By David Gillaspie

This is an open letter to Dave Frohnmayer, president of University of Oregon, and Pat Kilkenny, athletic director of University of Oregon, about the recent decision to cut wrestling from the university’s roster of interscholastic sports.

Like both of you, I come from a unique place in America, small-town Oregon. Because of our shared roots, we can agree a state is more than its major cities. We also know that small towns – the sort of places we came from – make Oregon special.

In many small towns, wrestling season is the only season on the calendar. As wrestling goes, so goes the town. Burns wouldn’t be complete without a wrestling parade. Through wrestling, kids from small-town schools gain a certain inner quality they carry the rest of their lives.

With the home gym packed for a duel, friends of wrestlers see firsthand one of their own mix it up on the mat. No helmets or gloves or cleats. They see a guy in shoes and a singlet go head-to-head with someone just like them.

By Craig Sesker
USA Wrestling

Mike Zadick didn’t need to look into the bleachers to see what kind of support he had for Thursday’s Special Wrestle-Off with Nate Gallick.

All he had to do was listen.

Backed by a boisterous cheering section that included around 15 of the Iowa wrestlers he helps coach, a couple of former teammates and numerous family members, Zadick was not about to send them home disappointed.

Zadick delivered a pair of huge three-point moves at the end of the first and second matches to sweep Gallick at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. That put Zadick, a 2006 World silver medalist, onto his second straight U.S. World Freestyle Team at 60 kg/132 lbs.

Zadick won the first match over Gallick 0-1, 1-0, 4-2 before prevailing in the second match 1-0, 0-1, 3-0.

“I’m not as excited to be on the World Team as I was last year because I expect it now,” Zadick said. “I expected to win today and I’m just glad this whole process of making the Team is over. Now everything is finalized and I can focus on the big goals of winning a World championship this year and winning the Olympics next year.”

What Would Happen if Two of the Greatest Olympic Teams Ever Went Head-to-Head? Read Below to Find Out

By Kyle Klingman – TWM Columnist
Please send comments, questions or replies to: info@thewrestlingmall.com

When conversations arise about great United States freestyle Olympic wrestling teams the athletes who competed at the 1972 Munich Games are usually at the top of the list. Not only was it one of the best teams but it was a unique team, a rare combination of differing personalities that ranged from devout Christians (John & Ben Peterson and Gene Davis), a training fanatic who revolutionized the sport (Dan Gable), a radical hippie (Rick Sanders), the heaviest Olympic athlete ever, (Chris Taylor), a 17-year old high school student (Jimmy Carr), and a wrestler who was studying for the bar exam while training for Olympics (Wayne Wells).

But was this the greatest Olympic wrestling team ever? Certainly the medal count from the 1972 freestyle squad lends credibility to those who make the claim that this often-talked about team stands alone at the top. In an era of Soviet wrestling domination (their teams won seven out of eight world team titles from 1962 through 1971) the United States put up an impressive medal count that year. In all, the U.S. freestyle team won six medals, including three golds, two silvers, and a bronze.

Mark Palmer

Rev Rewind is a new feature that provides profiles of legendary wrestlers and other stories of historical interest for the “oldest and greatest sport.”

It seemed like a classic mismatch — one of those wrestling match-ups where the outcome was assured long before the contestants took to the mat.

In one corner, the defending champ, from Russia, known as “the Lion” — undefeated in a long string of bouts with internationally-respected competition. An incredible physical specimen with a 20-inch neck, and 52-inch chest tapering down to a 36-inch waist, the muscular Russian caused more than one opponent to literally submit to end the match early rather than get caught up in the crushing power of his bearhug and risk injury being lifted high overhead and thrown violently to the mat for the fall.

Facing this fearsome champion, a farm boy from the heartland of America — the best big man this country had to offer. Although lacking the showy muscles of his foreign rival, the US wrestler was deceptively strong from years of hoisting hay bales and hogs.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — William A. “Bill” Tomaras, known as the “Father of Wrestling” in the state of Washington and director of men’s athletics at Western Washington University for nine years, died last Sunday at the age of 85.

Tomaras was inducted into the Helms Foundation Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1973, the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1984 and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003. His name is on the award given out by the WSWCA for the promotion of wrestling in the state of Washington.
Tomaras organized the state’s first state prep wrestling tournament in 1953 and served as the tournament director until 1959. He was saluted at the 50th state high school Mat Classic in February of 2003 at the Tacoma Dome.

Tomaras came to Western in 1961 as an assistant professor in the men’s physical education department and wrestling coach. He was named chair of the department and men’s athletic director in 1962, becoming an associate professor in 1963 and a full professor in 1969.

During his tenure at Western, Tomaras began the wrestling program in 1961, coaching for four years, and under his direction the rowing program got its start in 1969. He instituted the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1968, and joined that elite group in 1978.

Pueblo, CO
Colorado State University-Pueblo

Joe Folda, Colorado State University-Pueblo director of athletics, announced today the hiring of Dax Charles as the ThunderWolves’ new wrestling coach. Beginning in the Fall of 2008, CSU-Pueblo will reinstate its wrestling program, which was dropped in 2001.

“We are delighted to bring Dax Charles back to the University to start and build our wrestling program,” said Folda. “Dax has a tremendous passion for the University and in particular the wrestling program. He will tie our former wrestlers back into the University and has proven that when he sets goals, he achieves them. I am certain that Dax will build a program of which all can be proud. His wrestlers will be successful on and off the wrestling mat and will be a great representatives of the University and the community of Pueblo.”

As a 150-pound wrestler for the ThunderWolves, Charles won the 1992 NCAA Division II National Championship. He went on to be a three-time All-American and a 1994 academic All-American.

In early July the SUNY-Maritime wrestling program was one of three sports suspended at the NCAA Division III school in Throggs Neck, New York. While the news was a shock to the coach, wrestlers and recruits, there is still hope that the program can be reinstated for the 2008 season. A meeting in September will help gauge interest and play a big role in the future of the program

By Matt Krumrie – TWM Senior Editor

The Internet has changed the way wrestling fans get their news and information. We now have live results, live Web casts, instant news and information and message boards that keep us up close and personal with a sport that has passionate and devoted fans.

It also apparently is now how some coaches and wrestlers find out their program has been dropped.

That was the case for Jason O’Hara, head coach of the SUNY-Maritime wrestling program. Head coach that is, until he was informed by a recruit in early July that the wrestling section of the Maritime Web site was removed. He immediately called the Athletics Director and assistant A.D. for clarification but was not able to get in touch with either of them. Shortly after that he read a press release on Intermat that stated that the program he was building as a second-year head coach was suspended.

John P. Katsantonis

ARLINGTON, TEXAS — In the wake of Jake Rosholt and Eric Bradley’s stunning SRO victories at ‘Masters of the Cage XV’ last month, Team Takedown (TTD) is preparing its latest fighting machines, OSU-NCAA wrestling champ Johny Hendricks and his OSU-NCAA/Big 12 teammate Shane Roller, to headline a ten-fight card for ‘Masters of the Cage XVI’ on September 28, 2007 at the Coca-Cola Bricktown Event Center in Oklahoma City.

“Ultimate Night Of Champions: Masters of the Cage XVI” will feature:

– Johny Hendricks v. Victor Rackliff (Welterweight)
– Jake Rosholt v. Mike Messina (Light Heavyweight Title)
– Eric Bradley v. James Head (Middleweight Title) and
– Shane Roller v. Jake Pruitt (Lightweight)

Beginning September 28, 2007 at 8pm (Doors Open 6:30pm), tickets range from$35.00 to $175.00, and are available at http://www.fightpass.com and 888-377-2229.

College Wrestling Greats Hendricks and Roller Set for Pro MMA Fight Debuts

Since “MOTC XV” sold out well before the fights, it is strongly recommended that those wanting tickets should order them now, as the event will sell out quickly.

Hendricks and Roller’s professional MMA debut will be officiated by MMA’s best-known referee, “Big John” McCarthy, and veteran MMA ring announcer A.L. Haizlip will call the shots.

Anderson , Townsend named coaches for historic first U.S. Grappling World Team

COLORADO SPRINGS , COLO. ��” USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling, has named Bob Anderson of Redondo Beach , Calif. and Jason Townsend of Las Vegas , Nev. as coaches for the U.S. Grappling World Team, which will compete in Antalya , Turkey on Sept. 9.

FILA, the international wrestling federation, has named Grappling (also known as submission wrestling) as an international wrestling style. This will be the first Grappling World Championships hosted by FILA, as part of the World Wrestling Games which also features Sombo, Beach Wrestling and Pankration.

“We are confident that the coaching staff assembled for this historic competition will provide athletes with a wonderful opportunity to reach the podium at the World Championships,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender . “USA Wrestling is firmly committed to this program and all disciplines of international wrestling.”

Anderson and Townsend both have considerable experience in coaching Grappling and wrestling, and have been instrumental in the development of USA Wrestling’s new Grappling initiative.

by Jake Rossen (jrossen@sherdog.com)

The pugilistic pride of Oklahoma State University, UFC heavyweight
champion Randy Couture (Pictures) originally began his college studies
at Washington State in 1981.

Had he stuck to his intention of completing his education there, the
mixed martial arts Hall of Fame might be short one member.

“They dropped the wrestling program at Washington State,” remembered
Couture. “Fortunately, I had already left and gone into the service
and stopped my matriculation clock. It would’ve made a difference in
my wrestling career.

“They cut it for two reasons. One, the coach was a knucklehead. Two,
Title IX was their excuse and a way to get rid of wrestling.”

Title IX — a law created in 1972 to promote gender equality among
high school and college pursuits, including athletics — has in its
35-year history become a point of contention for critics who say that
the policy has the ironic effect of discriminating against men and for
advocates who believe that opportunity should be equal to enrollment.