Wrestling news should return soon. Due to some changes in life, I haven’t been in front of my computer for a while. Hope to resume posting this week.
DAVIS, Calif. – Five outstanding high school student-athletes have signed national letters of intent with UC Davis and will join the Aggie wrestling team this fall, it was announced by head coach Lennie Zalesky.
Joining the UC Davis program are Kevin Cunningham from Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, Alex Darkhovsky from Santa Monica High School, Kyle Dubs from Vacaville High School, Erik Nye from Red Bluff High School and Bryan Osuna from Calvary Chapel High School in Santa Ana.
The five wrestlers will become part of an Aggie program which is a member of the Pacific-10 Conference and this past season finished a program-best fourth at the conference championships. UC Davis advanced four wrestlers to the NCAA Division I Championships in St. Louis, Mo.
“I believe this recruiting class will mature into great Division I wrestlers,” said Zalesky. “We are excited to have them come aboard and we are anxious to see what level these wrestlers can attain.”
Brief bios of each student-athlete are below.
John Fuller/TheMat.com
Michael Lightner didn’t shock the entire world, but he shocked most of it when he defeated Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas in the quarterfinals at 60 kg/132 lbs. at the U.S. Nationals.
Now, Lightner will get to sit out and watch as Abas will battle against a tough freestyle weight class in the Challenge Tournament at the World Team Trials.
Lightner has battled through serious knee injuries to forge his way to the top of the ladder. TheMat.com spoke with him about his recovery and what has gotten him to the top.
TheMat.com: How big was the win over Stephen Abas for your confidence, especially after losing the first period?
Lightner: It was real big. I have a lot of respect for Abas and what he’s done. I’ve been around him a little bit and he’s a good guy. Going into the tournament, if there was a person that I was getting motivated to beat, it was him, just because of the respect I have for him. As far as confidence, I knew when I beat him that I was ready and I was going to be tough to beat. It took me to another level during that tournament.
World Team Trials preview at 60 kg/132 lbs. in men’s freestyle wrestling
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
One of the most wide-open weight classes in American international wrestling is the 60 kg/132 lbs division. For many years, Eric Guerrero of the Gator WC ruled the roost here, making all of the U.S. teams between 2001-2004. Guerrero fell short of a medal at the 2004 Athens Games, and has not competed since. His departure opened up new opportunities to everybody in the division, and the athletes have responded.
The surprise winner at the U.S. Nationals was Michael Lightner of the Sunkist Kids, who was seeded No. 8 going into Las Vegas. Everybody knew that Lightner had talent, but injuries and inconsistency was a problem in past season. He put together the tournament of his life at the nationals, beating three straight higher seeds and earning the Outstanding Wrestler award. Lightner showed the ability to come from behind in the new “three period” format of wrestling, never giving up even if he lost one of the periods.
John Fuller/USA Wrestling
Minsk, Belarus – 2004 Olympian Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) and 2003 U.S. World Team member Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) won gold medals at the O.Karavaev Memorial International over the weekend.
Also winning medals for the U.S. were bronze medalists Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Glenn Garrison (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Russ Davie (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Vering won five matches on his way to the gold medal at 84 kg/185 lbs. He only surrendered three points throughout those five matches. All three of those points came as he lost the first period to Pavel Bashlakov of Belarus in the gold medal bout.
But Vering rallied back to win the next two periods, 1-0, 2-0.
Ruiz battled through a highly competitive bracket at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. for the gold medal.
In the first round, Ruiz defeated 2004 World University champion Denis Shakaya of Russia, 0-3, 3-0, 1-0. After a quarterfinal win over Yuriy Matushek of the Czech Republic, 3-0, 2-0, Ruiz defeated 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Viacheslav Makarenko of Belarus, 3-0, 3-0, in the semifinals.
Dan Jorgensen/Augsburg Public Relations
MINNEAPOLIS — A former All-American wrestler and his wife have contributed $2 million to “Access To Excellence: The Campaign for Augsburg College” in support of a major addition to the College’s athletic center, Si Melby Hall.
The gift, made by Fridley natives Dean Kennedy ‘75, and his wife Terry, was announced Monday by Augsburg President William V. Frame, who said the gift not only is “a magnificent gesture of support for the campaign, but also significant recognition for the work of coaches and others who shape the lives of those of our students and colleagues who are engaged in athletics.”
Kennedy, an independent businessman, was the first four-time All-Lutheran Tournament champion in the tournament’s history. And he was at the front end of what has been built into the most successful small-college wrestling program in the nation. In his senior year, as co-captain, Kennedy led Augsburg to a runner-up spot in the NAIA national finals with a third-place finish at 142 pounds. In the ensuing 30 years, Augsburg has consistently finished among the top 10 in the nation, winning a record nine NCAA Division III national titles and taking second seven more times.
Silicon Valley. (PTI): An Indian wrestler and a sub-inspector in the Punjab police makes his debut as an actor in a soon to be released Hollywood film ‘The Longest Yard.’
Dalip Singh plays a prison inmate in the film co-starring Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and Burt Reynolds to be released in North America on Friday.
Unique in his giant-sized 7′2″ stance, wrestler Dalip Singh commands attention amongst all people in every part of the world, says a promo of the film.
Born into a poor family in Dhirana village in Himachal Pradesh, this one-time roadside daily wager was brought into the sporting limelight by former Punjab Police Director General M S Bhullar.
The change in employment allowed Dalip to further his body building training and he subsequently won titles of Mr. India in 1997 and 1998.
His success and hard work led him to train as a wrestler in the US in 1999, where he developed the skills necessary to compete on a global stage.
One of the tallest men in wrestling history, Dalip, also known as Giant Singh–has won numerous wrestling titles in Japan, where he is currently a very popular figure.
In 35 years, Young made his mark on wrestling, golf — and so much more
Nick Jezierny
The Idaho Statesman
Mike Young vividly remembers 1970 — the year he started working at Boise State.
“I was 25 years old, and I remember driving into Boise and pulling off what is now Broadway Avenue and looking at the city,” he said. “I remember I had a mixture of excitement and fear. I was excited about the new job, but I also was scared, wondering ‘Am I going to do a good job here?’ “
Thirty-five years later, the answer to Young’s question is a resounding yes.
Young, 60, is retiring after serving as wrestling coach, golf coach, physical education teacher, friend to many in the athletic department and unofficial fund-raiser of millions of dollars. His last official function is next week’s Bronco-Vandal golf tournament in New Meadows.
Young, a former wrestling champion at Idaho Falls High and BYU, leaves as the longest tenured coach in BSU history.
“Boise State has been his life,” athletic director Gene Bleymaier said. “He dedicated his life to the student-athletes in our program. We’re a much better institution because of Mike Young.”
John Fuller/TheMat.com
For the past couple of years, Sam Hazewinkel of the Gator WC has been thought of as a national title contender – in college. However, in Las Vegas, he won a different national title – in Greco-Roman at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Hazewinkel rolled through some of the top Greco-Roman wrestlers in the world on his way to the national title, including veteran Lindsey Durlacher, who is hungry after sitting behind Olympian Brandon Paulson.
TheMat.com sat down with Hazewinkel and asked him about winning that national title, and how he made such a quick transition from college to Greco-Roman.
TheMat.com: Is it weird to win a national title in Greco-Roman before you win one in college?
Hazewinkel: A little bit. I always figured I would win an NCAA title, but on the other hand, it’s not really a surprise because I have always been good in Greco.
TheMat.com: Is there a difference in preparation from college to Greco-Roman, especially at the high level you compete at?
Hazewinkel: It’s a different style, so you have to train differently. I don’t do a whole lot differently. It’s nice that I can do my own scheduling. College is such a long and demanding season. With Greco, I can set my own pace.
John Fuller/USA Wrestling
Clermont-Ferrand, France – The U.S. squad placed fifth at the 2005 Women’s World Cup in France on Saturday afternoon, defeating Venezuela 19-7 in the fifth-place dual meet.
Japan captured its second consecutive title, defeating the United States team, the 2003 World Cup champions, 24-4, and a tough Russian squad, 23-2, in pool competition before dominating Ukraine in the finals, 22-4.
Uncharacteristic of past World Cup events, the six teams were divided into two pools. The U.S. team was placed in a pool with Russia and Japan, while host France faced off with Ukraine and Venezuela in its pool.
The U.S. team lost both of the dual meets in its pool. In the first round, Japan defeated the U.S. team 24-4. Two-time World champion Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) defeated Eri Sakamoto at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. for the only U.S. victory.
2003 World bronze medalist Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) also scored a team point in a close bout with 2004 World University champion Ayako Shoda at 59 kg/130 lbs.
Japan’s lineup included Olympic gold medalists Saori Yoshida at 55 kg/121 lbs., who defeated Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), and Kaori Icho at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., who defeated Kaci Lyle (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids).
