No one stopped 17-year-old Jerod Botts of Waverly from climbing into the cage for a mixed martial arts fight even though he was underage, didn’t have a parent’s permission and had never fought before. An experienced fighter beat him badly, leaving him with a broken nose, a cracked eye socket and vision damage.

When 20-year-old Zach Kirk of Shenandoah was paralyzed from the neck down in an amateur fight, the promoter who staged the event didn’t offer to pay medical expenses — and wasn’t required by law to do so.

The fist-pumping adrenaline rush and freewheeling style of combat draws young fighters despite the danger. The intoxicating swirl of bloody spectacle, thumping music and alcohol attracts crowds to bars and concert halls across Iowa.

Industry insiders, in interviews with The Des Moines Register, said they love the sport, but they believe certain practices in Iowa’s amateur fight scene lead to exploitation and injuries and need to be cleaned up.

Iowa is one of 15 states with no regulation of amateur mixed martial arts fights. Amateur fighting is illegal in six states. Other states have either regulation by state officials or oversight by a third-party sanctioning body.

A bill to change Iowa’s law has passed the Iowa Senate and is now before the Iowa House.

“There is a very dark side to some of these unregulated fights,” said Franklin DeToye, a mixed martial arts referee and trainer in the Quad Cities.

Some promoters let fighters into the ring even if they’re impaired by alcohol or drugs, don’t check IDs for birth dates, and pit lighter, rookie fighters against bigger, veteran foes. They don’t require blood tests, leaving fighters vulnerable to catch a disease if an opponent with HIV or hepatitis gets cut and blood flies.

Iowa has more amateur fighters in mixed martial arts than most states because of the state’s deep roots in wrestling, insiders said. Any Iowan can usually find a show at least once a week within 60 miles, they said.

Iowa doesn’t regulate mixed martial arts fights if the contestants aren’t paid. Iowa Labor Commissioner David Neil said some promoters pay fighters under the table — $100 to $1,500 per fight — to pretend they’re amateurs to avoid following government rules. Neil has championed the drive to regulate amateur fights.

Sen. William Dotzler, D-Waterloo, who led the bill to unanimous passage in the Senate a week ago, said: “The more we expose some of the underbelly of the amateur fighting world, the more disturbing it is. There are good promoters, and there are promoters who are exploiting our youth.”

The sport at its best showcases athletes skilled in boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, judo and other martial arts disciplines.

Adam Miller, a 25-year-old fighter from Cherokee, said the amateur circuit is a good way to test skills and stay fit. If fighters prove themselves, they can become professionals; even lesser-known fighters can earn $1,000 each bout, and the stars can earn hundreds of thousands in the Ultimate Fighting Championship or Strikeforce circuits.

Andrew Fichter, 21, an Iowa fighter who recently moved to New Mexico, said he was a quiet youth who never got in trouble. He got in the cage twice because “if I was ever in a situation where I needed to defend myself, I wanted to know if I was able to.”

The sport at its worst is “a bunch of thugs street brawling,” said Jason Neef, who owns an online mixed martial arts data service.

Anyone can put on an amateur fight in Iowa, set whatever rules and “take any kid who saw mixed martial arts on TV and wants to fight now,” said Neef, of Kansas City. “For the safety of the fighters, it’s a travesty.”

Referee says some care little for fighter safety

DeToye, the referee from Davenport, said he has seen fighters under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs who were in no condition to enter the ring. In two cases, he argued with promoters to stop the youths from fighting. Both times, he was overruled, so he refused to oversee the bout. The promoters called in other referees willing to ignore the safety risks, he said.

In one case, the intoxicated fighter was badly beaten.

“The fighter was carried to a back room and left on the floor unattended,” DeToye said. “I found him there and called an ambulance. He was unconscious and choking on his own vomit from what I believed to be a concussion or worse.”

In the other case, a young man with no mixed martial arts experience was matched against a professional fighter. When the rookie fighter’s arm broke just seconds into the bout, “the ref didn’t notice until I yelled,” DeToye said. “The crowd cheered as his arm dangled and flopped around.”

A promoter in Iowa can insist an amateur fight continue, even if it’s getting ugly.

DeToye said an amateur fighter was knocked unconscious twice in one night, then fought again in the next two weeks and was knocked out twice more. In professional bouts, fighters who are knocked out get a 30-day suspension to allow healing.

The lack of regulation in Iowa’s amateur scene also troubles Charles Craft, a promoter who operates on the eastern side of the state.

“I’d rather do fights in Illinois,” said Craft, owner of American Combat Sports in Fort Madison. “They know what right and wrong is.”

The Illinois State Boxing Commission doesn’t regulate amateur events, but promoters there can choose to sanction their events with the commission. Minnesota uses official state regulators, as does Nebraska, which has tougher regulations than what Iowa is considering.

Some promoters working in Iowa already take steps to protect fighters beyond what lawmakers propose; others do little to ensure fighter safety, insiders said.

For some promoters, “it’s all about action in the cage,” Craft said. “They want it as exciting, as brutal as possible, because that’s what the fans want. It’s bad in Iowa.”

Amateur, professional fights could be regulated similarly

Iowa promoters disagree on just how much regulation is needed.

The proposed bill, Senate File 2286, would let the state take a 5 percent cut of gate receipts to pay for regulation at amateur events. It would also require promoters to carry $25,000 in health insurance per amateur fighter and $20,000 in life insurance, the same as for professional fighters. Supporters of the legislation think promoters, who make money on tickets and videos, can afford it.

“They’re making a fortune on these kids,” Dotzler said. “If they’re charging $25 at the door, and you’ve got 400 people, that’s 10 grand.”

Craft thinks that the health insurance coverage should be no higher than $10,000 per fighter and that life insurance is unnecessary because deaths are so rare.

Other promoters, such as John Halverson of Midwest Cage Championship in Des Moines, don’t mind the insurance proposals, or the 5 percent cut.

“If that’s what it takes to make the sport better, then I really don’t see that as a hindrance,” he said.

Midwest Cage Championship stages shows a couple of times a month, with about four slots for amateurs and a dozen for professionals. Halverson said he has tapped the health insurance required for pro fighters just once, for a broken jaw.

Halverson sets rules to protect amateurs, such as a two-minute limit per round and a ban on any kicking.

Amateur fighters said it’s not uncommon to use drugs or alcohol to loosen inhibitions and ease nerves before a bout. Even though the law doesn’t call for it, Halverson requires fighters to pass an alcohol breath test.

“Let a kid fight after a couple drinks, he gets his arm or jaw broken, or worse he gets hit and goes into a coma,” Halverson said. “It’s just foolish to drink. Your perception would be thrown off.”

With regulation, Halverson said, “the 300-pound tough guy fighting the 150-pound guy that got dared into fighting by some of this buddies — those things aren’t going to happen.”

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Gutches, who has a strong business background and a lifetime in wrestling as an athlete and coach, will be responsible for developing new or expanded programs, events and activities for USA Wrestling. He will work closely with state associations to increase membership and programs in underdeveloped markets in all styles of the sport. He will also expand strategic partnerships with other organizations, and assist in promotion and marketing activities.

He will also oversee the State Services staff of the organization, and work with a talented team which includes Manager of State Services Tony Black, Membership Services Assistant Shonna Vest, Manager of Coaches Education Cody Bickley and State Services Assistant Marge Civil.

“Les Gutches has an incredible reputation for integrity and performance,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director. “He is a tremendous motivator, a wonderful father, a respected coach and one of our greatest champion athletes. His presence, leadership and work ethic will take USA Wrestling membership to new heights. We are excited to welcome Les Gutches to our team and are confident that his efforts will impact the entire wrestling community.”

Gutches will begin at his new job at the USA Wrestling corporate headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo. on February 1.

“I have been involved with USA Wrestling from my time as a PeeWee wrestler through the Senior level. I also went into coaching and remained active in the organization,” said Gutches. “To come back with the opportunity to help grow USA Wrestling and the sport in general is an exciting prospect to me. I have been in the business world for a number of years and am very excited to return to wrestling. I’m going to have the opportunity to combine my passion for the sport with an ability to apply my professional and academic experience. This is the perfect place for me.”

Gutches comes to USA Wrestling after serving as four years as a commercial lender and credit analyst for Citizens Bank, Inc. in Corvallis. Among his duties was to generate and develop new business relationships for the company, as well as assisting business clients in measuring performance and strategic decision making.

He received a Masters of Business Administration from the Oregon State University’s College of Business in 2006, where he was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. His undergraduate degree at Oregon State was in Anthropology with a minor in German Language and Literature. He was a three-time NCAA First-Team Academic All-American as an undergraduate.

He served eight years as an assistant wrestling coach at Oregon State, helping build the Beavers into one of the nation’s top programs. Gutches helped coach five athletes to NCAA All-American honors. In addition to athlete instruction, he had responsibilities that included business and alumni relations activities for the program.

He was also a club coach with the Orange Crush Wrestling Club, working with athletes from the university as well as the Corvallis community. Gutches has also been an active clinician for many years, teaching young athletes on many levels.

“Membership is the lifeblood of USA Wrestling. Our membership allows USA Wrestling to invest in and grow the sport at all levels. It is exciting to me that I can make an impact in an area that is so important to the organization. I see this as a position where I can make a difference in the sport on a daily basis,” said Gutches.

As an athlete, Gutches grew up within the USA Wrestling system, competing on the local, state and national level for many years in Oregon. In fact, he was the first athlete to win USA Wrestling national titles in all five existing age group levels at the time – Cadet, Junior, Espoir, University and Senior. He competed in the World Championships on four age-group levels, as well. He won a Cadet World silver medal in 1989 and an Espoir World bronze medal in 1993. Gutches won three state high school titles at South Medford High School

Gutches had a remarkable career at Oregon State Univ., winning NCAA titles in 1995 and 1996, and placing fifth in the 1994 NCAA Championships. He received the Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s top college wrestler in 1996.

He became one of the best U.S. freestyle athletes of his era. His top achievement was winning the gold medal at the 1997 World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Krasnoyarsk, Russia at 85 kg/187.25 pounds. He added a World bronze medal in 1999.

After his senior year in college, Gutches won both the U.S. Nationals and Olympic Team Trials to make the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team. He placed seventh in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Ga.

Gutches won all of the major events on the international circuit, including 1999 World Cup, the 1999 Pan American Games and the 1998 Goodwill Games. He also captured five straight U.S. Nationals titles.

Gutches was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009, and was a James E. Sullivan Award finalist in 1997. He was the 1997 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year, as well as Freestyle Wrestler of the Year for USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

He and his wife Jennifer have two young children, Lexi (5) and Logan (2).

“I have been involved in wrestling clubs as a competitor and coach on the local, state and national levels,” said Gutches. “I have seen firsthand what makes a great club. It all comes down to one thing – investment. For coaches, the most important resources they have to invest are their time and expertise. They invest in each of their wrestlers, to help them become the best athletes and individuals that they can. USA Wrestling is committed to investing in the success of its state organizations. We will look at everything, from how we market our programs to the product itself, and how to best serve all of our members.”

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At about the same time that I reached the apex of my wrestling glory, 130 miles to the northwest, in Waterloo, a kid named Gable was launching his career. It’s a story of 2 choices. I opted for being a really bad basketball player and he chose to become one of America’s greatest wrestlers. A few years later, in Del City, OK, some brothers named Smith were exposed to wrestling and chose to pursue their dreams – with John going on to win two Olympic Gold medals and four World Championships.

Long before I, or Dan Gable or the Smiths were born a kid named Norman Borlaug stepped on the mat in Cresco, IA. After his wrestling career at the University of Minnesota, he, too, made a choice – to go an to graduate school and earn a masters degree and PHD in plant pathology. His lifetime of food production research saved millions of people around the world from starvation and in 1970 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Dr. Borlaug said of his wrestling background, “Wrestling taught me some valuable lessons. I always figured I could hold my own against the best in the world. It made me tough (my emphasis). Many times I drew on that strength.”

So – what’s the one common thread running threw Dr. Borlaug, Dan Gable, John Smith and me? We were all exposed to wrestling at an early age. We may have all taken divergent paths – but we all had the opportunity to learn the values of wrestling. I’m not sure that enough of today’s youth gets that opportunity.

What’s the answer? I don’t know – but here’s what I’m trying. I must begin by saying that I love NCAA Division III wrestling. Those guys really “get after it”. I’ve attended a few NCAA Division III Championships and the Saturday morning session might be my favorite part of that event. Everyone wrestling then is already an All-American and is battling to determine his spot on the podium. I’ll see more throws, reversals to pins – in general more excitement – in that one session than I might see in a whole season of Hawkeye dual meets. I know that the skill levels are different – but boy do I love watching DIII wrestlers.

What if kids who are new to wrestling got to see all of that fun and action? Would a few of them step on the mat for the first time? Would some of them get motivated enough to stick with the sport when it gets tough? I don’t know – but I’m hoping to find out. I’m raising enough money ($10,000) to buy 1,000 tickets to the Saturday, March 6, 2010 morning session of the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, IA and giving them away to kids.

The tickets will go to a variety of kids. Many will be reserved for students at flood impacted elementary and middle schools in Cedar Rapids. Local youth organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs will also get some. Most will probably go to youth wrestling clubs. There is no geographical preference for the wrestling clubs – if you want to bring a group to Cedar Rapids, just let me know.
So far, support has been encouraging. Corporate pledges have reached over $4,000, including an extremely generous gift of $2,000 from the Cedar Rapids Marriott. When wrestling writer KJ Pilcher published an article about the project in the Cedar Rapids Gazette just before Christmas, I got another $600 in pledges in three days. Cornell College has allowed me to raise money on-site at wrestling events. To date a total of about $5,600 has come in.

Some folks have suggested that I should be happy with what has already been accomplished. That’s like suggesting that Gable should have been satisfied with two NCAA titles after the loss to Owings or telling John Smith that a couple of international championships are enough for any man. I won’t stop until we get 1,000 kids in that arena – and I may not stop then.

So, dear readers, I am asking you to help. Several of you already have and to those I offer my heartfelt thanks. But – there’s still work to be done. Will you who haven’t yet contributed join this elite group of fans?

If you want to make a pledge today email me at jim@dmsolutions4u.com. I’ll collect on your pledge in a couple of weeks when tickets actually go on sale. If you want to just write a check now, please make it to, “Tickets for Kids” and send it to:

“Tickets for Kids”
c/o Jim Brown
130 24th St NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-4936.

Your donation may just be the one that puts the next Gable or Smith or Borlaug on the mat.

Thank you,

Jim

PS If you have a group of kids that would like tickets, please email me.

http://gg121and2.blogspot.com/

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Davis, who signed with UFC just last month, will be facing former World Extreme Cagefighting champion Brian Stann, who played football at the US Naval Academy.

A four-time NCAA All-American wrestler, Davis built a 116-20 collegiate career with the Nittany Lions. The 25-year-old Harrisburg, Pennsylvania native owns a 4-0 professional MMA record, having competed inside the Palace Fighting Championship, Ultimate Warrior Challenge and Ultimate Cage Fighting Challenge promotions. In Davis’ most recent MMA event in June, he submitted David Baggett with a rear-naked choke in 3:37.

To read the rest of the story…

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-7334-College-Wrestling-Examiner~y2010m1d8-2009-NCAA-champ-Phil-Davis-to-make-UFC-debut-February-6

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Dillon Hill, a 9-year-old with Down syndrome, started wrestling at St. Croix Valley Athletic Association a year ago.

Hill started working with the Coach Chris Bahl’s to learn the ins and outs of the sport.

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On Thursday, a small group of teens who call themselves the “Winton Woods Weather Warriors” wrestled the elements to say thank you.

“This is just going to be a workout day,” said Winton Woods High School senior Pryde Geh. His classmate, Lonzi Murphy, agreed. “You gotta work hard if you want to get better.”

Both are members of the Winton Woods wrestling team. Their coach, Chris Willertz, said it’s about discipline and hard work. “They can burn some calories and make weight and do something for the community,” said Willertz.

Willertz explained the service project is directly about giving thanks. The Winton Woods City School District tried to pass a levy for years. Yet, election after election, they failed. This August, the district adopted a “pay to play” policy and the wrestling team had to fend for itself.

The team tried to earn money through a fundraiser by selling cookie dough. “We tried our best to sell the cookie dough, but we didn’t sell a lot,” explained Murphy. “We sold as much as we could.”

The goal was lofty. Each boy needed to earn $240 from the sale. Coach Willertz went directly to the residents and business owners. “I wrote letters to people in the community and said, ‘Is there a way you could adopt a wrestler and pay some of the money?” asked Willertz.

In return, the squad performs community service by shoveling snow for free in their neighborhoods. In all, the team received $1,700 for the program. The team made its first installment before noon on Thursday. Later in the day several of them went to a voluntary practice. Afterwards, they were back out in the snow. Geh said he had a goal. “I’m trying to get at least 10 houses on my street.”

Murphy was grateful for the opportunity to wrestle and to give back. “I like being out here in the snow. It gives us a little work out too. Like for our arms and stuff and just to help out. Makes me feel good.”

Do you know of a team that has accomplished a similar feat? Let us know in the comment section below or email me at tmirones@wcpo.com – http://www.wcpo.com

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It is often said that one of the best bases to have as a mixed martial artist is wresting. Wrestling, in all of its forms, is a sport that is all about leverage and control.

Many fighters who have come from a strong wrestling background have found great success. Just look across the MMA landscape today as it is littered with champion wrestlers making the transition to the sport.

The reason wrestlers have excelled in MMA is not due solely to wrestling itself. Wrestlers are successful because of the drive, determination, and work ethic that they bring with them.

If there is one man who epitomizes wrestling, drive, determination, and work ethic, it is Dan Gable.

After an undefeated prep wrestling career, the three-time Iowa state wrestling champion chose to attend Iowa State University. While at Iowa State, Gable continued his winning ways by capturing three Big Eight Championships, earning All-American honors all three years.

The only defeat that Gable suffered during his collegiate career came at the hands of Larry Owings. That loss came during the NCAA finals his senior year. That loss helped to fuel a fire inside Gable, a fire that would lead him to greatness.

While attending college and after his collegiate career Gable competed in Olympic freestyle wrestling. Gable was a six-time midlands champion and a three-time USA Freestyle National Champion. In 1971 Gable became World Champion, winning the 68kg division in Sofia, Bulgaria.

In 1972, when the Olympics invaded Munich, the goal was simple; bring home the gold. During these historic Olympics Gable would not only win the gold but he did so without surrendering a single point to his opposition.

In Gable’s final 21 Olympic qualification and Olympic matches, he scored 12 falls and outscored his nine other opponents, 130-1; the lone point being scored by Larry Owings.

It is not difficult to imagine that had MMA been an avenue available to the Olympic champion, it would have been something to consider. For many college wrestlers MMA has become the most suitable path to follow the dream of professional athletics.

Gable could have been a force inside the octagon, and would have likely competed at lightweight. The lightweight division has truly become a fan favorite, due to the incredible pace at which the athletes fight. Gable would have surely been at home in that atmosphere.

With an unstoppable shot and flawless transitions, Dan Gable would have ruled the lightweight land. The ability that he possessed to throw and control another human was unreal.

We will never know if Gable could learn to strike, or if he could even take a punch, but we do know that he could wrestle. With his caliber of wrestling, and his work ethic, he would have become a champion.

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Iowa’s Brent Metcalf shoots in on North Carolina State’s Darrion Caldwell during the 2009 NCAA finals in St. Louis. Photo by Larry Slater.

IOWA CITY – Brent Metcalf took the college wrestling world by storm during the 2007-08 season.

Metcalf’s first season as an Iowa Hawkeye was a memorable one as he won his first NCAA title, led Iowa to the national team title and won the Hodge Trophy as the best college wrestler in the country.

He came back strong again last season, extending his winning streak to 69 matches before he was upset by North Carolina State’s Darrion Caldwell in the 2009 NCAA finals. Metcalf helped the Hawkeyes edge Ohio State for the team title last March. Iowa won the title without crowning an individual champion.

Metcalf jumped right into freestyle competition after the NCAAs and placed second at the 2009 U.S. Nationals. He fell short of placing at the U.S. World Team Trials.

He just started his senior season as the nation’s top-ranked wrestler at 149 pounds for the No. 1 Iowa Hawkeyes.

Metcalf took time out of his busy schedule to grant an interview with USA Wrestling’s Craig Sesker following a workout last week at the wrestling room in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

You and your Iowa Hawkeye team are favored to win NCAAs this year. How eager were you for this season to start?

We have a great group of veterans in this room, and we have a great group of young guys who are in here fighting hard every day. It’s great to see, that’s for sure. The young guys are really pushing the older guys and keeping them honest. The way last year ended, we are not in here feeling like we are the national champions and feeling like we are on top of the world. It was disappointing how we finished. We feel like we are still fighting for something because we really didn’t get what we wanted. There are a lot of guys in here who are really motivated.

You are a senior now, how different is that for you?

It shouldn’t be any different. You live and train the same way. The philosophy is the same whether you are a freshman or a senior, so for me it’s not any different. You can’t go into panic mode or think this is all or nothing because it’s my last shot as a senior. For me, I have a job to do and I do it at the highest level that I possibly can. The biggest thing for us again is we’re a little bit ornery and a little bit unsatisfied because we didn’t get what we wanted last season.

What did you learn from finishing second at the NCAA tournament last season?

My philosophy on wrestling is the guy who wants it the most is going to win. If I’m going to answer the question – why did I lose the match? – because I didn’t want it the most. Do I feel like I didn’t want it the most? No, probably not, but that’s got to be my answer because that’s my philosophy. What I have to take away from that is I have to make sure I’m going out there to take a championship away from my opponent. You don’t step out there to just continue what you’re doing. It’s not another match. You can’t be complacent. You’ve got to get yourself amped up and get your mind and body ready to win a championship every single time. Especially in those big matches. I need to go out there and win and take what I want. I have to have extremely high motivation to win every time I go out there. I need to have a high sense of need and want and desire. If that’s what was lacking last year, then that’s what has to change this year. I felt good going into that match. I just have to work toward that perfect preparation to get ready for a big match.

Did you take a break after the World Team Trials?

After the World Team Trials, I took a pretty good break and spent time with my family and my fiancée. I’m not a big break guy. It’s harder to take a break when you’re not happy about how you’ve wrestled. I was still thinking about those losses. When you don’t perform the way you wanted to it’s hard to take your mind away from wrestling because you’re constantly thinking about it.

You lost close matches at the 2009 World Team Trials to Olympian Doug Schwab and eventual Trials runner-up Jared Frayer. Does that just add more fuel to the fire when you compete internationally?

I don’t know if losing is motivation. I think the fact that I didn’t perform the way I performed against those guys in this practice room is what motivates me the most. I wrestled both those guys a lot in the room. I felt like I took a step back when I lost to them at the Trials. You can’t concede anything to them, even if they are your coaches. I just need to learn from that and keep improving.

What kind of advice has Iowa head coach Tom Brands given you entering this season?

Just keep doing what I’m doing – continue to have that same drive and motivation. Once you get to being the best, you still have to find what pushed you to get to that level. You have to go back to your younger days and think about what you did when you were scrapping and trying to prove yourself.

What is it like being around twins Tom and Terry Brands on a daily basis?

It’s an honor, and a dream come true. It’s awesome. These guys were my idols when I was growing up. It’s more than just wrestling when you talk about Tom and Terry Brands. They care about you personally and they take the time to get involved with your life and what you’re doing off the mat. They are special people who live the right way. I’ve become a better person by being around them. They teach you how to lead a championship lifestyle – from the way you treat your girlfriend, to the way you treat your neighbor, to the way you treat your teammates, to the way you take care of yourself. They live by very high standards on and off the mat.

How excited are you about competing internationally in freestyle wrestling once you are done with your college career?

My goal is to win multiple World and Olympic championships. I have very high standards for what I want to do internationally. Last year, there was maybe too much focus on freestyle where I maybe looked past the NCAA Championships to the World Championships. Right now, the focus is on this season and Omaha 2010 for the NCAA Championships. I want to win the NCAA title and then worry about everything that comes after that.

Jake Herbert came right out of Northwestern earlier this year and won a silver medal in his first trip to the World Championships. Did you watch any of his matches at the World Championships in September?

It doesn’t surprise me, what Jake Herbert did at the Worlds. He’s a competitor. He wrestles offensively and he doesn’t hold back out there. He goes to his offense and he works really hard out there to win. His style is similar to mine in that respect. I hope he’s not happy with the silver and I know that he isn’t. Hopefully, he will continue to work hard and he will get where he needs to be. It doesn’t matter where you come from as long as you have that drive and focus to be the best. Like I said, I want to be the best wrestler in the World. I know I have to keep working hard to get there.

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The top-ranked Iowa wrestling team did enough Friday to beat up on two more opponents and set another school record for dual dominance.

But the Hawkeyes didn’t do enough to appease coach Tom Brands during wins against Bucknell and Rutgers in Lewisburg, Pa.

“There is seven minutes to wrestle and much, much more has to happen in those seven minutes,” Brands said. “I’m not sure we understand that right now. We could understand it, but then what’s the hesitancy? That’s the disconnect. We’ve got to figure it out. There’s got to be more happening in seven minutes.”

The Hawkeyes (7-0) won 16 matches while beating Bucknell 29-7 and handling Rutgers 33-9 to extend their school record of consecutive dual wins to 45 and match the program record for most wins on the road with 31.

Freshman Matt McDonough registered a pin and a technical fall in a pair of victories at 125, Daniel Dennis posted a technical fall and a major decision at 133 against No. 13 David Marble of Bucknell, and Jay Borschel notched two majors at 174, including a 10-1 demolition of Bucknell’s ninth-ranked Shane Riccio.

McDonough, Dennis and Borschel have scored bonus points for the Hawkeyes in all seven of their matches this season.

Top-ranked Brent Metcalf had his string of five straight pins snapped when he went down to the wire before pulling out a 3-2 win against No. 13 Kevin LeValley of Bucknell at 149.

“(LeValley) had a game plan and the game plan worked,” Brands said. “We get sharper finishing and we can widen the gap that way. If we do finish, the gap is probably wider there, but there’s not enough attempts. There has to be more attempts.”

The Hawkeyes are off until the Dec. 6 showdown with No. 2 Iowa State in Ames.

“That’s what we live for,” Brands said. “We better get sharper quick.”

Iowa 29, Bucknell 7

125 — Matt McDonough (UI) tech. fall Derrik Russell 19-4, 7:00.

133 — Daniel Dennis (UI) maj. dec. David Marble 14-5.

141 — Dan LeClere (UI) dec. Zac Hancock 9-5.

149 — Brent Metcalf (UI) dec. Kevin LeValley 3-2.

157 — Brantley Hooks (B) dec. Matt Ballweg 6-1 .

165 — Andy Rendos (B) maj. dec. Aaron Janssen 10-2 .

174 — Jay Borschel (UI) maj. dec. Shane Riccio 10-1.

184 — Phillip Keddy (UI) maj. dec. Rob Waltko 12-4.

197 — Chad Beatty (UI) dec. Jay Hahn 11-5.

Hwt. — Jordan Johnson (UI) dec. Joe McMullan 7-3.

Iowa 33, Rutgers 9

125 — Matt McDonough (UI) pinned Vinny Dellafave 3:39.

133 — Daniel Dennis (UI) tech. fall Billy Ashnault 20-5, 7:00.

141 — Dan LeClere (UI) dec. Trevor Melde 7-3.

149 — Brent Metcalf (UI) tech. fall Kellen Bradley 20-5 in 6:27.

157 — Aaron Janssen (UI) dec. Braden Turner 2-0.

165 — Gregory Zanetti (R) dec. Jake Kerr 8-6 SV .

174 — Jay Borschel (UI) maj. dec. Daniel Rinaldi 16-3.

184 — Grant Gambrall (UI) maj. dec. Jesse Boyden 11-3.

197 — Chad Beatty (UI) dec. Lamar Brown 9-3.

Hwt. — Dominick Russo (R) pinned Jordan Johnson 1:24.

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Republican Jim Gibbons of Des Moines, a former Iowa State University wrestling coach, will run for Congress in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District.

The winner of the GOP primary will take on incumbent Democrat Leonard Boswell.

Gibbons, 50, said Thursday that he is leaving his job at Wells Fargo Advisors to pursue a full-time campaign. “I think anything that you do successfully, you can’t do that with one foot in and one foot out,” he said.

He said he began thinking seriously about running when he got a call from an old friend, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, a two-time NCAA wrestling champion from the University of Wisconsin.

“He called me up in the middle of the summer and he asked, ‘Jim have you ever considered running for Congress?’ And I said, ‘Every day.’ ”

Iowa has had a few wrestlers in top-level political positions, including former U.S. Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa City, and former Iowa House Speaker Brent Siegrist of Council Bluffs. Republicans have tried, unsuccessfully so far, to recruit former Hawkeye wrestling coach Dan Gable to run for office.

“I think we’re used to being in the arena alone, and going up against your component. So I think that lends itself well to being competitive,” Gibbons said.

Gibbons, a national champion wrestler and All-American in his junior year at ISU, coached ISU’s wrestling team from 1986 to 1992. The team won the NCAA championship in 1987.

He said he’s applying his background in coaching to his campaign – focusing on fundamentals like raising money and building up his campaign team. He notes that his coaching background has taught him how to motivate people and his financial services experience means he knows how to reach and talk to donors and other supporters. He also has TV experience, as a commentator for ESPN, among others.

“Excessive government spending” is the issue he points to as a priority, although he’s not ready to talk about what federal programs he would cut. He’s a critic of the federal stimulus bill as failing to create or sustain jobs, and he opposes cap and trade.

Gibbons will face Dave Funk of Runnells, a retired pilot, in the GOP primary. Sen. Brad Zaun of Urbandale also has said he’s considering running. Gibbons starts with an advantage over the GOP field in terms of name identification, and he’ll likely be able to raise the money to mount a competitive challenge.

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Landis Wright filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Williamsport.

Listed as defendants are Athletic Director Sharon E. Taylor, former coach Anthony “Rocky” Bonomo, who retired from his post earlier this month, and university President Dr. Keith T. Miller.

The lawsuit states Wright, now 21, was one of the nation’s “most promising young wrestlers,” and ranked third in the state and seventh in the nation when a senior at Bald Eagle Area High School at Wingate.

The suit states Bonomo offered Wright a $10,000 per year scholarship to attend the university up to five years. The suit states Bonomo also offered Landis’ younger brother, Quentin Wright, a full scholarship as well. The suit alleges that violated NCAA rules, as Quentin was only a high school sophomore at the time.

Bonomo also told Landis and his parents he could lift and workout on his own regime, and the university would give him extra attention to help him succeed academically in spite of a reading disability, the suit states.

Landis subsequently signed a national letter of intent to attend LHU and wrestle for the Bald Eagles before entering the university as an undergraduate in the fall of 2006.

During his first year, Landis qualified to train at the Olympic Training Center, in addition to finishing third at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament and fifth at the Eastern Wrestling League Tournament before finishing his freshman season with a 24-12 record.

Landis “seriously” injured his shoulder during a wrestling match on Jan. 26, 2008. The injury, the suit states, was later diagnosed as a separated shoulder by a doctor at Mt. Nittany Medical Center in State College, though a university trainer, “with Mr. Bonomo’s knowledge and encouragement,” only applied ice to the injury that night and said it would be examined in two days.

The suit states that a Mount Nittany emergency room physician told Landis not to wrestle or participate in any sport for several weeks, and he would need at least four to six weeks of rehabilitation.

A surgeon later advised Landis he could risk permanent injury to his shoulder and never wrestle again if he did not rest, according to the lawsuit.

Despite the injury, Bonomo allegedly pressed Landis to wrestle during practices leading up to a match against Bloomsburg University three weeks later, court papers state.

Before the Bloomsburg match, Bonomo allegedly pressured Landis to wrestle in the match and the team’s trainer allegedly offered to administer an injection to numb his shoulder, the suit states. Landis refused both offers.

Landis and his father, Paul Wright, later met with Taylor on Feb. 12, 2008. However, the papers state, six people from the university were present, causing “Landis and Paul to feel pressured by Lock Haven and its coaching staff.”

During the meeting, the Wrights raised their knowledge and beliefs that NCAA violations were occurring at LHU with respect to the wrestling team, including excessive weight loss, impermeable sweat suits, sweat rooms and pushing injured athletes to wrestle, the suit states.

“During the meeting, Ms. Taylor told Landis he could have his scholarship at Lock Haven if Landis would sit in the bleachers and keep quiet,” the suit states.

Landis later met with university Provost Dr. Roger Johnson stating his concerns with Bonomo and Taylor.

Dr. Miller wrote to Landis and his father on April 16, 2008, advising them that an investigation would be conducted regarding Landis’ formal complaint, the suit states.

The suit alleges Taylor conducted “the so-called ‘investigation’” even though Taylor was part of the meeting on Feb. 12, when she allegedly led Landis and his father to believe she was prepared to provide financial aid to Landis if he would quietly “sit in the bleachers.”

Further, the suit states wrestlers who were interviewed as part of the investigation could not be candid because they were questioned two at a time instead of individually.

Following the meetings and the investigation, the suit states Landis was precluded from participating in the wrestling program.

Bonomo then allegedly informed Landis he was not on the wrestling team on Sept. 9, 2008. However, Bonomo denied he told Landis that on Sept. 18, 2008, the suit states. He was then left off the wrestling roster when published on Sept. 22, 2008.

The suit states Taylor and Bonomo removed Landis’ scholarship. Dr. Miller then allegedly caused his tuition bills to be paid, but did not restore his athletic scholarship, according to court papers.

Landis tried to rejoin the team in September of this year by attending mandatory team meetings and necessary team paperwork, but he was told by the associate head coach he was no longer on the team because he had missed the deadline to submit team paperwork and had missed two team training sessions.

Paul spoke to the university’s Board of Trustees last April about the allegations.

Trustee Don Houser made a motion asking the trustees to approve an independent investigation by the NCAA of the wrestling program, but he failed to gain a second supporting vote.

University Director of Marketing and Communications Mary White responded the university does not comment on litigation that is in process.

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The 19-year-old Geiger, who was one of the nation’s top recruits from the Class of 2008, was expected to make an immediate impact at 197 pounds for a young and talented Gopher team looking to get back to the top of the college wrestling world after coming off its worst NCAA finish (14th) since 1996.

Great expectations had been placed on the broad shoulders of Geiger after a prep career that saw him capture two Oregon (OSAA) state titles and win titles at prestigious high school events such as NHSCA Nationals, Cadet Nationals, and Junior Nationals. He was ranked No. 1 in the country at 189 pounds by InterMat.

Last season, as a redshirt for the Gophers, Geiger compiled a 19-3 record while competing in open tournaments. In the spring, Geiger won both the FILA Junior Nationals and FILA World Team Trials in freestyle to earn a spot on the Junior World Team. Geiger, though, chose not to compete at the Junior World Championships in Ankara, Turkey in August, and instead opted to stay in Minneapolis and focus on his summer term courses at Minnesota.

Toward the end of summer, Geiger made the decision to leave Minnesota and head back home to wrestle at Clackamas Community College in Oregon. He says it was “a little bit of everything” that caused him to leave Minnesota, but “mostly academics.”

“Everybody is going to be a little bitter that I left Minnesota,” said Geiger. “I’m bitter. They’re bitter. It sucks that I had to leave, but I’m pretty sure we ended things on a good note.”

Geiger’s journey over the past 10 years could be best described as nomadic. His father, David, is in the military. Geiger grew up in Virginia, moved to Korea in middle school, spent his freshman year in the Philippines, moved back to the U.S. for his sophomore year and attended Blair Academy in New Jersey, and then moved to Oregon for his final two years of high school.

In high school, Geiger was recruited by many of the nation’s top college wrestling programs. He chose Minnesota over Lehigh, Arizona State, and Oregon State because of the combination of coaches, workout partners, facilities, and the fact that his best friend from his days at Blair Academy, Mario Mason, was also going to be wrestling for the Gophers.

Then-Minnesota head assistant coach Marty Morgan played a key role in recruiting Geiger to Minnesota. Geiger expected Morgan to not only be one of his coaches, but also serve as a key training partner throughout his college wrestling career. But shortly before the college wrestling season began, Morgan resigned as the head assistant coach of the Gophers to train current UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

“I was pretty shocked,” said Geiger of Morgan’s resignation. “We all had no idea that he was leaving. It was our understanding that he was going to be the coach. It was kind of terrible because he left and he has all that knowledge. It’s good for him. I can’t be mad at the guy. He’s helping out probably the baddest man alive right now.”

Continue Reading at InterMat

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COB BASRA, Iraq – Who is Coach J Robinson?

Robinson has had an illustrious career as an Army Ranger during the Vietnam War, an Olympic wrestler and one of the greatest coaches in University of Minnesota history.

Robinson demonstrated his bravery by telling a roomful of military policemen how he listens to Britney Spears and Lady Gaga to get motivated.

Robinson is also caring. He flew to Iraq recently to motivate the troops and when he learned the government wasn’t going to pay his way, he was perfectly willing to fly halfway around world on his own dime.

All to offer a simple “Thank you.”

“When the chaplain called and asked if I could come, I thought it was the least I could do,” said Robinson, who was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005. “I was sitting at home, and you know what that’s like. It’s pretty good. Sometimes you don’t realize that until you leave.”

Robinson visited troops all over Contingency Operating Base Basra, at each stop encouraging Soldiers and telling them to embrace their deployment as a learning experience.

“The lessons you learn in Iraq will follow you for the rest of your lives,” said Robinson, who attended Airborne, Jungle Warfare and Ranger school before deploying to Vietnam. “I’m more proud to be a Ranger than I am being an Olympian, because the lessons I learned there I’ve used for the rest of life.”

Robinson, a member of the 1972 Olympic wrestling team, addressed Soldiers on the importance of perspective, concentration, and the power of choice and striving for excellence in everything they do.

In addition, Robinson told the Soldiers that someday they would be able to look back at their time in Iraq and be proud of the people they had helped, even those they had not known they helped.

“One thing you learn as a coach, you do a lot of stuff and you touch a lot of people, and you might never see it,” said Robinson. “You’re not always going to get that pat on the back.”

Robinson’s busy schedule included wrestling classes with the 34th Military Police Company. The coach of three team national titles instructed the MP’s on hand placement and balance; “the fundamentals,” said the seven-time Big Ten Coach of the Year.

“It’s part of his striving for excellence,” said Lt. Col. Jeffery Johnson, Inspector General for the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division and an alumnus of the U of M. “A, giving thanks from the state of Minnesota, and B, helping the MP’s strive for excellence.”

While Robinson could only visit for a few days, his visit was appreciated up to the highest levels.

“Soldiers want to know three things: to know that their folks back home are alright, that life back home is going normally, and that folks back home are thinking of them,” said Brig. Gen. David Eliciero, deputy commanding general of the 34th Inf. Div., and U of M Class of 1980. “I think this accomplishes that.”

So who is Coach J Robinson? A Ranger? An Olympian? A Hall of Fame wrestling coach?

For a while in COB Basra, the answer was simple: a legend, an old Soldier, a man willing to come back out to the front to show his gratitude to the Soldiers personally.

“For me, I have to come out here to say thanks,” said Robinson.

Pictures and video here.

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Bubba Jenkins admits he wasn’t even in shape at this point last season.

Each practice, even though the season has not started, has been harder than last year’s most difficult practice, redshirt sophomore Clay Steadman said.

The wrestlers were used to training for an extended period of time in the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex, but not spending a Friday night there for breaking a team rule.

Welcome to the Penn State wrestling team’s version of Friday Night Lights.

The itinerary entails sweeping the filth off the practice mats with a broom, cleaning with a mop and running up and down the length of the four giant practice mats, paper towel in hand, to dry the floor that has been the training ground for 98 NCAA All-Americans. After cleaning, wrestlers study in the bleachers of the facility, without any conversation, cell phones or iPods.

“It’s something you don’t want to get, but it’s really easy to get,” freshman wrestler Ed Ruth said. “As soon as you get it, you’re like, ‘I’ve got Friday Night Lights.’ It’s not really a surprise when you get it, it’s just that in public school they give you disciplinary actions, but they give you like a strike or a demerit or something to build up to that. But this, you just get it right away. It’s like sink or die.”

Wrestling legend Cael Sanderson took over for Troy Sunderland as head coach of the Nittany Lion wrestling program in April and Friday Night Lights is part of the no-nonsense culture he has implemented since Day 1.

Jenkins had to attend Friday Night Lights for arriving at a meeting two minutes before it started. Under Sanderson, wrestlers must show up five minutes before any team meeting.

The philosophy isn’t only limited to wrestling, either. Junior Christian Harr said coaches now check if the wrestlers are attending their classes by dropping in on a class and doing random visits. If the wrestler isn’t there, punishment, usually in the form of Friday Night Lights, will ensue.

New weight training and conditioning coach Shawn Contos thinks the wrestlers were likely comfortable with doing as they wished last year. Attending practice late wasn’t as big of a deal. Pushing past that comfort level and believing the sky is the limit doesn’t only translate to success in wrestling, but in all aspects of life, he says.

It worked at Iowa State, Sanderson’s alma mater and former coaching spot, so the staff ushered in the same philosophy to bring the Penn State wrestling program back to the top of the medal podium at the NCAA Tournament.

“You can only be good at two things in college, and there’s three areas: wrestling, academics and social life,” Steadman said, referring to his head coach’s words of wisdom.

So far, the wrestlers have heeded the coach’s advice.

“Those two [areas] better be wrestling and school, and if they’re not, then you’re not going to be around this program long,” returning assistant Aaron Anspach said. “Most of the guys that are here, are here because they want to win.”

A different mindset

Jenkins applied pressure to Chad Dubin’s head, forcing it into the blue wrestling mat. Jenkins, now in his fourth year in the Nittany Lion program, wasn’t content with only earning a takedown of the 40-something-year old.

Seconds later, Jenkins turned the man onto his back and kept him there.

Dubin, a short, muscular training partner and former two-time All American who often visits practices, was manhandled and overpowered by Jenkins.

Jenkins, though, has always been about speed. The Virginia Beach native reached the finals of the 149-pound weight class at the 2007 NCAA Tournament with explosiveness and agility comparable to boxer Roy Jones Jr.

Now, though, Jenkins is convinced he can utilize extra muscle on his body. He says he will likely regret adding the weight when it comes time to slim down to his 149-pound weight class.

Still, it’s about taking the extra step and winning a national championship. Last year’s 0-2 performance at NCAAs is a constant reminder of his goal.

Jenkins’ new coach still believes he has the potential to be a national champion and hope his 149-pounder is still hungry.

“To me, nothing is more motivating than losses,” Sanderson said. “I hope that he’s motivated to get back in there and get his name back up to the top of the weight class. So far, he’s been doing a great job. He’s just so talented and things come so naturally for him in all areas. That can be a good thing or a bad thing. He’s doing a nice job right now.”

Jenkins put on about 10-15 pounds since the end of last season as a result of the demanding weight training program implemented by this year’s coaching staff.

Contos, who came over from Iowa State to become Penn State’s new strength coach, equates transitioning this team into a “great” team to taking a block of clay and molding it into something special.

The team and the newly-formulated program is set apart by twice-weekly morning practices run by Contos, the strength and conditioning coach, that are designed to keep the wrestlers strong and conditioned year round.

“The intensity is a lot higher,” senior Dan Vallimont said. “Practices are a lot tougher, and they kind of make us feel like we have to have a sense of urgency right now. It’s only September, but they’re really putting the pressure on us right away, which is good.”

Contos compares a wrestling match to a sprint, not a marathon. Accordingly, he has geared the team’s training like a match.

The wrestlers lift heavily on Mondays, leaving them sore on Tuesdays. Thursdays are set aside for intense endurance workouts, the details of which Contos would not divulge.

Quentin Wright, an All-American last season as a true freshman, wanted to bulk up this offseason. As a tall and lanky 174-pounder, Wright still finished sixth at NCAAs. With more muscle, he knew he could be more dangerous of a wrestler. He lifted all summer long and showed up noticeably stronger, prepared to wrestle at a higher weight class.

“He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met in my life. This workout is good for him because he feels he’s getting stronger and belief in the system and the program is going to help you reach your goals.

Sanderson has also implemented a dress code for every wrestler to follow. Every day, the Lions don blue shorts and gray t-shirts at practice.

The new head coach preaches that the two hours of practice should be their two most highly productive hours of each wrestler’s day, assistant coach Casey Cunningham said.

Sanderson has instigated a new philosophy of endurance training. Instead of focusing on sprints and aerobic workouts, practices are more match-based. Work up endurance in a seven-minute match, master that fitness level, and a wrestler will be ready, Anspach said.

“You think you get to this level and you have a good foundation of this stuff,” junior Brad Pataky said, “and you get a new technician and an Olympic gold medalist and you learn a lot of new things. It’s great.”

Pataky couldn’t be happier — he’s wrestling for a coach who he grew up idolizing. But more than that, he’s wrestling for a coaching staff that can mold him into a national champion.

He’s all ears when one of his coaches instructs him. Wrestling is a hobby, he explained, but it’s his favorite hobby. It’s simply fun to train for success, Pataky said.

“In the past, and there’s nothing wrong with this, we focused more on running and getting shape through training your mind,” Anspach said. “Now the philosophy is we’re going to challenge your mind, but we’re going to do it through wrestling situations that are going to help our muscle memory and positions and make us better wrestlers.”

Restoring tradition

Cyler Sanderson had a decision to make.

The senior 157-pounder refers to his brothers, Cael and assistant coach Cody, as his heroes. Cyler has idolized them since he was born.

When Cyler’s brothers moved from Iowa State to coach at Penn State, he couldn’t decide what his best option was. His best friends and teammates for four years and a program that he committed to was a strong pull. Ultimately, his family bond was too strong, and he opted to follow his brothers to Penn State.

“Wrestling is my favorite thing to do in the whole world, and if I can do that with my brothers and my family that makes it even better,” Cyler said. “When it came down to it, family’s always first. I don’t think I could of wrestled there and not have my brothers there. I want them in my corner.”

But coming to Penn State wasn’t only about keeping his corner coaches. It was about restoring the glory of the Nittany Lion program.

Steve Sanderson, father of the three new Penn State Sandersons, always told his sons that you “reap what you sow.”

That’s the mentality it will take to bring the Penn State wrestling program to its peak.

“Penn State is going to be a powerhouse in the near future,” Cyler said. “Cael has brought a lot of enthusiasm to this team. It won’t be long before Penn State is winning national championships.”

Jenkins equates wrestling for Sanderson to wrestling for Michael Jordan. If the best athlete in a sport is one’s coach, he will listen, Jenkins said.

The wrestlers have dedicated themselves to not partying as frequently as they did last year. Steadman doesn’t mind — to achieve his goal of being a national champion, he knows he must adhere to these guidelines.

Weekend nights are often spent playing video games.

“We’re finally coming together more as a team as opposed to everyone kind of doing their own thing or having their own things going on,” redshirt sophomore Frank Molinaro said.

Cyler has never been in Rec Hall but has heard the stories of its legacy — the packed bleachers, fans stacked like sardines, six rows deep around the walkway at the top of the gymnasium.

These fans were passionate about their team. That passion was absent at most home dual meets last season, notably back-to-back weekend dual meets against the top-two ranked programs in the nation, Iowa and Ohio State. The Lions lost both meets by a total of 49 points, and fans exited the gym without emitting energy toward their effort.

The Lions have finished in the top five at the NCAA Tournament 22 times since 1935, but have only won it once, in 1953.

The program’s goal is to win a national title. Sanderson says it. Cunningham says it. All the wrestlers say it. It’s an overarching goal the team finds more tangible.

Achieving this begins with the attitude of having a fighting team, Cunningham said.

It starts by hiring a national wrestling legend to resurrect a program, bringing in trusted assistants, signing top level recruits and convincing a team of wrestlers they are capable of achieving great things.

“There’s obviously a ton of momentum with everything since the transition took place,” assistant coach Matt Dernlan said. “The guys feel it, we feel it, I feel it, everywhere you go there’s energy and enthusiasm. You can feel that momentum pushing behind us. That’s pretty exciting to feel it and be a part of it.”

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State College, Pa. — The wrestling room is bigger than a VFW hall, the mats wide as a country mile. Four high-definition televisions hang on the walls, each one placed strategically a few feet apart from the next.

“It’s a nice room,” Cael Sanderson says. “But obviously a room’s not going to win for you.”

He smiles. Penn State’s Lorenzo Wrestling Complex opened in 2006 to the tune of $4 million. Tucked neatly into the west side of campus, it’s more a penthouse than a palace, but every corner sparkles.
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“I think it was just a lot of bad information that was out there as to why I made the decision,” Sanderson said of the stunning coup that brought the former Iowa State wrestling coach here from Ames five months ago. “But really, that wasn’t the reason that I took the job. I was just looking at a long-term opportunity here.”

At the most recent NCAA wrestling championships, a dozen Pennsylvania natives were named to the All-American team; two were natives of Iowa. Steve Sanderson, Cael’s father, told The (Penn State) Daily Collegian last spring that his son had discussed a move to State College for at least a year, if the job ever came open.

“People were saying that they offered me so much money that I couldn’t turn it down,” the younger Sanderson says. “And whoever started that rumor, he’s probably sitting back having a good time, I guess.”

Sanderson doesn’t deny that he got a nice raise – although he’s not sure where the speculation of a 5-year, $2.5-million contract came from. And for the conspiracy theorists out there, he also takes issue with the inference that there was some sort of conflict with Cyclones athletic director Jamie Pollard.

“That’s not true at all. I like Jamie,” Sanderson says. “He was supportive of the program. I mean, that’s real simple. It has nothing to do with Jamie Pollard. That’s not why (I left).

“I was looking at Penn State, just because of the long-term, the things that I’ve (already) talked about. It’s really that simple. There’s nothing behind-the-scenes or anything like that. Maybe it would be exciting if that was the case, but it’s not.”

That said, the divorce wasn’t entirely peaceful. A day or two after his move was announced, Sanderson recalls, his wife answered the door at their home in Ames to find an irate Iowa State fan, who’d turned up to give them an earful of grief.

“We just didn’t answer the door after that,” Sanderson continues with a chuckle. “A little later – actually, it was kind of funny, although my wife wasn’t too happy about it – they threw some Iowa State wrestling gear on the front porch. Later that night there was some Iowa State wrestlers over at my house. They were pretty happy with it. They got some free shirts. It really wasn’t a big deal.”

Other than struggling to sell that house back in Ames, Sanderson says he’s found closure with Iowa State. He’d even welcome a series with the Cyclones sometime down the road, if the schedules could get worked out.

“I would guess that it’s something we’ll be talking about doing,” Sanderson says. “But we haven’t discussed that yet. I think they’re in good hands. It’s just – life goes on.”

Sanderson’s focus now is the Lions’ first dual – at Lehigh on Nov. 13 – and proving that his bosses were wise in their investment. Cael’s shiny new penthouse is wired for sound, as is the giant, glittering weight room behind it.

“If we want a workout at 3 in the morning on a Sunday or a Saturday, that’s great,” Sanderson says.

Maybe it wasn’t about money. But the perks sure as heck don’t hurt.

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Mr. Scott, who is employed as the Director of State Services, has been relieved of all duties with USA Wrestling. All state service matters should be referred to the Manager of State Services.

USA Wrestling was shocked and disturbed about this situation. USA Wrestling has zero tolerance for this type of conduct. The organization will fully cooperate with the appropriate authorities. USA Wrestling will monitor the criminal proceedings and take appropriate action as necessary.

USA Wrestling has no further comment on this matter at this time.

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The 40 men of the Tiger squad trudge to the stadium once a week during preseason, which began last Monday, for their Wednesday stadium run. For at least 10 minutes, the ring of tennis shoes against metal bleachers and the grunts of overexertion and encouragement echo through the stands, drowning out the football team’s practice on the field below.

The weekly ritual is not the only element of the grueling preseason training that tests the team’s strength and willpower; the eight hours a week of practice that the NCAA permits before regular workouts begin are devoted to pushing the team’s physical and mental limits.

“They’re going to get to the point during this training where they’re going to wonder if they can go anymore,” Missouri coach Brian Smith said. “And they’re going to realize that they can. Wrestling does that to you.”

The term “stadium run” fails to capture the full extent of the team’s Wednesday workouts. Not only do the wrestlers weave their way through the bleachers, their breathing devolving into a gasps for air; they also do bear crawls through the bleachers and up the stadium steps. Dripping with sweat, each man carries a teammate through the bleachers on his back, the passengers encouraging their partners and pushing them to make it up those last four or five steps to the landing.

“This stuff is just so different from any other sport,” two-time All American senior Nick Marable said. “It’s so much more disciplined, so much more work. I’ve gotten a lot of talk from football players about how they respect us so much for how hard we work.”

It’s hard not to respect the wrestlers for their performance in the stadium and their other training exercises. On the days when pounding the bleachers is not an activity on its agenda, the team will flip tires, push cars, or go on 6 1/2-mile runs around the perimeter of Columbia. Some days, they take dumbbells out of the basement of Hearnes Center and carry them from the bottom to the top levels, stopping on each floor to do push-ups.

“There’s a lot of what some people might call crazy training going on here,” Smith said.

According to Smith, there are no excuses, and everyone must pick up slack for his teammates. For instance, when the team was told to put cars in neutral and push them through a parking lot last week, they divided into groups of four per car. Marable’s team, though, was not so lucky: one man got sick and the three remaining wrestlers had to push the car without him.

“It’s all about going into it with the right attitude,” Smith said. “We’re going to push them to the limit, over the boundary of where they’ve been before.”

Smith also tells the team that they should adopt his “one more” mentality.

“At the end of the training session we always do one extra thing,” he said. “One more type of training. And also, they can all do one more hour of studying, one more hour of really anything. Everything will come together, and they’ll do great things.”

Such a grueling mentality is obviously challenging for the players to adopt, Smith said, and Marable agreed that the team’s attitude is often enough to intimidate young wrestlers.

“My freshman year, I didn’t expect any of this because coming out of high school it was so much different.” Marable said. “After the first year it got easier, and now I know what to expect. It’s hard. It’s real hard… But I’m used to it.”

When the team’s official workouts begin on Oct. 12, the Tigers will be in prime shape to begin training for what Marable said should be each of his teammates’ main goal: a national championship. When regular season practices begin, the team will shift its workouts more toward wrestling and will spend less time doing the conditioning to which the team now devotes its days. Though Marable won’t miss the intensity of preseason workouts, he does acknowledge how much they’ve helped him each year to build the strength necessary to have an edge in his matches.

“It works a little different, it works you harder, and it’s fun,” he said. “It may seem crazy, but it’s worth it.”

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And with that, an era has ended for Bears athletics.

Maughan this past season finished his 22nd year leading the Northern Colorado wrestling program, but he has announced his decision to step down from that leadership role and devote all of his energy to his duties as the athletic department’s director of development, which he has also held in a dual-role for a little more than a year.

Maughan, who has memories of being less than a year old and rolling around on a mat with his father, Bucky, a legendary wrestling coach at North Dakota State, says his decision is effective immediately.

“This was a really, really difficult choice for me and my family,” said Maughan, who also coached the men’s and women’s golf teams during his time at Northern Colorado. “I think the hardest thing for me, now that I’ve made my decision, is that I’m not the coach anymore. That’s a hard thing to come to terms with. It’s a position of respect, and you get such a good feeling about working with bright, great kids. I’ll certainly miss that.

“You always think that when you think the time is right, it’s going to be easy to walk away, but it’s definitely not. A lot of work has been put into this program over the last couple decades, and I know I’ll never have the kind of relationships I’ve had again.”

Jay Hinrichs, Northern Colorado’s director of athletics, said he will immediately begin looking for Maughan’s replacement. He also said Maughan’s void in the wrestling program will be a hard one to fill.

“Jack has meant a great deal to the Northern Colorado athletic department,” Hinrichs said. “He will not ever be replaced. We will instead go out and find someone who we think can continue on with what he’s been building. Jack leaves behind a program that’s a definite player on the national stage.

“He played a huge role in our transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I, and he will continue that in his role as our director of development. It takes a special person to successfully fulfill two important positions in an athletic department, and Jack did that admirably this past year. He felt he was short-changing one of them, though, and he’s decided to jump head-first into development. I’m grateful we’re not saying goodbye to him altogether.”

Maughan echoed those sentiments and said he’s glad he’s going to be able to stick around and have a front-row seat as the program moves forward.

“I’m really happy I’ll still get to be here,” he said. “I’ll still get to be around the wrestling program — however, I certainly don’t want to be meddling — and be here to help and be a resource to whoever is hired to lead it into the future. Whatever that person may need, I’ll be here for them.

“It just came down to me not wanting to be an anchor to a program I’ve devoted so much time to and love so much. And me doing two jobs wasn’t doing anybody any good. I’m glad I’ll get to stay at Northern Colorado. This is where I want to be and where my family wants to be.”

During Maughan’s tenure, which began in 1987, when he was 24 years old (the youngest head wrestling coach in Northern Colorado history) the Bears produced three NCAA champions, five runners-up and 46 All-America performers.

And Maughan’s Bears were one of the first Northern Colorado programs eligible to compete at the NCAA Division I level. In that first season, Maughan had five wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Division I Championships, the 2007-08 season saw two Northern Colorado wrestlers qualify for nationals, and in 2008-09, three Bears moved on and competed on the highest national stage.

Maughan’s teams finished among the nation’s top-10 eight times, including third- and fourth-place finishes in 1991 and 1992, respectively, a fifth-place finish in 1996, a seventh-place finish in 2002 and eighth-place finishes in 1997 and 1998.

Maughan also was instrumental in the formation of the Western Wrestling Conference, which includes Northern Colorado and neighboring rivals Wyoming and Air Force, along with former North Central Conference rivals North Dakota State and South Dakota State. Northern Iowa and Utah Valley State are also members of the WCC.

“None of what we did while I was here would have been possible without the help of so many people,” Maughan said. “Hank Brown (former Northern Colorado president) was incredible in helping our program, and if it hadn’t been for Dr. (Robert) Heiny, I probably wouldn’t be a coach anyway. And Shannon Courtney (Maughan’s athletic trainer for the past 18 years) did so much for me and the kids who have come through here, in a sport that lends itself to a lot of injuries. It’s tough to put into words my thanks to that group.

“And I’ve had so many assistant coaches work with me, and I don’t want to thank any of them in particular because I’ll screw up and leave somebody out.”

Maughan inherited a tradition-rich program in that first year, but the Bears hadn’t had a winning dual-meet season since 1980, and they had finished at or near the bottom of the rugged North Central Conference five of the previous six years.

Maughan began to rebuild the program almost immediately, though, by recruiting some of the best high school wrestlers that Colorado and the west region had to offer. Within five years, the Bears boasted a pair of two-time national champions in Mike Pantoya of Thornton, Colo., and Mike Leberknight of Rapids City, S.D., and the school’s first-ever four-time All-American in Scott Gates of Englewood, Colo., as well as the best back-to-back national finishes (third and fourth) in school history.

To give his athletes and the Northern Colorado fans a firsthand look at the nation’s finest wrestlers, Maughan brought the 1992 NCAA Division II Championships to Greeley, and when the Bears placed fourth and produced a national champion, Maughan’s peers selected him the 1992 Division II National Coach of the Year.

Maughan was instrumental in the NCAA bringing its Division II Wrestling Championships back to Greeley in 1996, and the program responded by breaking the tournament paid attendance record. Maughan’s program hosted the NCAA Championships again in 2001, and the Division I West Regional qualifying tournament in 2009.

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Over five stellar competition years at Northwestern University, Lang compiled a 104-27 career record, going 39-9 in dual meets. A native of North Royalton, Ohio, Lang was a four-time Ohio state champion in high school.

In his first year he wrestled unattached, going 7-1 overall, including competing at the Michigan State Open. He won his first three career matches and posted an undefeated 4-0 record at the Cleveland State Open.

His freshman year was marked by a 28-10 overall record, including a 4-2 mark in the Big Ten. He only missed All-American status by one win this season. Being one of only three freshmen to crack the 20-wins barrier, he was a perfect 7-0 in nonconference dual meets. He also recorded eight major decision victories this year, with eight pins and two technical falls.

In his sophomore season, he posted a 22-7 overall record en route to earning his first career All-America honor. He finished fourth at the NCAA Championships this season and placed second at the Big Ten Championships. His sophomore campaign began with eleven straight wins. In November he was crowned Themat.com’s Wrestler of the Week and Big Ten Wrestler of the Week. He was ranked top-ten by all four major wrestling polls this season.

In his junior season he posted an unbelievable 29-1 record en route to earning his second-career All-America honor. He finished in second at the NCAA Championships, scoring two pins in five matches. He won the Big Ten Championship in the 141 lb class. At the Eastern Michigan Open he went 5-0, racking up two major decisions and not allowing a single point scored against him. He also won the 2006 Midlands Championships and the NWCA All-Star Classic.

In his senior year at Northwestern, Lang earned his fourth trip to the NCAA Championships, posting an 18-8 record. He moved up to the 149 lb class for his senior season, going 5-4 in Big Ten duals. He started the year with a 6-0 record and went 4-0 at the Missouri Open. At the National Duals meet he posted a 4-1 record. He also contributed major decision victories over Wisconsin and Illinois.

Ryan was an Arts and Sciences major while at Northwestern. He was born on June 6, 1984.

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On Oct. 17, before Penn State and Minnesota clash in Beaver Stadium, the Penn State wrestling team would like to open up a conditioning session for those returning former student-athletes as a chance to view the 2009 wrestling team and coaches. Following practice a tour of the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex will be given for all attendees.

With head coach Cael Sanderson making his debut appearance as a Nittany Lion and the transition of the coaching staff in full motion, there will be a meet and greet session for alumni to connect with the new faces of Penn State Wrestling. Food and beverages will be provided for the Penn State wrestling members and families during the meet and greet session.

The Schedule of Events goes as followed:
Open Conditioning Session at Lorenzo Wrestling Complex 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Tour of Lorenzo Wrestling Complex 10:40 a.m.- 11:15 a.m.
Meet and Greet with Coaching Staff 11:20 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
Penn State vs. Iowa Homecoming Football game 3:30 p.m.

The Varsity “S” club is excited to have this opportunity to strengthen the connection between past and present Penn State wrestlers through this exciting day surrounding the hype of the 2009 Homecoming football game.

All wrestling alumni returning to campus for the Homecoming Weekend to join the Penn State wrestling team for the morning events please contact Varsity “S” Club Coordinator, Mike Milliron at 814-867-2202 or e-mail him at mjm540@psu.edu. For those without football tickets, tickets to the football game will be distributed on a first come first serve basis for all who complete the ticket application. Limited tickets are available. The application can be found at the top of this page.

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