenna. 

 



 

2004 Ohio Tournament of Champions Podium Picture. Dean Heil [Oklahoma State] stands on top of the podium 1st Place-Joey McKenna [stanford] earned 4th Place and Alex Rinaldi [North Carolina-RSFR] stands at 5th Place!

 

 

Sophomore All-American Zain Retherford a Benton  PA. Boy ranked # 1 at 149, won the 149-pound Scuffle title by a dominating Tech-Fall. Yes Folks-A Tech-Fall in the Southern Scuffle Finals. Retherford's prevailing performance took out one of  North Carolina's top guns Evan Henderson. Retherford connected quickly on a low double, taking a 2-0 lead at the 2:29 mark. He turned the Tar Heel stud for 4 back points and led 6-1 at the :40 second mark after Henderson pull out an escape. Retherford added another takedown and led 8-1 with 2:18 riding time after one period. He reversed Hendo to start the 2nd period and then added a 2-point near fall and a (new and popular but debatable) 4-point near fall to post the 16-1 technical fall. This was the 3rd Tech-Fall Zain racked up on the day. Henderson ended up walking off the mat in serious pain and will have to further get his shoulder evaluated by Doctors.  

 

The following bout of the night was one of the more anticipated final clashes of the evening in Chattanooga as Red-shirt freshman Jason Nolf , ranked # 3 at 157, scooted to his first Scuffle title.  Leading up to the championship match, Nolf pinned No. 10 Mitch Minotti of Lehigh in the semi finals. Nolf used relentless offense and movement to take Minotti down and to his back for a pin at the 2:50 mark.

 

That impressive pin moved him into the finals against unattached Oklahoma State freshman Joe Smith. I am not to sure why he is allowed to have his father in his corner while not competing officially for the Cowboys. I reached out to former Cowboy, Josh Kindig about the coaching concern. 

 

"I am not positive if it is a rule, but I do think it is looked down upon. Any coach listed on the staff is technically never allowed to coach an unattached wrestler on the teams roster"-Jiggy Kindig

 

 Nolf eventually connected on a high single leg to take a 2-0 lead at the 1:30 mark of the 1st period. He rode Smith out to lead by 2-points after the 1st period. Nolf went on to choose down to start the 2nd period and escaped to a 3-0 lead with 1:38 left in the 2nd-he maintained a the riding time edge throughout. Trailing 3-0, JO JO chose down to start the 3rd and escapes to a 3-1 score still in Nolfs favor. Smith then quickly took Nolf down for a 2-point Takedown but Nolf answered with an escape and then led 4-3 with 1:07 riding time in the 3rd period. Nolf withstood a frantic Smith flurry as the match wound down and then sealed up the bout with a late takedown-MAKING A STATMENT. The riding time point gave Nolf the thrilling 7-3 win and the 2016 Scuffle title. Nolf went 5-0 with two pins and two tech falls to claim the crown.

 

In the 165-pound final, top-seeded Dieringer won his 3rd title, making it look simple against #10 Logan Massa of Michigan. Dieringer scored a takedown halfway through the 1st period and kept the lead. He opened the 2nd period with an escape and toughed out another takedown. The Cowboy sealed the win defeating Massa, 8-2. Dieringer now has a 63-match win streak and sits fifth all-time, tied with Dwayne Keller of Oklahoma State University. 

 

Red-shirt freshman Bo Nickal a Lone-Star Texas Boy ranked No. 5 at 174, rolled through a crowded field at a solid weight to win his first Southern Scuffle title. Nickal then gave notice to the wrestling nation with one of the tournament's most dominant performances. Nickal downed previously unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Brian Realbuto of Cornell 14-7, tallying over 2 minutes in riding time in the process. The thrilling victory moved Nickal into the finals where he met North Carolina's All-American Ethan Ramos. Nickal scored a quick  2-0 lead, moving through a takedown and then breaking Ramos down on the mat. He added one more takedown in the 1st period and led 4-2 after one period. Nickal escaped to a 5-2 lead to start the second period and then took Ramos down one more time to lead 7-3 with 1:55 in time after two. Ramos escaped to start the final period but Nickal countered a shot to extend his lead to 9-4 with another takedown. Nickal gave up one takedown at the :10 mark but with an escape and riding time advantage, Bo Bo posted the dominant 11-7 win. Nickal won the 174-pound title and was named the 2016 Southern Scuffle Most Outstanding Wrestler!

 

^^Bo Nickal reflects on Southern Scuffle and lays out the rest of the season!^^

 

Back to Action fans, at 184 pounds Big Red Junior Gabe Dean became the 9th 3x Scuffle champion and helped his Cornell wrestling team finished 4th in a loaded n' stacked 2016 Defense Soap & Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle field. Dean swept through #3 Nathaniel Brown of Lehigh 8-2 in the finals. During the tournament he became the 23rd Big Red wrestler to reach 100 wins (104-5). The victory over Brown was a rematch of last season's NCAA and EIWA championship matches. Dean is now 21-0 on the season and supports a 49-match win streak! The 184-pound title tilt was also the only finals match that did not include either Penn State or Oklahoma State.

 

Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro, as coaches tend to be, had mixed feelings about his team’s performance. What he did like was his team’s depth.

 

“Some weights we have incredible depth, a couple of others we have one guy,†Santoro said. “It’s all about March and we have some work to do over the next couple of months. We have to get better and wrestle at a higher level than we did this weekend, although it will be hard to do. We had a good tournament, scoring over 100 points in this field.â€

 

Senior Cali-Kid and All-American Morgan McIntosh ranked #1 at 197, won 1st first Southern Scuffle title with a perfect run at 197! McIntosh squared off in the championship against a Gopher rival No. 5 Brett Pfarr of Minnesota.  After a couple attacks and a scoreless 1st, McIntosh chose down to start the 2nd period and quickly escaped to a 1-0 lead. Pfarr chose down to start the 3rd Period. A quick escape by Pfarr tied the score at 1-1 with 1:35 left to wrestle in the battle when McIntosh got in on another low single and Pfarr tried to flee. But McIntosh held firm and finished off the takedown before Pfarr could get out of bounds, taking a 3-1 lead.  McIntosh won the 2016 Scuffle crown with 2-1 win a surfed up two pins and a tech and a major on the day!!

 

Austin Marsden was the final champ for John Smith's Cowboy round-up, with his win at HWT over a very good black brute Denzel Dejournette of Appalachian State. Marsden powered through with a 2-point takedown towards the end of the 1st period. His escape in the second was the last point scored, but riding time advantage gave Marsden a 4-0 win. 

 

"It feels good to win a second Southern Scuffle title," Marsden said. "It's a tough tournament. I still think I have a lot of work to do. I'm not where I want to be so I have to work really hard for that national title."

 

 

SOUTHERN SCUFFLE FINAL BRACKETS & FINAL TEAM SCORES:

http://intermatwrestle.com/Files/pdf/2016southernscuffle.pdf

http://www.flowrestling.org/arena/event/186-southern-scuffle

2016 Southern Scuffle - Final Team Standings (Top Five):

January 2, 2016 - McKenzie Arena - Chattanooga, Tenn.

1: PENN STATE - 183.0

2: Oklahoma State - 158.0

3: Lehigh - 104.5

4: Cornell - 98.5

5: North Carolina - 97.5

 

   2016 | SportsBlog.com

[Sommers]

Higgins may be on to something here for state individuals, yet separate team scoring by division...

 

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/sports/preps/story/2016/jan/08/soddy-daisy-showdown-will-have-different-form/343622/

 

Soddy-Daisy Showdown will have different format

 

January 8th, 2016by Ward Gossettin Sports - PrepsRead Time: 2 mins.

 

 

Soddy-Daisy wrestling coach Jim Higgins came up with a TSSAA-approved solution to having fewer teams than usual for the Trojans' annual tournament. Each of the nine squads at Saturday's competition can enter up to two wrestlers per weight class, although only one can earn points for team scoring.

 

Photo by Tim Barber /Times Free Press.

 

The calendar is playing tricks with the Soddy-Daisy Showdown.

 

"It happens to us every seven years with the tournament right at the new year," Trojans wrestling coach Jim Higgins said. "We bumped it ahead (a week) for this year and next year."

 

The scheduling quirk — the tournament normally falls on the first Saturday after New Year's Day, but that would have been Jan. 2 this year — left Soddy-Daisy with only nine teams in the field.

 

Yet Higgins, with TSSAA approval, came up with an idea that should be beneficial to each of the participating squads. They'll be allowed to enter two wrestlers for each weight class, although only one will accumulate points toward team scoring.

 

"It's an awesome format," said Cleveland coach Jake Yost, whose Blue Raiders will be there Saturday. "I'm excited. It'll be different, but it gives more kids the opportunity to compete."

 

Higgins sees potential in the change, and he referenced results from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's home tournament last weekend.

 

"The TSSAA normally doesn't allow this type tournament, but I believe it's a direction we need to go for the future of the sport," Higgins said. "At the (Southern) Scuffle last week, John Smith's son from Oklahoma State wrestled unattached and made it to the finals. This change gives a tournament a different spin."

 

The format also gives coaches an opportunity to see their wrestlers in a different light than challenge matches within the team.

 

"All of us, I'm pretty sure, have kids that were in the lineup last year and aren't in the lineup this year, plus we have youngsters that haven't yet been in the lineup," Higgins said. "A lot of times with challenge matches, you have two guys that are practice partners and therefore know each other pretty well. With this format, coaches can see who is ready to compete under the lights."

 

The team scoring also takes a backseat.

 

"We're not worried about team scores at a Jan. 9 tournament," Yost said. "We're there to get better for the end of the season, and this tournament will help us reach our goals."

 

Centennial, Chattanooga Christian, Cookeville, Dobyns-Bennett, Gibbs, Independence and McCallie will join Cleveland and Soddy-Daisy at the tournament. McCallie is ranked fourth in the latest Tennessee wrestling coaches' poll, with Cleveland eighth and Soddy-Daisy 10th.

 

The tournament starts at 10 a.m. Higgins anticipates the medal matches beginning around 4 p.m. All-day admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students, with children younger than 6 admitted free.

 

 

The Central Invitational is also going on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. Participating teams are Christian Academy of Knoxville, East Hamilton, East Ridge, Howard, Knox Central, Rhea County, Sale Creek, Shelbyville Central, Silverdale, St. Andrew's-Sewanee, St. Benedict, Tullahoma, Tyner and Union County.

 

 

Georgia holds areas

 

The wrestling postseason in Georgia officially begins this weekend with area duals competitions, including the 7-AAAA at Ridgeland, the 6-AAA at Sonoraville and the 3-A at Trion.

 

Defending state champion Gilmer is the clear favorite in 7-AAAA, but the other state playoff berth spot is expected to be a tight battle involving 2015 area and state runner-up Northwest Whitfield, Heritage, Southeast Whitfield and Ridgeland.

 

Defending 6-AAA champion Sonoraville will have a much tougher field to conquer, including tournament-tested teams Ringgold and Coahulla Creek. Gordon Lee is expected to be in the hunt at the 3-AA tournament at Lovett, while Trion, coming off a tournament win at Rockmart, is the favorite in 3-A.

 

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.

[Sommers]

Parents with decent Wrestlers with decent GPA's and ACT's, have you considered...

 

http://www.lebanondemocrat.com/Wrestling/2016/01/07/Wrestling-ranked-18th-five-individual-rated-in-coaches-top-20.html?ci=stream&lp=7&p=1

 

Up in Wilson Co., Tn...

 

CUMBERLAND WRESTLING 

 

Wrestling ranked 18th, five individual rated in coaches' top 20

 

STAFF REPORTSʉۢ JAN 7, 2016 AT 4:30 PM

 

Cumberland dropped two spots to No. 18 in the third regular-season edition of the NAIA wrestling coaches’ top 20 poll and five wrestlers – Austin Meyn, Nate Croley, Orlando Nawade, Dustin Harris and Tyler Smith – were all ranked in their individual weight classes, as announced by the national office.

 

Cumberland has a 6-4 dual match record so far in 2015-16 with victories over Division II opponents Anderson, Limestone and Coker as well as NAIA foes Southeastern, Truett-McConnell and Brewton-Parker. CU will head to the prestigious NWCA National Duals this weekend in Fort Wayne, Ind., and face Life in its opening match Friday.

 

Meyn ranks ninth at 141 for the Phoenix with a 9-5 overall record that includes seven pins. The sophomore from New Orleans, La., has victories over Anderson’s Tyler Fitzpatrick and UNC-Pembroke’s Jake Smith.

 

Croley is rated eighth at 157 for Cumberland, registering a 16-3 mark this in 2015-16. The junior from Pigeon Forge High has won seven straight outings and has wins against Indiana Tech’s Chase Hack, Life’s Rowdy Prior and Limestone’s Deandre’ Johnson this season.

 

Nawade is ranked seventh at 165 and carries a 13-5 mark into this weekend’s competition. The junior from Lawrenceville, Ga., has posted wins versus Indiana Tech’s Jake Welmer, Lindenwood-Belleville’s Chase Larson, Life’s Tyler Button and Shorter’s Jacob Sledge.

 

Harris is rated 12th at 184 and holds a 10-7 record this season. The redshirt sophomore from Oakdale, Calif., has registered victories over Life’s Jacob Dempsey, N.C. State’s Roderick Davis, Gardner-Webb’s Andy Bennett and Limestone’s Eddie Wilson in 2015-16.

 

Smith is ranked 11th at 285 for the Phoenix with a 15-3 mark in his final season at Cumberland. The redshirt senior from Calhoun, Ga., won his first 10 bouts of the year and has wins against Devin Morris from the University of the Cumberlands, Lindsey Wilson’s Ameer Daniels, Life’s Deandre Sims (twice) and Limestone’s Cody Vandelinde.

[Sommers]

For Time AA Boykin Dominates as he prepares for world competition, Ranking ramifications in a few weight classes...

 

http://www.dnj.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/01/09/stewarts-creek-edges-christian-co-rampage-title/78508612/

 

Stewarts Creek edges Christian Co. for Rampage title

 

Tom Kreager, tkreager@dnj.com3 minutes agoFacebookTwitterGoogle Plusmore

 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Pic

Riverdale heavyweight Nick Boykin, shown wrestling Antioch's Jordan Hardy in more

 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Pic

Stewarts Creek's John Olivieri (28-2) defeated Christian County’s Keyven Sells by pin in 1:23 to win the 170-pound weight class.

 

SMYRNA — Stewarts Creek overcame fatigue from a full day of wrestling to win its own tournament, the Red Hawk Rampage, for the second straight season.

 

The Red Hawks won three weight classes and had six total in the finals.

 

“It was a real fun day,†said Stewarts Creek’s John Olivieri, who won the 170-pound weight class. “It was even more fun because it was so close.

 

Stewarts Creek won with 195 points, one more than second-place Christian County, Ky.

 

Siegel and Antioch tied with 145 points, but the Stars earned third due to the tiebreaker. Bartlett was fifth with 120 points. Smyrna was seventh (66.5) and Oakland was eighth (63).

 

“I didn’t expect it to be this close,†said Stewarts Creek coach Mark Gonyea, who began the tournament three years ago when the school opened. It marks the second straight year Creek has won it.

 

“We carried this over from Smyrna,†Gonyea said. “It used to be the Dog Pound. We invited stronger teams this year too.

 

“You normally don’t see four top teams with that kind of a gap. It was a good tournament.â€

 

Tom Kreager/DNJ

 

Stewarts Creek's Gabe Rogers (22-6) defeated Christian County’s Camerin Cole 4-2 at 126 pounds in the Red Hawk Rampage.

 

The Red Hawks’ champions included Gabe Rogers at 126 pounds, Olivieri and Tyler Barber at 220 pounds.

 

Rogers defeated Christian County’s Camerin Cole 4-2 at 126 pounds. Olivieri defeated Christian County’s Keyven Sells by pin in 1:23. And Barber defeated Smyrna’s Chester Peden 3-1 at 220 pounds.

 

Rutherford County wrestlers won four other weight classes.

 

Siegel’s Michael Moultry (21-1) beat Stewarts Creek’s Dylan Coggins (25-5) 7-3 at 120 pounds. Moultry won the best wrestler award for the lower weights. Siegel teammate Christian Salter (20-2) defeated Hillsboro’s Austin Tucker 9-3 at 152 pounds.

 

Oakland’s Branson Boone (10-4) defeated Stewarts Creek’s Drew Harris (10-9) by pin in 3:42 at 220 pounds.

 

And Riverdale heavyweight Nick Boykin (19-0) pinned Siegel’s Landen Patterson (19-4) in 28 seconds to win his class. Boykin was named top wrestler for the bigger weights.

 

Boykin had first-period pins in all four of his matches.

 

“This year has been my down year,†Boykin admitted. “I’ve been practicing with my brother (UT-Chattanooga wrestler Scottie Boykin) and traveling some to practice.

 

“It’s finally paid off.â€

 

Boykin said he practices six days a week — five at Riverdale and one day at Brentwood High to get extra work.