University of Pennsylvania Sports Information

PHILADELPHIA — The University of Pennsylvania has announced the hiring of Rob Eiter as its head wrestling coach on Tuesday. Eiter, who has served as an assistant on Penn’s staff for the past two seasons, will be the 18th head coach in the 103 seasons of Penn wrestling.

“Rob’s extensive experience in coaching as well as his accomplishments as an athlete have prepared him well for a head coaching role,” Penn’s Director of Athletics Steve Bilsky said. “We are excited he will take this next professional step at Penn, and his two years as an assistant in our program will serve him well.”

“I cannot express how happy my family and I are for this opportunity,” Eiter said. “Penn wrestling has a long tradition, with more than 100 years of competition, and I look forward to continuing that tradition. I want to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Bilsky for allowing me the honor and privilege of coaching the young men that make up the Penn wrestling family. At the same time, I want to thank those young men for never losing sight of their goals during this search process and maintaining their positive attitude and work ethic in the room.”
Over the past two seasons, Eiter has coached six EIWA champions as well as an NCAA champion and All-America in 2007 graduate Matt Valenti. Penn has won 24 dual meets in his two seasons involved with the program and sent 16 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships.  Read more... (506 words, estimated 2:01 mins reading time)

Kristie Stubbs has been named the 2008 Dellinger Award winner as amateur wrestling writer of the year by Amateur Wrestling News.

The award, given by the magazine since 1960, is named for Bob Dellinger, a sports writer and editor for newspapers in Oklahoma covering high school and college wrestling.

Stubbs is the fourth woman to win the Dellinger Award. Nancy and Russ Hellickson won the award in 1974, Doris Dellinger (wife of Bob) in 1977, and Lisa Little in 1996.

Stubbs has been writing profiles for Amateur Wrestling News since 2002. Her first profile subject for the magazine was Terry Davis, author of the popular wrestling novel turned movie, Vision Quest. Over the years, the native of New Ulm, Minnesota has written about numerous individuals in the sport, from up-and-coming high school wrestlers and current top-level collegiate competitors, to all-time greats such as Les Anderson, a two-time NCAA champion for Iowa State (1958 and 1960) who was long-time assistant coach for his college alma mater. In addition, she usually writes the annual Freshman of the Year profile for Amateur Wrestling News.  Read more... (281 words, estimated 1:07 mins reading time)

By Preston Williams

For the 2008 presidential hopefuls, the road to the White House included an extended stay in the field house. No matter which ticket prevails Tuesday, a pair of former high school athletes will run the country come January.

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was a reserve on the Punahou Academy basketball team that won the 1979 state title in Hawaii. He would be the first serious basketball player to occupy the Oval Office.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) competed in several sports at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, most notably wrestling.

Obama’s running mate, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), was the leading scorer on an undefeated football team his senior year at Archmere Academy in Claymont, Del.

McCain’s vice presidential pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was the starting point guard on the Wasilla High basketball team that won the 1982 state title in Alaska.

All right, so it’s not as if Obama or McCain would install goalposts on the South Lawn or make tardy Cabinet members run suicide drills.  Read more... (955 words, estimated 3:49 mins reading time)

By K.J. Pilcher
The Gazette

The emotional and physical demands of wrestling can be trying on competitors and their closest supporters.

Occasionally, the sport’s daily grind can strain a bond between the two, especially if that relationship isn’t bolstered by shared DNA or mat experience. University of Iowa national runner-up Joey Slaton and his stepfather, Matt Shaver, have grappled with that very dilemma.

For almost 17 years, they’ve encountered wrestling’s vast range of experiences, surviving bouts of frustration and conflict and enjoying the many good times.

“We get into our fights, you know,” Slaton said during a summer interview. “Just like every other parent. It’s not anything really that serious.”

Slaton’s mother, Robin Shaver, and Matt introduced Slaton to wrestling when he was 4 for practices at the YMCA,

“We got him started, because at the time Joe had a lot of energy,” Matt Shaver said. “He was always on the go, always moving.”

Joey and Matt spent a lot of time together at youth tournaments, wrestling and bonding.

“They’d have a lot of stories they’d come home with and they just seem to click on that subject,” Robin said. “You could never tell, that even though his last name and our last name are different, they still wouldn’t put together that Matt wasn’t his dad.  Read more... (894 words, estimated 3:35 mins reading time)

Head Wrestling Coach- Penn State DuBois

Penn State DuBois seeks an energetic and experienced Wrestling Coach to direct the reintroduction of wrestling on the PSU DuBois Campus. The Head Coach will direct and coordinate the planning, organizing, and coaching of the wrestling program. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: recruitment of student-athletes in accordance with college policy, supervise coaching staff, game coaching, conduct practices, organize team travel, monitor student-athletes academic and social progress, equipment maintenance and purchases, budget management, fundraising, camp and clinic development and implementation, and administrative duties required to develop a competitive wrestling program. Candidates must have coaching and wrestling experience with preference given to those who have demonstrated those abilities at the College Level. Candidate must also show a strong foundation of recruiting and fundraising. All interested applicants need to send a cover letter, resume, and a list of at least three references to PSU DuBois Athletics, Multipurpose Building, Penn State DuBois, DuBois, PA 15801 or email items to sdf14@psu.edu. Search will begin immediately and will continue to be open until position is filled.

By PAT KINNEY, Courier News Editor
WATERLOO — A $400,000 repair and renovation of the flood-damaged Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum began today.

Museum officials have received word the Federal Emergency Management Agency has obligated the bulk of funding necessary for the renovation work to begin.

It’s hoped the museum, which has been closed since the June 10 downtown flood, will reopen in time for the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals wrestling tournament at the UNI-Dome Jan. 9-11, said Mike Chapman, the museum’s founder and executive director.

Chapman, accompanied by Gable, the Waterloo-born wrestling legend for whom the museum is named, made the announcement as U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin and Charles Grassley, U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley and other officials surveyed museum damage as part of a tour today of flood damage in eastern Iowa.

“FEMA has obligated enough money that we feel confident in proceeding,” Chapman said. “We’ll be back in business, we hope, by the National Duals. We’re convinced if we get construction started this week we can make it.

“We’ve had tremendous support from both senators, from Congressman Braley,” Chapman said. He said state Rep. Tami Wiencek lent her support on a state level and that Waterloo Mayor Tim Hurley wrote a letter of support to FEMA.  Read more... (437 words, estimated 1:45 mins reading time)

Mat stars Donahoe, Scott enroll at ‘Boro

BY JOHN DUDLEY
john.dudley@timesnews.com

EDINBORO — Paul Donahoe attended his first class at Edinboro University on Monday.

The date for his first official wrestling match in a Fighting Scots singlet remains up in the air.

The former NCAA champion enrolled at Edinboro on Friday, nearly two weeks after his dismissal from the University of Nebraska’s wrestling team.

Donahoe has one year of eligibility remaining and is expected to compete during the spring semester after sitting out this fall to fulfill NCAA transfer requirements.

“I have two goals,” Donahoe said Monday during an interview at McComb Fieldhouse. “I want to become the first two-time NCAA champ from two different schools. And I want to help the team get a trophy.”

Trophies go to the top four NCAA team place-winners. Edinboro’s best finish was a sixth in 1997. But the addition of Donahoe, a two-time All-American from Flint, Mich., along with eight returning national qualifiers makes the Scots an instant favorite to challenge for a third top-10 finish in four seasons.  Read more... (752 words, estimated 3:00 mins reading time)

Mike Moyer/NWCA

The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has collaborated with Fresh Health Innovations LLC and The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to produce a 23-minute web-based seminar, Preventing Skin Infections, for athletes, coaches and parents. The seminar includes an additional seven-minute “stand alone” component addressing the unique skin infection challenges in wrestling.

The focus of the seminar is on the identification, prevention, and treatment of skin infections in sports. The seminar is free to everyone in the sports community and can be viewed at www.nwcaskinprevention.com. Preventing Skin Infections is also available on DVD for classroom viewing for a modest cost to cover duplication and shipping/handling.

The seven-minute wrestling “stand-alone” component features wrestling legend Dan Gable and NCAA Champion and current Ohio State assistant coach Joe Heskett.

One of the primary architects of the webinar, Dr. Dave Joyner, is a former All American wrestler and football player at Penn State University and has a long history of service to the US Olympic Committee. Dave Joyner said, “I am extremely gratified that this project is now being launched. Countless athletes in all sports will benefit from what they learn in this video.”  Read more... (427 words, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

Augsburg College has been one of the most successful wrestling programs on the Division III level. Now the school will be at the center of wrestling promotion as KAUG, the student-run campus radio station, will be the host studio for Wrestling 411′s twice weekly radio program beginning November 11.

Wrestling 411, the brand operating under the wrestling marketing and promotions company Media Sports Production, is launching its first full season of its made for television wrestling highlights show. The made for television show, Wrestling 411, will be complimented by a timely twice weekly show airing on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the season.

“We’re excited about having KAUG as our studio host,” said Jason Bryant, Production Manager and Writer for the Wrestling 411 television show. “KAUG offers the flexibility we desire and the ability to stream and archive our shows for a nationwide audience. We also felt Augsburg was a natural fit because the school’s strong presence within the sport of wrestling. It just makes perfect sense.”

Tom Brands, the head coach of the defending Division I NCAA team champion Iowa Hawkeyes, will be the show’s first guest on Nov. 11.  Read more... (509 words, 1 image, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)

Terry Brands to leave USA Wrestling to accept assistant wrestling coach position with the Univ. of Iowa
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling

USA Wrestling’s Assistant National Freestyle Coach and Head Resident Coach Terry Brands has notified USA Wrestling that he accepted a position as assistant wrestling coach with the University of Iowa today.

Brands will remain with USA Wrestling through October 31 before officially assuming his new job. Brands will coach a group of U.S. freestyle wrestlers on a tour to Yakutsk, Russia next week.

“USA Wrestling is grateful to Terry and Michelle Brands for their contributions and service to USA Wrestling,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. “I wish them the best of luck in all of their future endeavors.”

Brands, a two-time World champion freestyle wrestler and 2000 Olympic bronze medalist, joined the USA Wrestling national staff in April 2005. He has coached the resident freestyle athletes at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, including 2006 World Champion Bill Zadick and 2008 Olympic Champion Henry Cejudo. Brands has served on the coaching staff for the U.S. teams that have competed at the last three World Championships as well as the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.  Read more... (573 words, estimated 2:18 mins reading time)