Penn State-Altoona is bringing men’s wrestling back and adding women’s wrestling for the 2024-2025 season. The school last sponsored the sport at the NJCAA level in the 1970s and 1980s before discontinuing it until today. The men will join Alfred State, Hiram, Penn State-Behrend, and Pitt-Bradford in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. Penn State-Altoona plans to advertise for a coach this fall and have the coach in place by January 1st, 2024 in preparation for the following season.
“Penn State Altoona is excited to add men’s and women’s wrestling to our lineup of teams for the 2024-25 academic year. Sitting in the heart of central Pennsylvania, it is a natural fit to have wrestling as part of our NCAA Division III program. There is no better group of passionate wrestling fans than here in this region.” – Penn State-Altoona Director of Athletics Brent Baird
Josh Malave has resigned as head coach at Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland, Ohio, school announced today. Malave coached the Spartans for two seasons and will be pursuing opportunities outside of college coaching. He previously coached his alma mater Mount Union for five seasons, winning the OAC championship in 2020.
Case Western Reserve University’s Josh Malave has announced he will be stepping aside as the Head Wrestling Coach to pursue other opportunities outside of collegiate athletics.
“I would like to thank Amy Backus and TJ Shelton for my time at CWRU,” said Malave. “It is truly a special place. Additionally, I would like to thank all my students, student-athletes, their families, and our athletic department for a wonderful three years. Go Spartans!”
Tyler Shilson has been named the Division III Men’s At-Large Academic All-America of the Year by College Sports Communicators. The Augsburg wrestler was a second team selection last year and finished this season as the NCAA runner-up for the championship winning Auggies.
Joining Shilson on the first team this year are teammate Charlie Stuhl and Castleton’s Michael Angers. The second team includes Hunter Gutierrez of Stevens, Gage Linahon of Central, Patrick McGraw of John Carroll, and Zeke Smith of Loras. Smith was also on the first team in 2021 and third team in 2022. Third team honorees include Jake Peavey of Southern Maine, Preston Rogers of Lycoming, and Drew Vlasnik of Chicago.
All of the honorees were selected from the list of All-District honorees announced by CSC on May 23.
Misericordia University will add men’s and women’s wrestling for the 2024-2025 season. The school of approximately 1,400 students in Dallas, Pennsylvania, is a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference and will field the 7th men’s and 4th women’s team in the conference. The Cougar men will join Alvernia, Delaware Valley, King’s, Messiah, Stevens, and York. Lycoming and Wilkes have left the MAC to join the Landmark Conference. Alvernia, Delaware Valley, and York also sponsor women’s wrestling.
Misericordia University will add two more sports to its vast array of varsity sports offerings, Daniel J. Myers, Ph.D, university president, has announced.
In addition to the recent addition of men’s ice hockey and STUNT, Misericordia will field varsity teams in men’s and women’s wrestling.
“Misericordia University is committed to expanding opportunities for students to be challenged academically, socially and athletically,” said Myers. “The addition of men’s and women’s wrestling allows more students the opportunity to engage in our university’s culture, one focused on student success, mutual support, and service to others.”
Misericordia expects to begin intercollegiate competition with the 2024-25 season.
#FinalX Greco-Roman round three 55 kg – Brady Koontz (Titan Mercury WC/Dubuque RTC) dec. Dalton Duffield (Army WCAP), 7-3 Koontz wins series 2 matches to 1 and makes World Team pic.twitter.com/r60jcEEnpc
#FinalX Greco-Roman round two 97 kg – Josef Rau (Titan Mercury WC) tech fall. Christian DuLaney (Minnesota Storm), 8-0 Rau wins series 2 matches to 0 and makes World Team pic.twitter.com/oJqVQIr9MO
Three former DIII wrestlers competed in Greco-Roman at Final X this past weekend in Newark, New Jersey. Elmhurst NCAA champion Joe Rau made his third senior world team, while Dubuque All-American Brady Koontz made his first team. Augsburg NCAA champion Ryan Epps lost two matches to one in his series.
Rau won both of his matches over Christian DuLaney 3-2 and 8-0 to make the team at 97kg. He previously competed in the 2014 and 2019 world championships. Rau also won the 2016 Olympic Trials, but the U.S. did not qualify his weight to compete in Rio.
Brady Koontz spent the spring semester at Dubuque after wrestling most of his career at Ohio State. He lost his first match at 55kg to Dalton Duffield 8-0 but came back to win two in a row 4-1 and 7-3 to earn his spot on the team. Koontz lost in Final X in 2022, but made his first world team this weekend.
Ryan Epps earned his way to Final X by winning the world team trials qualifier which gave him the right to face U.S. Open champion Spencer Woods at 82kg. Woods won the first match 3-3 on criteria, but Epps came back and stormed to a 9-0 victory in the second. In the deciding third match, Woods took the world team spot with a 5-0 decision.
Rau and Koontz will head to Belgrade, Serbia, in September for the World Championships. Koontz will compete on September 21st with Rau kicking off his tournament the following day.
The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) has approved changing takedowns from two points to three next season among other changes announced today. The list of possible changes was previously announced but any changes had to be approved by PROP.
Some of the other changes approved include:
3-point takedown
Hand-touch takedown eliminated (control beyond reaction time required)
2, 3, and 4 point near falls for 2, 3, and 4 second counts
Video review can check all calls in the reviewed segment
First medical forfeit in a tournament counts as a loss on the wrestler’s record
Weigh-ins for all competitions will be a maximum of two hours ahead
No limitations on facial hair
The only proposed rule change that will not go into effect is the proposal to only award a riding time point if the wrestler has also scored a near fall in the match.
The 2023 Academic All-District® Men’s and Women’s At-Large Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in the athletic realm and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced June 21 (men) and June 22 (women). The CSC Academic All-District® teams include the student-athletes listed at the links above.
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2022-23 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA national office.
The Division III All-District athletes begin on page 18 of the full list. Unlike in previous years, the sports are not listed, and the athletes are not grouped by district. Some of the honored athletes include 2023 All-Americans Charlie Stuhl (Augsburg), Tyler Shilson (Augsburg), Zeke Smith (Loras), Shane Liegel (Loras), Cooper Pontelandolfo (NYU), Jacob Reed (Ohio Northern), Chase Parrott (Springfield), Kyle Slendorn (Stevens), Hunter Gutierrez (Stevens), Jake Peavey (Southern Maine), Seth Brossard (UW-La Crosse), and Noah Leisgang (UW-La Crosse) along with 2023 NCAA champion Zane Mulder (Wartburg).
The nomination criteria can be found here. The first, second, and third team At-Large CSC Academic All-Americans will be announced June 21st.
Six DIII wrestlers competed at the World Team Trials Challenge tournament in Greco-Roman this past weekend in Colorado Springs. Ryan Epps (Augsburg) won the tournament and will advance to Final X at 82kg. Richard Carlson (UW-La Crosse) and Donny Longendyke (Augsburg) each made the finals at their respective weight classes. Epps defeated two-time Olympian Ben Provisor 2-1 at 82kg, Carlson dropped a 6-0 decision to Zach Braunagel at 87kg, and Longendyke fell 9-0 to former world medalist Adam Coon at 130 kg.
Epps was the 6th seed at 82kg. He edged #3 Tommy Brackett on 1-1 on criteria then won 9-1 against #2 Andrew Berreyesa to make it to the finals where he won the close match with Provisor. He will face Spencer Woods in Final X on June 10th.
Carlson entered as the 5th seed and opened by defeating 4th seed Jordan Lara 8-0 in 1:30. In the semifinals, he topped 2021 Olympian and #1 seed John Stefanowicz 2-1. That earned him a spot in the finals against #2 seed Braunagel where he lost 6-0.
Longendyke defeated #2 seed Tanner Farmer 6-5 in his first match before losing to Coon in the finals. Darryl Aiello of Dubuque was the #5 seed at the same weight, and he pinned 4th seed Brandon Metz in his first match. He lost in the semifinals to Coon and then Metz got the better of him in the rematch in the 3rd place match.
At 60kg, Dylan Koontz (Dubuque via Ohio State) and Mike Fuenffinger (Augsburg) were set to meet in the consolation semifinals, but Koontz advanced by forfeit on his way to third place. Fuenffinger dropped his opening match before leaving the tournament. Koontz sandwiched a pair of wins against Jonathan Gurule around a loss to eventual champ Ildar Hafizov.
The winner at each weight advances to face the US Open champion at Final X in Newark on June 10th.
Ryan Carr, a 2000 graduate of the school, will be the next head coach at Plymouth State, the Plymouth, New Hampshire, school announced yesterday. He takes over for Eric Bergeron who coached the team since 2018. He was a three-time all-New England wrestler and a three-time NWCA Scholar All-American. He briefly coached the Panthers at the end of his college career and has coached at the high school level for over a decade.
PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Three-time All-New England wrestler Ryan Carr ’00 will be the next head wrestling coach at Plymouth State University, Director of Athletics Kim Bownes announced on Thursday.
Carr, a three-time All-New England honoree, replaces former coach Eric Bergeron, who resigned from the position at the conclusion of the season.
Carr competed at the 190-pound and heavyweight divisions for the Panthers from 1995-96 through 1998-99. He was crowned New England Champion at heavyweight during his senior season, while also earning All-New England honors as a sophomore and junior after placing second in the 190-pound division.
“Having Ryan join the athletic department is extremely exciting,” said Bownes. “Ryan is an alumnus who knows what Plymouth State is about. He was one of our most successful wrestlers during his time here and I am confident he is just what our program and student-athletes need and deserve.”
Topher Carton has been named head wrestling coach at UW-Platteville, the school announced today. Carton comes to Platteville after spending the past four seasons as an assistant at Coe College. He was also the director of the Eastern Iowa Wrestling Club. The Rock Island, Illinois, native wrestled in high school across the Iowa border at Davenport Assumption High School before competing at the University of Iowa where he was a 2017 NCAA Division I qualifier at 141 lbs. Carton takes over for interim coach Chris Walter who has led the team since earlier this year.
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – Topher Carton has been named head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville wrestling team, as announced today by Director of Athletics and Assistant Chancellor for Sports Administration Dr. Kristina Navarro.
“I am thrilled to welcome Topher Carton to UW-Platteville as our next head wrestling coach. Topher’s extensive background as an NCAA Division III coach, club director, academic success coach, interim assistant AD for COVID health and safety operations, and NCAA Division I wrestler make him the perfect fit to move the program forward. Topher’s energy is contagious, and his vision is in direct alignment with our athletic department and institutional mission. I have no doubt he and his wife Kelsie will make an immediate impact on campus and in the community,” said Navarro.
Joe Rau won his third Pan-American Championship yesterday in Greco-Roman at 97kg. He won his first three matches to reach the final where he won by forfeit to take the gold. He opened the day with 5-1 and 2-1 decisions before winning by technical fall in the semifinals. He was set to wrestle 2x Pan-Am champ Kevin Mejia Castillo of Honduras who instead chose to forfeit. Rau was an NCAA Champion for Elmhurst College and won the 2023 US Open title at 97kg the previous week.
Donny Longendyke, a former Augsburg NCAA champ, represented the US at 130kg in the Greco-Roman tournament as well. He won his first match but fell in the quarterfinals, leaving him in the bronze medal match. He dropped his final match to finish in 5th place. He did qualify the US for the 2023 Pan-American Games to be held in Chile in November. Longendyke finished in 6th place at last week’s US Open.
Brady Koontz and Joe Rau won Greco-Roman titles at last week’s US Open in Las Vegas to lead the DIII contingent in the event. Koontz, who wrestled the second half of this season at Dubuque after transferring from Ohio State, won all three of his matches at 55kg to earn his spot in Final X. It was the first national title for Koontz who finished 7th at the 2023 NCAA DIII Championships. Rau won his third US Open championship, winning all four of his matches at 97kg. Rau has wrestled in two world championships and was the 2016 Olympic Trials champion in a weight class the U.S. did not qualify for the Rio games. Koontz and Rau will meet the winner of the World Team Trials Challenge tournament at Final X on June 10th in Newark, New Jersey.
Also placing in Greco-Roman were Dylan Koontz at 60kg, Mike Fuenffinger at 63kg, Darryle Aiello of Dubuque at 130kg, and Donny Longendyke of Augsburg at 130kg. All four have qualified for the World Team Trials Challenge tournament set to take place May 20-21 in Colorado Springs.
In Freestyle, former UW-Whitewater wrestler Michael Tortorice finished 8th at 57kg and was the only DIII placewinner in that event. Hayden Bates (Heidelberg), Brian Vutianitis (Cortland), and 2023 NCAA runner-up Matt Lackman (Alvernia) each won three or more matches.
Greco-Roman 55kg Brady Koontz, Dubuque – 1st place, 3-0, advances to Final X 60kg Dylan Koontz, Dubuque – 4th place, 3-2 60kg Peter Del Gallo, Southern Maine – 1-2 63kg Mike Fuenffinger, Augsburg – 4th place, 3-2 72kg Zarik Anderson, Dubuque – 1-2 72kg Eddie Smith, Loras – 2-2 77kg Garrett Johnson, Dubuque – 0-2 87kg Richard Carlson, UW-La Crosse – 1-2 87kg Tyler Hannah, UW-Platteville – 3-2 97kg Joe Rau, Elmhurst – 1st place, 4-0, advances to Final X 130kg Darryl Aiello, Dubuque – 7th place, 3-2 130kg Tom Foote, Williams – 1-2 130kg Donny Longendyke, Augsburg – 6th place, 2-1 (MFF to 6th after semi loss)
Freestyle 57kg Michael Tortorice, UW-Whitewater – 8th place, 3-3 61kg Cade Hornback, Coe – 0-2 61kg Peter Del Gallo, Southern Maine – 1-2 65kg Hayden Bates, Heidelberg – 3-2 70kg Ryan Fleck, Chicago – 1-2 70kg Cody Welker, UW-Oshkosh – 1-2 74kg Zarik Anderson, Dubuque – 2-2 74kg Elroy Perkin, UW-Whitewater – 1-2 74kg Brian Vutianitis, Cortland – 3-2 74kg Matthew Lackman, Alvernia – 4-2 74kg Jessy Diaz, Dubuque – 1-2 79kg Jaison White, Ithaca – 0-2 97kg Duncan Lee, Central – 1-2 125kg Cullen Quick, Luther – 0-2
Here are some of the current and former DIII wrestlers registered for the Senior Greco-Roman and Freestyle tournaments at the US Open as of 12:00pm on Wednesday, April 26th. The final late registration deadline is April 25th for Greco-Roman and April 26th for Freestyle, so this list could grow. There is also a U20 division that will likely have some current DIII wrestlers entered. Feel free to add the U20 guys as well as any senior level athletes that should be listed here in the comments below.
Senior Greco-Roman wrestling begins on April 26th with Senior Freestyle following on the 27th. The winner in each weight class will advance directly to the Final X best-of-three event on June 10th to decide the world team members that will compete in Serbia later this year.
Greco-Roman 55kg Brady Koontz, Dubuque 60kg Dylan Koontz, Dubuque 63kg Mike Fuenffinger, Augsburg 72kg Zarik Anderson, Dubuque 72kg Eddie Smith, Loras 87kg Richard Carlson, UW-La Crosse 97kg Joe Rau, Elmhurst 130kg Darryl Aiello, Dubuque 130kg Kaleb Reeves, Coe 130kg Tom Foote, Williams
April 20th Update 55kg Peter Del Gallo, Southern Maine (moved to 60kg) 77kg Garrett Johnson, Dubuque 87kg Tyler Hannah, UW-Platteville
April 22nd Update 130kg Donny Longendyke, Augsburg
Freestyle 57kg Michael Tortorice, UW-Whitewater 61kg Cade Hornback, Coe 65kg Ryan Fleck, Chicago 74kg Zarik Anderson, Dubuque 74kg Elroy Perkin, UW-Whitewater 74kg Brian Vutianitis, Cortland 74kg Matthew Lackman, Alvernia
April 20th Update 57kg Peter Del Gallo, Southern Maine 70kg Anthony Ulaszek, Wartburg 79kg Jaison White, Ithaca 97kg Duncan Lee, Central 125kg Cullen Quick, Luther
The NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee has published their proposed rule changes for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons. Several changes would dramatically alter college wrestling for the upcoming season. The biggest change is increasing a takedown’s value from two to three points. Another major change is only awarding a riding time point if the wrestler has also scored near fall points in the match. NCAA coaches have been informed they will have a chance to comment on the proposed changes, and the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel will consider the changes at their meeting on June 8th.
Other changes include modifying weigh in times for dual meets, eliminating the controversial hand-touch takedown, and adding a three point near fall when a wrestler holds his opponent in criteria for three seconds in addition to the unchanged two and four point near falls.
Additionally, the following changes have been proposed:
Allow officials to use video review to review an entire sequence and apply the correct calls which would eliminate dead time under the current rules.
The first medical forfeit of a tournament would count as a loss on the wrestler’s record unless the medical forfeit occurs immediately after an injury default in a tournament.
The penalty for a delayed coach’s video review challenge request would be changed to a loss of the video review instead of a control-of-mat violation.
True placement matches conducted in an event would not alter the final team score.
Officials could let action continue after penalizing an illegal hold and not require a stoppage after imminent scoring finishes when the safety of wrestlers is not in danger.
The five-second count for the waist and ankle ride would be expanded to include all situations in which the top wrestler grasps the bottom wrestler’s ankle.
Weigh-in times across all competition types would be standardized to two hours or sooner before the start of competition. Currently, tournament weigh-ins are two hours or sooner, but dual meet weigh-ins are permitted only one hour or sooner before the start of competition.
Weight certification for all schools would be permitted to start Sept. 1.
The rule limiting facial hair to no longer than half an inch would be eliminated.
Frank Johnson has been named interim head men’s and women’s wrestling coach at Linfield University, the McMinnville, Oregon, school announced yesterday. Former coach Chad Hanke stepped down from the position last month, and Johnson will take over. Linfield will enter their second season of competition for men and women in 2023-2024. Johnson has twelve years of collegiate head coaching experience at Warner Pacific University and his alma mater Pacific University and has seventeen years of high school head coaching experience.
Linfield took the mats for the first time this season. Jacob Barnes and Micah Worthington placed 5th and 8th, respectively, at the Upper Midwest Regional.
Frank Johnson has been appointed interim head coach of the Linfield University men’s and women’s wrestling teams, director of athletics Dr. Garry Killgore announced on Monday. He replaces Chad Hanke, who resigned his position in March.
“I am really excited to add Frank to our coaching staff,” said Killgore. “It’s really special to be able to add a coach of Frank’s caliber to our team. He comes highly recommended from the Restore Oregon Wrestling group and I have nothing but admiration for that group of people, too. Once I got to talk with Frank, I realized what a great fit he would be for our program. He’s going to be a super great leader for our student-athletes and he’ll be an outstanding teammate for the people upstairs to work with as well.”
A seasoned leader with 12 years of collegiate head coaching experience, Johnson is eager to take over Linfield’s prospering wrestling program, which will begin its second year of varsity competition this fall.
The 2023 d3wrestle.com Wrestler of the Year is Jaritt Shinhoster of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Shinhoster won his second NCAA championship at 184 lbs. in March in dominating fashion. He opened with a 40 second fall then had back to back 12-0 major decisions in the quarterfinals and semifinals before winning 9-2 in the finals to defend his title. He finished the year with a 33-2 record, 16 falls, 3 tech falls, and 7 major decisions. He avenged his only DIII loss twice, including in the NCAA finals.
The regular season highlight for Shinhoster was becoming the first DIII finalist at the Midlands since 2010. He defeated the wrestlers ranked 12th and 20th in Division I at the time on the way to the finals. He continued his strong second half run by rolling through the WIAC Championships with a fall and two tech falls and kept his momentum by pinning all four of his opponents at the Upper Midwest Regional, spending a total of 6:11 on the mat in the tournament. He earned the number one seed at the NCAA Championships and left little doubt that he deserved it.
Shinhoster ends his career with a 112-15 record with 57 falls, 9 tech falls, and 28 major decisisions across five seasons. He was a four-time NCAA qualifier, four-time regional finalist, and two-time Upper Midwest regional champion. He was the 4th seed at 174 lbs. at the canceled 2020 NCAA Championships, wrestled an abbreviated four match schedule in 2021, and then went on to win the 2022 and 2023 NCAA Championships at 184 lbs. He is a five-time NWCA Scholar All-American and was named the WIAC Wrestler of the Year in 2022 and 2023. Shinhoster is the second Whitewater wrestler to win this award after Jordan Newman in 2018, and he emerged from an exceptionally strong field to take this honor.
Previous Wrestlers of the Year 2022 – Bradan Birt, Millikin 2020 – Troy Stanich, Stevens 2019 – Darden Schurg, Wabash 2018 – Jordan Newman, Whitewater 2017 – Riley Lefever, Wabash 2016 – Riley Lefever, Wabash 2015 – Mike Fuenffinger, Augsburg 2014 – Nazar Kulchytskyy, Oshkosh 2013 – Nazar Kulchytskyy, Oshkosh 2012 – Byron Tate, Wartburg 2011 – Minga Batsukh, St. John’s 2010 – Clayton Rush, Coe
The 2023 d3wrestle.com Coach of the Year is Tony Valek of Augsburg. Valek led the Auggies to their 14th NCAA Championship last month in Roanoke, Virginia. Augsburg came into the postseason ranked third in the final NWCA poll but managed to outdistance second place Wartburg by 34.5 points to take the title. Eight Augsburg wrestlers qualified for the tournament, seven became All-Americans, and Sam Stuhl won the 141 lbs. championship.
Two weeks earlier, Augsburg won the regional tournament for the 20th consecutive season. Tyler Kim and Charlie Stuhl won their respective weight classes while three other Auggies finished second and three finished third to give the team eight qualifiers.
Augsburg finished 9-1 in dual meets and won the MSOE, North Central, and Citrus Invitationals, and they also captured the National Duals title with a win over Johnson & Wales in the finals.
Valek has been on staff at Augsburg since 2012. He served as a graduate assistant from 2012-2014, assistant from 2014-2015, Associate Head Coach from 2015-2019, Co-Head Coach from 2019-2022, and Head Coach from 2022 until present. He graduated from Augsburg in 2012 after a career that saw him become a 3x All-American, 2x NCAA finalist, and NCAA Elite 89 winner. This is his first time earning d3wrestle.com Coach of the Year.
The National Wrestling Coaches Association has announced the 2023 Hall of Fame class. The seven member class features coaches, wrestlers, and contributors to NCAA Division III wrestling. The official induction will take place in late July at the NWCA Convention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. See complete bio information for the inductees a the link below.
The NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee is set to meet in April 17-19 to discuss potential rule changes for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons. The NCAA publishes a new rule book every other season, so major changes can only occur during rule book years. This coming season is a rule book year, so major changes can be made. Any rule changes proposed by the committee then need to be passed by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP).
The rules committee is made up of nine members. A secretary-rules editor and four DI representatives, two DII representatives, and two DIII representatives. The current secretary-rules editor is Chuck Barbee, though he announced yesterday that he will step down from the position when his term ends in August. Here is the rest of the committee.
Division
Title
Name & Institution
Conference
Term Expiration
FBS
Executive Associate Athletics Director/CFO
Jonathan Reeder Appalachian State University
Sun Belt Conference
AUG 2023
FBS
Head Wrestling Coach
Chris Bono University of Wisconsin-Madison
Big Ten Conference
AUG 2025
FBS
Head Wrestling Coach
Coleman Scott University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Atlantic Coast Conference
AUG 2026
DI
Head Wrestling Coach
John Hangey Rider University
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
AUG 2024
II
Head Coach- Wrestling
Austin DeVoe Colorado School of Mines
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
AUG 2023
II
Head Men’s Wrestling Coach
Deral Brown Newberry College
South Atlantic Conference
AUG 2025
III
Head Men’s and Women’s Wrestling Coach
Duane Bastress York College (Pennsylvania)
Middle Atlantic Conferences
AUG 2026
III
Sports Information Director
Robert Fox Waynesburg University
Presidents’ Athletic Conference
AUG 2024
Coaches, officials, and administrators were sent a survey concerning potential rule changes. Here is an incomplete selection of the most interesting proposals. Respondents were asked if they support these possible changes.
Remove headgear requirement (the rules committee passed this change in 2017 as well, but the PROP did not let it go through)
Assign a wrestler a loss for the first medical forfeit in a tournament (currently, a MFF counts as a win for the winner but not a loss for the forfeiting wrestler)
Remove traditional stalling from list of reviewable calls
Reducing points scored by wrestlers in the consolations rounds (no specific change described)
Adding language to rules requiring the top wrestler to work for a near fall or pin
Adding a step out rule that gives a point to a wrestler who forces his opponent to step one foot outside the circle when in the neutral position
Mandatory stalemate before calling either wrestler for stalling in the top/bottom position
Standardize weigh-in time for all competitions (several options given including 2 hours, 1.5 hours, or no change)
Allowing the use of saunas any time except 48 hours prior to competition
Of this list, the step out is the change that would cause the most drastic change on the mat and would push the sport in the direction of freestyle. There would need to be a significant amount of explanation and interpretation for a step out rule. Would there be a “grounded” rule like in freestyle? Would a wrestler who secures an escape near the edge and then immediately steps out be penalized? Will wrestlers be permitted to continue to work for a takedown on the edge, or would a foot out of bounds immediately result in a whistle?
Removing the requirement for headgear usage would be a big change as well. As stated above, this came close to happening six years ago but was shot down by PROP. If the rules committee hopes to get this change approved in 2023, they will need a convincing rationale. The other in-match changes are mostly related to stalling and are understandable given the current frustrations with the way stalling is called, especially on the mat. Based on the current rules as written and a clarification that was circulated earlier this year, a wrestler in the bottom position will get called for stalling if he is unable to escape, regardless of what else is happening in the match, and a top wrestler will only be called for stalling in the most extreme circumstances.
The final noteworthy change is allowing sauna use except in the 48 hours before competition. This is intended to let athletes experience the supposed benefits of sauna usage without allowing use for weight loss just before competition. Sauna use is currently prohibited during the season at any time and for any reason. PROP will surely want to weigh in here if this proposal is approved by the rules committee.
Illinois Wesleyan has announced Brett Robbins as the head coach of the Men’s and Women’s Wrestling teams. IWU had men’s wrestling until 1985, and the Titans have tasked Bloomington native Robbins with getting the team back on the mat. Robbins has spent the past seven seasons as a volunteer coach at Northern Iowa and graduated from the school in 2012.
Illinois Wesleyan competes in the CCIW and will join conference schools Augustana, Aurora, Carthage, Concordia-Wisconsin, Elmhurst, Lakeland, Millikin, MSOE, North Central, and Wheaton on the men’s side and Aurora, Augustana, Carthage, Lakeland, and North Central on the women’s side. The school announced the return of wrestling in November of 2022 along with plans to compete in the 2023-2024 season.
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University Athletic Director Mike Wagner announced Brett Robbins as the IWU head men’s and women’s wrestling coach Wednesday, April 5. Robbins, a native of Bloomington, Ill. and graduate of Bloomington High School, returns to his hometown after a seven-year run at the University of Northern Iowa.
“I am ecstatic to welcome Brett and his family back to Bloomington,” Wagner said. “Throughout the hiring process, Brett’s vision for the program as well as his passion for the sport and the community made the decision clear. I am excited to watch him build our women’s program and reignite our men’s team with the outstanding wrestling talent our region is filled with.”
