Wrestling superstars need more than Olympics to carry the sport

By Kyle Klingman

The 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials are over, leaving hundreds of wrestlers to shelve their dreams for another four years. And only 15 of 18 wrestlers became Paris Olympians after a last-chance Olympic qualifier in May.

“Not many finish on top,” said 2000 Canadian Olympian and Simon Fraser coach Justin Abdou. “I was down there with one of my wrestlers. Seeing all these grown men cry reminded me how real and tough our sport is.”

This column appeared in the May 8 issue of WIN Magazine. Click here or call 888-305-0606 to subscribe.

Although many casually mention their desire to make an Olympic team in interviews, the process is beyond comprehension. Imagine selecting an All-NBA team, an All-NFL team, or an All-MLB team once every four years, but the number shrinks by 40 percent.

The United States gets a maximum of six spots in three disciplines (men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman) once every four years in the only event that matters to the general public.

“The Olympic Games is a two-week time frame where you have swimming, track & field, and wrestling, and all these sports are there and you watch it every night. And it’s once every four years,” Iowa coach and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Tom Brands said. “You can say what you want but the Worlds are just as important. It’s probably tougher to win a World title and it’s just as exciting.

“It’s more about the public perception. There’s only one reason I watch Michael Phelps. I’ve never seen Michael Phelps swim in a World Championship. I don’t even know his credentials. I could guess he’s probably a World champion in something. I know he won 23 Olympic gold medals because it was on primetime television and that’s how wrestling is.”

That’s the allure. A fringe sport with a loyal fan base gets momentarily lifted into a worldwide spotlight. … more at … WIN-magazine.com/Superstars-need-more-than-olympics-to-carry-the-sport

2023 USA Wrestling Men’s Freestyle Awards: Vito Arujau (Wrestler), Jake Varner (Coach)

USA Wrestling announced its 2023 Athlete and Coach of the Year award winners during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling at Penn State, April 19-20. We have posted the winners of these awards this week, one day for each Olympic discipline. Greco-Roman awards were announced Wednesday, women’s freestyle on Thursday and men’s freestyle today.

Vito Arujau named 2022 John Smith Award winner, as USA Wrestling’s Men’s Freestyle Wrestler of the Year

Vito Arujau (Syosset, N.Y., Titan Mercury WC/Spartan Combat WC) has been named the winner of the 2023 John Smith Award as the Freestyle Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the first time that he has won this prestigious award.

The award is named in honor of two-time Olympic champion and four-time World champion John Smith.

Competing in his first Senior World Championships, Arujau won the World gold medal at 61 kg in Belgrade, Serbia in September. He opened with technical falls over Ossimzhan Dastanbek of Kazakhstan and Stilyan Iliev of Bulgaria. In the quarterfinals, he stopped Kodei Ogawa of Japan, 8-2. His semifinal victory was another technical fall over Tairybek Zhumashbek Uulu of Kyrgyzstan. In the gold medal finals, Arujau defeated 2021 World champion Abasgadzhi Magomedov, an Individual Neutral Athlete from Russia, 10-9.

He also won a bronze medal at the Imre Polyak & Janos Varga Memorial in Budapest, Hungary in July. He lost his

opening match to 2022 World champion Zelimkhan Abakarov of Albania, then wrestled back to win a bronze medal.

Arujau qualified for the Senior World Team with his victory in 2023 Final X in Newark, N.J. in June, defeating Nahshon Garrett in two straight matches, 6-5 in bout one and 13-10 in bout two. … more at … Themat.com/USA-wrestling-men-s-freestyle-awards-vito-arujau-wrestler-jake-varner-coach

Coleman Joins Cyclone RTC as Resident Athlete

AMES, Iowa – The Cyclone Regional Training Center and its Director Kevin Dresser have announced the addition of former Iowa State wrestler Marcus Coleman as a resident athlete. Coleman, an Ames, Iowa native and a two-time NCAA All-American, returns to his hometown after spending the last year as an assistant coach at Davidson.
“We are elated to have Marcus come back to Ames and join the Cyclone RTC as a resident athlete,” Dresser said. “Marcus called me and said he isn’t done wrestling yet and wants to pour his efforts into freestyle. I know he is a world class athlete and his new role in our program is a win-win for everyone involved.”
Coleman, a five-time NCAA Qualifier, compiled a 99-42 career record while at Iowa State. He placed seventh at the 2022 national tournament before ending his collegiate career with a fifth-place finish in 2023. In freestyle, Coleman placed eighth in the 86kg bracket at 2023 US Senior Nationals and was runner-up at the 2022 USMC US Open. “I’m excited to be back in Ames training at the Cyclone Regional Training Center,” … more at … Cyclonertc.org/Coleman-joins-cyclone-rtc-as-resident-athlete

In A Rising Tide Of College Closures, Impact On Division III Athletics Becomes Clear

A string of small, private institutions who weathered the Covid-19 pandemic are facing the stark reality that they are no longer solvent. In the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic and the Upper Midwest, high school graduation numbers are falling off the cliff. Since 2020, thirteen NCAA Division III colleges have or are about to, close.
Why is this happening? Likely due to the 2008 Great Recession, fewer families felt economically secure enough to have children. Now, 16 years later, those decisions have become reality.

Recent headlines tell the story:
Private regional colleges will face stiff competition from public institutions, Moody’s predicts
‘Roll Cavs, forever’: Cabrini hosts a final home basketball game and prepares for closure
Wells College Announces Closure
Colleges are now closing at a pace of one a week. What happens to the students?
Experts predicted dozens of colleges would close in 2023-and they were right … more at … Forbes.com/Rising-tide-of-college-closures-impact-on-division-iii-athletics-becomes-clear

Troy Bell Named First Head Coach for West Liberty Women’s Wrestling Program

West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University athletics department and the women’s wrestling program will check off another milestone in their program’s short history since its addition in September. Interim athletic director, Brad Forshey, and director of wrestling, Danny Irwin, made the announcement introducing Troy Bell as the program’s first head coach on Tuesday morning inside the Boyle Conference Center Room.
“West Liberty University wrestling is rich in history and tradition,” stated Forshey. “As we embark on the next chapter with the addition of women’s wrestling, we needed a leader that would embrace the passion and standard needed to lead this program. One person checked every box and we’re excited to announce Troy Bell as the first head coach in WLU women’s wrestling history. Coach Bell brings a wealth of experience in the sport as well as a broad palate of intangibles that will guide the program into the next phases. Welcome to the Hilltopper family Coach Bell.”
Bell most recently served as the assistant women’s wrestling coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Mount Olive from 2022-24. During his two years with the Trojans the team combined for a 16-7 dual record with ten national qualifiers, three All-Americans and ten Scholar All-Americans. This past March the UMO program notched a ninth place team finish at the NCWWC National Championships.
“I am excited to work with Coach Bell to continue making West Liberty a destination for all wrestlers across the country!” exclaimed Irwin. “He has such a strong desire to serve student-athletes along with a work ethic that will help raise the bar on the Hilltop. You pair that with the leadership experience he has in the most extreme conditions, and we couldn’t have brought in a better person to our family!” Bell served 26 years in the United States Marine Corps, … more at … NWCAonline.com/NWCA-Troy-bell-named-head-coach-for-west-liberty-womens-wrestling

Campbell’s Tales from the Creek | Jerry Hartman

Hall of Fame wrestler and coach reflects
Jerry Hartman arrived in Buies Creek in 1979 as a sophomore transfer in the Campbell University wrestling program. 
Little did he know that two years later, he would be leading that same team as head coach – while still an undergraduate.  
Campbell started its wrestling team in the 1960s and was guided by Gerald Brown, Ike Sherlock, and PJ Smith to national recognition during the NAIA era.  
As the team transitioned to NCAA Division I, a native of Illinois, by way of UCF, would lay the foundation of a program that now ranks among the nation’s best.  
In the next installment of Tales from the Creek, Stan Cole talks with Jerry Hartman about his path from student-athlete to head coach in just three years and his journey that led to a more than four-decade long association with the wrestling program and induction into the Campbell Athletics Hall of Fame. … more at … GOcamels.com/Tales-from-the-creek-jerry-hartman

Panthers announce that Women’s Wrestling will be an intercollegiate sport starting next school year

Women’s Wrestling will become the 19th intercollegiate sport at Sacramento City College during the 2024-2025 school year. In year two of its “Emerging Sport Status” in the 3C2A, Women’s Wrestling has grown to 13 intercollegiate programs throughout the state, with six residing in Northern California. Sac City will join San Joaquin Delta College, Fresno City College, Lassen College, Skyline College, and College of the Redwoods as the intercollegiate programs that make up the BIG 8 Conference. Santa Rosa Junior College will continue to compete in the BIG 8 as a club program.

After the announcement, Sacramento City College Athletic Director, Steve Hanson had this to say: “We are happy to announce that Women’s Wrestling will become the 19th intercollegiate sport for Sacramento City College. Women’s wrestling is a growing sport and we look forward to providing an excellent environment for women’s wrestlers to achieve both academically and athletically. Our track record of academic and athletic over-achievement is well known and we look forward to providing these same opportunities to a new group of student-athletes. In addition, we are pleased to announce that our renowned Head Men’s Wrestling Coach, Marques Gales, will continue to serve as our Head Women’s Wrestling Coach.”

Sacramento City College President, Albert Garcia said, “Women’s wrestling is a growing collegiate sport, and it’s wonderful that SCC is leading the way in offering a team that will provide women both opportunity and empowerment.”

Marques Gales is equally as excited about Women’s Wrestling being added as an Intercollegiate sport next year. … more at … SCCpanthers.prestosports.com/general/2023-24/releases/

David Taylor, Penn State’s Legendary Wrestling Champ, Becomes Head Coach at Oklahoma State

Taylor, Penn State’s first Olympic gold medalist and a three-time world champ, replaces John Smith as the Cowboys’ head coach.
David Taylor, the two-time NCAA champion who helped launch Penn State’s stratospheric rise in college wrestling, is the new head wrestling coach at Oklahoma State. The Cowboys announced the hire Monday night, making a seismic move in college wrestling akin to what Penn State did in 2010 by hiring Cael Sanderson.
Taylor, a three-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist, becomes a first-time head coach for of the nation’s most historic college wrestling programs. Taylor replaces John Smith, who announced his retirement in April after 33 seasons, five NCAA team titles and 23 conference titles. Taylor operates the M2 Training Center in State College but has not coached or recruited at the college level, making this one of wrestling’s most fascinating hires since the Nittany Lions plucked Sanderson from Iowa. … more at … SI.com/Penn-state-wrestling-oklahoma-state-hires-nittany-lions-wrestling-legend-david-taylor
And …

Olympic champion David Taylor hired as Oklahoma State’s next wrestling coach, replacing John Smith
By Jim Carlson | Special to PennLive
It would be difficult to think the conversation that Cael Sanderson generated when he announced in 2009 that he would be leaving his Iowa State job to become the head coach at Penn State wasn’t among the most — if not the most — jaw-dropping, head-turning news ever in college wrestling.
Until now, when reigning Olympic champion David Taylor, Sanderson’s former Penn State athlete and current Nittany Lion Wrestling Club mentor, decided to leave the NLWC and his business ventures in State College and become the head wrestling coach at Oklahoma State.
Taylor reportedly accepted the job on Monday night, … more at … Pennlive.com/Oympic-champion-david-taylor-hired-as-oklahoma-states-next-wrestling-coach
And …

More reports at …
Pokesreport.com/Oklahoma-state-hires-olympic-champion-david-taylor-as-next-wrestling-head-coach
And …
Baschamania.com/David-taylor-is-the-new-head-coach-at-oklahoma-state
And …
Flowrestling.org/David-taylor-hired-as-next-oklahoma-state-head-wrestling-coach
And …
Pistolsfiringblog.com/Olympic-gold-medalist-david-taylor-named-head-coach-of-cowboy-wrestling
And …
Intermatwrestle.com/OSU-hires-david-taylor-as-head-coach

Shorter University Adds New Athletic Team

Shorter University is excited to announce the addition of a new athletics program, Men’s Wrestling. We are thrilled to see the athletics program continue to grow as this will be the twenty-third sport offered here at Shorter University.
The Athletics Department has been hard at work preparing for the new athletics team and is excited to welcome a brand-new coach to help initiate the program.
Andrew Colborn will be the Head Wrestling Coach for the new team. Colborn brings years of experience to the program. Colborn graduated from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Sports Management.
Colborn has been an NCAA Division II coach for the last five years and served as both Head Wrestling Coach and Assistant Wrestling Coach. Colborn is a member of the National Wrestling Coaches Association and attended the National Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Leadership Academy. … more at … Shorter.edu/shorter-university-adds-new-athletic-team

The late Don Elia ’69 got his start at Maryville College and went on to the wrestling record books

Don Elia ’69, a standout in three Maryville College Athletics sports during his undergraduate career and the school’s wrestling coach for seven seasons who was inducted into the MC Wall of Fame in 2000, passed away on March 27 in Savannah, Georgia. He was 83.

A native of New Jersey, he was the son of a single mother, the late Dorothy Beatty, and graduated from Hackettstown High School in 1958. He enrolled in Maryville College the same year, competing for three seasons in football, wrestling and track, lettering for three years in all three sports. On the football field, he competed in Maryville College’s first (and only) bowl win, playing in the 1960 Rocket Bowl and helping the Scots defeat Millsaps College 19-0.

On the track team, he competed in the shot put, javelin and discus matches, but it was the wrestling mat on which he excelled. With a three-year record of 58 wins and six losses, he led the team every year in pins and wins, notching a 28-match consecutive winning streak and eventually leaving MC early to return to coach at his high school alma mater. He returned to Maryville College in 1967, however, completing his degree in Elementary Education in 1969, as well as a master’s in college student personnel and counseling from the University of Tennessee in 1973.

Beginning his collegiate coaching career as an assistant on both the football and wrestling teams, he was named head wrestling coach in 1970, and over the course of seven seasons led his teams to a 93-35-1 record with six All-Americans. After MC, he was named head wrestling coach at Carson-Newman College (now Carson-Newman University), where over the course of 30 years, he established the school’s wrestling program and served as director of financial aid.

After retiring from Carson-Newman in 1978, he created a nonprofit to support wrestling in East Tennessee and spent another six seasons leading the wrestling team at East Tennessee State University, eventually retiring in 2016. … more at … Maryvillecollege.edu/Maryville-college-mourns-passing-of-coaching-legend-don-elia-69