Joe Rau makes 2019 World Team

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June 10, 2019

Joe Rau won a pair of matches at Final X to secure a spot in the 2019 World Championships at 87kg in Greco-Roman. The former three time All-American and 2013 NCAA Division III champion for Elmhurst made his second senior world team by defeating two time Olympian Ben Provisor in two straight matches.

Rau trailed on criteria late in match one before driving through Provisor to earn a step out with just four seconds left to win 2-1. In match two, Rau scored on a pair of gut wrenches in the forced par terre position to take the final match 5-1.

Rau will make his second appearance in the world championships. His first appearance came in 2014 at 80kg in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He also was the 2016 Olympic Trials champion at 98kg, but the Unite States did not qualify that weight for the Rio Olympics.

Video Links (Flo subscription required)
Match 1 | Match 2
Pre-Match Interview | Post Match Interview

Signorelli to Alfred State

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June 5, 2019

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Justin Signorelli has been named head wrestling coach at Alfred State, taking over for Robert Hirsch. Signorelli was the graduate assistant at Western New England and had previously been the head coach at NJCAA SUNY-Ulster. He wrestled at Cortland, graduating in 2013.

Signorelli Named New Wrestling Coach
Justin Signorelli has been named the new wrestling coach at Alfred State. Signorelli has already jumped into his duties as the Pioneers prepare for the 2019-20 season.
Signorelli is excited to take over the program. “I am grateful for the confidence being shown in my abilities and my vision for the program by Athletic Director Jason Doviak in affording me the opportunity to lead the Pioneers NCAA DIII Wrestling program.”
“Justin emerged from a strong pool of candidates as the obvious choice,” stated Director of Athletics Jason Doviak. “He has a versatile background and is certainly going to strengthen our wrestling program. His vision and enthusiasm is a perfect fit for Alfred State.”
Alfred State President Dr. Skip Sullivan echoed Doviak’s thought’s. “I like the enthusiasm that is being brought to our teams and potential impact that will have for our student-athletes. I appreciate the “student-athlete” approach that the Justin is bringing to the wrestling program.”
Signorelli comes to Alfred State after spending last season as a graduate assistant coach at Western New England University. This year at WNE he coached three NWCA Academic All-Americans and two NCAA National Qualifiers including NCAA DIII 184 lb Champion John Boyle.
Prior to his time at Western New England, Signorelli spent two years as the head wrestling coach at SUNY Ulster Community College. While at Ulster, Signorelli was tasked with resurrecting and building the wrestling program that had not been active since 1979. During his two seasons Signorelli coached an Academic All-American, led 14 wrestlers to All-District honors including a North East District individual champion, and he qualified seven wrestlers to compete at the NJCAA National Championship Tournament. Along with his coaching duties at Ulster he also served as Assistant Athletic Director within the Ulster Athletic Department and was an Adjunct Professor working in the Physical Education Department.
Signorelli previously was an assistant coach at Highland High School for three years, leading Highland to its first team sectional title during his tenure.
Collegiately he was a four-year letter winner at NCAA DIII SUNY Cortland, serving two of those seasons as team captain. In 2013, he helped lead his team to a 4th place finish at the NWCA DIII National Duals. His Red Dragon teams were consistently ranked in the top 10 in the country and he placed in many tournaments including winning the Jamestown Open. He graduated from SUNY Cortland earning his Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications.
At Highland High School he competed in football, wrestling, and lacrosse. On the mat he was a four-year varsity team captain and was a three-time Section 9 D2 Champion, three-time MHAL Champion and he won over 85% of his varsity matches in his four seasons en route to becoming the first member of Highland’s 100-win club. He was a captain on Highland’s varsity football Section 9 Class B Championship team in 2008 and graduated with honors in 2009.
“I plan to lead a program full of student athletes who are committed to living a championship lifestyle academically, socially and athletically. By recruiting and leading student athletes committed to this philosophy in conjunction with our programs goals we will become competitive not only on the regional level but on the national level as well.”

World Team Trials Wrap Up

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May 20, 2019

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Edited to add Jaime Miranda, a former Central College wrestler competing in Greco.

Five current or former DIII wrestlers were in the field at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Raleigh this past weekend. Riley Lefever, former 4x DIII champ from Wabash, finished third at 92kg Freestyle and Eric Twohey, former All-American for La Crosse, finished third at 97kg Greco-Roman. Nazar Kulchytskyy, 3x DIII champ from Oshkosh, Eddie Smith, current Loras wrestler and a 2019 All-American, and Jaime Miranda, a former Central College wrestler, also competed.

Lefever opened with an 11-0 loss to 2019 NCAA DI finalist Kollin Moore of Ohio State. In the consolation round he defeated 3x DI All-American and 2016 finalist TJ Dudley 10-0 to set up a rematch with Moore in the 3rd place match. Lefever turned the tables on the Buckeye wrestler, rolling to a 10-0 tech fall in just under 90 seconds.

Twohey won his first match on the Greco side with an 8-0 tech fall before dropping his semifinal by the same score. On the back side, he won 3-1 in the consolation semifinals before going on to win 7-0 in the 3rd place match.

Kulchytskyy dropped both of his matches at 70kg Freestyle, losing both by 5-1 scores. In the first round, he fell to former 4x DI All-American Brandon Sorensen and in the consolation round lost to Mario Mason. Smith won by fall in his first match before he was pinned in his second and lost 8-0 in his final bout at 77kg Greco. Miranda entered at 87kg Greco where he won his opening match before dropping bouts to the 1st and 4th place finishers.

Full Brackets

Video: Lefever 10-0 over Moore (Flo subscription required)

2018-19 Google Cloud Academic All-District Wrestlers

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May 17, 2019

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Google Cloud Academic All-District® Men’s At-Large Team Released

CoSIDA has announced the 2018-2019 Academic All-District teams. Wrestling falls under the At-Large grouping along with several other sports. The nation is divided up into eight districts. Those honored here are eligible to be selected later this summer as Academic All-America.

District 2 – CT, DC, DE, KY, MD, NJ, RI, WV
Yoseph Borai, Stevens, Senior, 3.9 GPA in Software Engineering – 6th NCAA
Brett Kaliner, Stevens, Sophomore, 3.89 GPA in Business & Technology – 3rd NCAA
Zach Murillo, Wesleyan, Senior, 3.9 GPA in Economics/Mathematics – NCAA Qualifier

District 3 – NY
Jake Ashcraft, Ithaca, Senior, 3.85 GPA in Accounting – 2nd NCAA
Jake O’Brien, Ithaca, Senior, 3.86 GPA in Physics – 4th NCAA

District 4 – PA
Dan D’Agostini, Scranton, Senior, 3.74 GPA in Electrical Engineering – NCAA Qualifier

District 7 – IL, IN, OH
Dante Ginnetti, Baldwin Wallace, Junior, 3.97 GPA in Accounting/MBA – NCAA Qualifier

District 8 – AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, IA, ID, KS, LA, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY, Canada
Taylor Mehmen, Coe, Junior, 3.77 GPA in Physics/Computer Science/Math – 5th NCAA

Western New England graduate assistant

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May 16, 2019

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Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts, is seeking applicants for a graduate assistant position.

Western New England University
Assistant Wrestling Coach Graduate Assistant

Summary: Western New England University, located in Springfield, Mass., is currently seeking applicants for an Assistant Wrestling Coach Graduate Assistant position.

Details/Compensation: The successful candidate will receive a $6,000 stipend in addition to tuition for graduate program. This is a two-year graduate assistant position. Candidates are encouraged to enroll in Western New England’s Master of Science in Sport Leadership and Coaching program.

Interested applicants please send resume to head wrestling coach, Mike Sugermeyer. michael.sugermeyer@wne.edu.

Iowa Wesleyan to add men’s and women’s wrestling

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May 11, 2019

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Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, announced plans to begin men’s and women’s wrestling earlier this week. The school of just over 600 students has been rapidly adding sports. The wrestling teams will be the 5th and 6th teams added in a three year period. The women’s team will be the first at a Division III school in Iowa. Iowa Wesleyan competes in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Fontbonne, MacMurray, and Westminster are the other schools in the conference with men’s wrestling teams.

Iowa Wesleyan to Add Men’s and Women’s Wrestling

Mount Pleasant, Iowa – May 8, 2019 – Iowa Wesleyan University Athletic Director Derek Zander is pleased to announce that men’s and women’s wrestling will be added to the slate of athletic programs offered at Iowa Wesleyan University during the 2020-21 academic year. The search for a head coach will begin immediately.

Within the Tiger Athletics strategic plan, “Committing to Excellence,” a significant focus is the growth and expansion of the athletic department. The athletic department has expanded from 10 NCAA Division III intercollegiate programs to 14 over the past two years – with men’s and women’s wrestling being the 5th and 6th programs added in three years. IW will be the first NCAA Division III University in the State of Iowa to sponsor women’s wrestling.

“This is a historic development for IW intercollegiate athletics department during a significant time in the life of the University,” said IW President Steve Titus. “IW is relentless in its pursuit to create the best and most dynamic student experience possible. The addition of women’s and men’s wrestling provides exceptional opportunities for students and responds to a growing demand. IW is committed to leading the movement to provide female student-athletes the opportunity to compete in wrestling at the collegiate level.”

“We are excited to announce the addition of men’s and women’s wrestling at Iowa Wesleyan,” said Athletic Director Derek Zander. “Men’s wrestling is very popular in our region, and it could not be a better time to add women’s wrestling as it is one of the fastest growing high school programs across the country. In the winter of 2019, the State of Iowa hosted its first women’s high school state championship. The addition of these programs is a continuation of IW’s commitment to providing diverse co-curricular opportunities for our students and our dedication to the student experience at Iowa Wesleyan.”

“This is an important time for Tiger Athletics. We are thrilled about offering two programs that the State of Iowa and Midwest region are passionate about,” stated Zander. “We look forward to filling Ruble Arena with fans and supporters with a new and exciting experience.”

Concordia Assistant Position

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May 8, 2019

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Concordia College – Moorhead is searching for a full time assistant coach.

Click to see full posting and apply

Position Title	Assistant Wrestling Coach
Benefits Eligible?	Yes
Job Summary/Basic Function	The Assistant Wrestling Coach assists the Head Wrestling Coach in the administration of an intercollegiate wrestling program including, but not limited to, coaching, recruiting, mentoring student-athletes, and participating in summer camps. All work is done in accordance with institutional, NCAA, and MIAC rules and regulations.Additional responsibilities may be assigned in teaching, game/event management, and/or other administrative duties.
Minimum Qualifications	Bachelor’s Degree and 1-2 years of coaching experience or by equivalent education/experience.
Preferred Qualifications	Experience coaching and recruiting at the collegiate level.
Open Until Filled	Yes
Screening Begins	05/15/2019

NJCU to begin wrestling

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May 2, 2019

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New Jersey City University in Jersey City, New Jersey, has announced plans to begin varsity competition in wrestling for the 2020-2021 school year. The school of roughly 6,500 undergraduates will add men’s and women’s wrestling after competing as club teams in 2019-2020.

#GothicGrappling: NJCU To Introduce Men’s and Women’s Wrestling as Varsity Sports

Gothic Knights Will Sponsor State of New Jersey’s First Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Program
May 01, 2019

By: Ira Thor

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | In a historic expansion of its athletic offerings New Jersey City University will add men’s and women’s wrestling as the latest sports in its lineup of intercollegiate athletic programs, Shawn Tucker, Director of Athletics and Associate Vice President, has announced. NJCU will become the first university in the state of New Jersey to sponsor an NCAA women’s wrestling program.

Each program will have its own full-time head coach. An extensive national search to fill each head coaching position will be conducted during the months of May and June.

The men’s and women’s wrestling programs will be club programs during the introductory 2019-20 academic year before being elevated to full varsity status in Fall 2020. Potential future conference affiliations will be determined during the 2019-20 year. Both programs will practice and compete at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on campus.

“The addition of men’s and women’s wrestling to our intercollegiate athletics program is a significant moment in the history of our athletics department,” said NJCU President Dr. Sue Henderson, the current chair of the NCAA Division III President’s Council and Vice-Chair of the NCAA Board of Governors. “While assessing areas for potential growth within our athletics program over the last 12 months it became clear to our leadership that there were enormous opportunities within this popular sport. Men’s wrestling is currently well established, both in New Jersey’s high schools and within the NCAA championship structure. Meanwhile, wrestling is one of the fastest growing women’s sports in the United States and the world. With the introduction of the sport at our institution, we will be positioned well to capitalize on the movement and be at the forefront as leaders in another women’s sport, giving new opportunities to female student-athletes.”

“We are excited to make these historic additions to our intercollegiate athletics program,” said Tucker. “As our institution continues to grow and our athletic department continues to expand, wrestling is the ideal program to carry the banner for this new era in NJCU athletics. We firmly believe men’s and women’s wrestling are sports that naturally fit our campus. We believe the addition of both programs will generate excitement on campus and our entire university community will rally around both sports.”

Tucker continued: “New Jersey produces some of the best wrestling talent in the country and the addition of both men’s and women’s wrestling will give high school student-athletes in this state a viable option to continue competing in the sport they love on the next level right here in their home state at one of the fastest growing institutions in the state. NJCU will boost the profile of a sport long synonymous with the Garden State. While schools around the country have cut men’s wrestling in recent years, we are going in the other direction, adding men’s wrestling. Furthermore, by adding NCAA women’s wrestling, we are giving high school girls wrestlers, who are now recognized as an official sport by the NJSIAA, the historic opportunity to be pioneers in the sport on the collegiate level right here in their home state.”

The addition of men’s and women’s wrestling will be the 19th and 20th sports in NJCU’s growing athletic program and the seventh and eighth to be added since Tucker’s hiring in May, 2018. Men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field were reintroduced in June, 2018 and men’s and women’s tennis will be relaunched in Fall, 2019, it was announced on April 11.

However, unlike tennis and track and field, men’s and women’s wrestling have never been sponsored by NJCU in its athletics history which dates back to 1931-32.

With 20 sports, NJCU will sponsor the most sports of any school in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, equaling Ramapo and TCNJ, who each offer 20 sports. NJCU will become the 15th collegiate program in history at either the NCAA or NAIA levels to introduce both men’s and women’s wrestling in the same year and just the fifth in Division III history (Adrian, 2014; MacMurray, 2016; Westminster, 2016; Fontbonne, 2019).

Rutgers University men’s wrestling head coach Scott Goodale said: “The sport continues to grow at the college level and this is just a tremendous step to continue that growth. Women’s wrestling is thriving at the high school level and it’s great to have it move to the college level in this sport. Any time we add a program, both men’s and women’s, it’s a great day for our sport. Today is a great day.”

Women’s wrestling advocate Kyra Tirana Barry, the Team Leader for USA Wrestling Women’s Freestyle at the 2016 Rio Olympics noted: “The addition of New Jersey’s first collegiate women’s program at NJCU couldn’t be better timed coming so quickly on the heels of the establishment of girls high schools wrestling in New Jersey.”

Barry, who serves as the Chair of Beat the Streets National and as a Beat the Streets NYC Board Member, added: “Every girl deserves the opportunity to wrestle in college. This is a needed and well-deserved opportunity to ensure that tri-state girls can continue to build upon New Jersey’s strong wrestling tradition. Beat the Streets welcomes the additional opportunity for our New York City wrestling student-athletes to continue their careers close to home.”

NJCU will become the 109th Division III men’s wrestling program and the fourth in the state of New Jersey, joining Centenary, Stevens, and TCNJ. NJCU will also be the seventh collegiate men’s wrestling program in the state of New Jersey at either the Division I, II or III levels. Princeton, Rider and Rutgers also sponsor the sport on the Division I level. As of the 2018-19 year, 246 total men’s wrestling programs are sponsored throughout all NCAA Divisions (75 in Division I, 63 in Division II and 108 Division III).

NJCU is the first new men’s program to be launched in New Jersey since Centenary introduced the sport in 1997; Stevens brought the sport back in 2004 after discontinuing it in the early 1990s.

Meanwhile, NJCU will continue its tradition of being a pioneer in women’s athletics when it adds women’s wrestling. In 2000, NJCU became the first NCAA Division III women’s bowling program in the United States.

Mike Moyer, the executive director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association said: “This is a great day for wrestling! The NJCU administration has displayed exemplary leadership in their pioneering efforts to be the first college in New Jersey to add both a men’s and women’s intercollegiate wrestling team. In particular, the addition of the women’s team will undoubtedly inspire many other colleges and universities in the region to add varsity women’s wrestling as well. The timing of this could not have been better being that this announcement comes immediately following the first ever and very successful NJSIAA sanctioned state wrestling championship for high school girls.”

Currently, 48 colleges and universities in the United States sponsor women’s wrestling on the varsity level, with another 14 planning to add the sport within the next two years. Most are members of the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association, which administers the sport while it awaits official status by national collegiate organizations. Teams compete in freestyle formats in 10 weight classes, ranging from 101 to 191 pounds.

Seven NCAA Division III schools—Adrian (Mich.), Ferrum (Va.), Lakeland (Wis.), MacMurray (Ill.), Pacific (Ore.), Schreiner (Texas) and Westminster (Mo.)—currently offer women’s wrestling on the varsity level, with Augsburg (Minn.), Delaware Valley (Pa.), Fontbonne (Mo.), North Central (Ill.), and Wisconsin-Stevens Point adding the sport in 2019.

Lori Ayres, the co-director of USA Women’s Wrestling in New Jersey whose work helped lead to the sponsorship of girls wrestling on the high school level, said: “I think what NJCU is doing is really exciting and it will further the opportunities we are building for our girls. It’s a new way of thinking. In the past, resources were not provided until there was more participation. But it’s the other way around. What we are learning is that to build participation, there need to be opportunities. There is so much excitement around what is going on right now; to see little girls come out and wrestle at the youth level demonstrates that. With NJCU coming on board with men’s and women’s wrestling, we can really ride the wave to promote freestyle wrestling and work together with USA Wrestling New Jersey to create training programs.”

Ayres, noting that high school girls in New Jersey currently compete in folkstyle wrestling, added: “We hope the addition of the first collegiate program like this here in New Jersey is the next step to help build freestyle wrestling for girls on the high school level.”

New Jersey has long been considered one of the elite states in the country for high school boys wrestling with the sport among the most popular spectator sports. However, in October 2018, New Jersey made history when high school girls wrestling was unanimously approved by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), making New Jersey the first state in the Northeast to offer the sport and the 12th state in the United States. This winter, the Garden State Classic was the first full-fledged girls high school wrestling tournament ever held in New Jersey and in February 2019, New Jersey girl wrestlers competed in high school region tournaments for the first time ever.

Several wrestling organizations, including Wrestle Like A Girl, Inc., the National Wrestling Coaches Association, USA Wrestling, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, have petitioned the NCAA to add wrestling to its list of “emerging sports” for women, which could significantly speed the sport’s growth at the collegiate level. In recent years, the NWCA has added a 16-team women’s wrestling dual-meet championship to its annual Multi-Divisional National Duals event each January.

According to the NWCA, the number of girls who wrestle at the high school level has grown from 804 in 1994 to 16,562 in 2018, and 15 states now sponsor high school girls wrestling championships.

Women’s wrestling has been an Olympic sport since 2004, with competition currently in six freestyle weight classes. American women’s wrestlers have earned five medals (one gold, one silver, three bronze) in Olympic competition.

OF NOTE:
States and territories that currently sponsor high school girls wrestling and a state high school championship include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Hawaii, and Washington.
Collegiate programs to introduce men’s and women’s wrestling in the same year:
Adrian (Division III) – 2014
Central Methodist (NAIA) – 2019
Eastern Oregon (NAIA) – 2016
Emmanuel (Division II, started NAIA) – 2014
Fontbonne (Division III) – 2019
MacMurray (Division III) – 2016 – (men’s reinstated after being cut in 2007)
Menlo (NAIA) -2001
Ottawa (NAIA) – 2014
Presbyterian (Division I) – 2019
St. Mary (NAIA) – 2016
Texas Wesleyan (NAIA) – 2019
Umpqua CC (NJCAA) – 2017
Warner Pacific (NAIA) – 2014
Wayland Baptist (NAIA) – 2009
Westminster (Division III) – 2016

GOTHIC KNIGHTS on SOCIAL MEDIA:
For the latest on NJCU men’s and women’s wrestling and #NJCUWrestling, follow the Gothic Knights on social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and SnapChat. Preferred hashtags are #GothicGameDay and #GothicFamily.

NCAA Rules Proposals

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May 1, 2019

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Proposal would let wrestlers compete in shorts

The NCAA makes wrestling rule changes every other year. In non-rules years, only clarifications and interpretations can be made (e.g., hands to the face clarification this season). For 2019-2020, a new rule book will be published. Here are the proposed changes. They will only go into effect if they are approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel. Most rules changes get approved by the panel, but not all. For example, in 2017, the proposal to eliminate headgear as a requirement was voted down by PROP.

A third uniform option of a tight shirt and loose shorts would be permitted. This would match what is allowed in high school.
Eliminate the rule setting a maximum hair length.
Failed video challenge will result in a stalling call assessed against challenging wrestler.
Medical forfeits will count as a loss for forfeiting wrestler.
Standard 2 hour weigh in for all events. Currently, dual meets and the second day of a tournament is 1 hour, while the first day of a tournament is 2 hours.
Sauna rules clarified to only apply during the NCAA season.
Change stalling from warning-1-1-1-DQ to warning 1-1-2-DQ.
Reclassify the hands to face penalty from unnecessary roughness to an illegal hold. From the release: Rules for illegal holds indicate that “whenever possible, illegal holds should be prevented rather than called.” This would provide referees more flexibility to use verbal cues, issue formal warnings and/or stop the action as “potentially dangerous” before calling an illegal hold.

A few quick thoughts about these proposals:

The medical forfeit rule change seems like an overreaction to the singular example of forfeits at the Big Ten Championships and the subsequent effect on the NCAA DI seeding formula. DIII seeding will likely not change, as the division does not use a rigid formula to seed. The coaches on the seeding committee are unlikely to view a medical forfeit as a loss for seeding purposes, even if it counts on a wrestler’s record.
Assigning a stalling call for a failed challenge penalizes a wrestler for a non-wrestling action that he has no control over. In college wrestling, once the coach throws the brick, the challenge is used. In international styles, the athlete has the chance to confirm or deny the challenge and thus has final say as to whether or not he is in danger of a penalty. If the goal is the reduce “frivolous” challenges, then frivolous should be defined and perhaps what is actually able to be challenged should be more restricted. If the goal is the reduce challenges overall, then reduce the number of challenges available.
Increasing dual meet weigh-ins from one to two hours could result in more missed class time. Also, it will require teams to move weekend departure times even earlier in the morning, as most DIII teams do not stay overnight for most trips. Maybe it is a worthwhile change, but these are things to consider.
The adjustment for hands to the face is inelegant, but it seems like it will accomplish the goal of allowing some official discretion in handing out warnings. If this passes, the real thing to pay attention to is the interpretation from Rules Interpreter Chuck Barbee as the season gets closer. “Whenever possible, illegal holds should be prevented rather than called.” It is unclear how this could be applied to a hands to the face situation, but it is also worth deferring judgement until the exact wording and interpretation are released.

DIII Champs at US Open Greco

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April 29, 2019

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Full Results and Video

A pair of former Division III wrestlers won Greco-Roman championships at the US Open this past weekend in Las Vegas. Leslie Fuenffinger of the Army World Class Athlete Program won the 60kg championship, while Joe Rau of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club won the 87kg title. Rau’s title was his second, as he also won the US Open in 2016.

Fuenffinger was a two time NCAA champion at 125 lbs. for Augsburg. He won the 2014 and 2015 titles and was named Outstanding Wrestler in 2015. He also finished 7th in 2013 to finish as a three time All-American. He was the runner-up in the 2018 US Open. Fuenffinger now moves on to Final X in Lincoln, Nebraska, on June 15th where he will attempt to win a best of three against the world team trials winner for the right to represent the US at the World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, in September.

Rau was a national champion for Elmhurst in 2013 and was also a three time All-American for the Blue Jays. In 2016, he won the US Open along with the Olympic Trials, but the US did not qualify his weight for the Rio Olympics. In 2014, he represented the US in the World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, at 80kg. He also moves on to Final X, but he will compete June 8th at Rutgers.

Former La Crosse wrestler Eric Twohey finished 4th at 97kg and former Ozarks wrestler Devon Jackson finished 7th at 60kg. Both qualified for the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament set to take place May 16-19 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Leslie Fuenffinger, 4th seed
win 8-0, 0:54 vs. Justin Friedman, Camarillo WC
win 7-2 vs. Taylor LaMont, Sunkist Kids
win 8-0, 2:44 vs. Dalton Roberts, NYAC
win 6-4 vs. Ildar Hafizov, Army WCAP

Joe Rau, 3rd seed
win 8-0, 1:42 vs. Juan Durazo, Oxnard
win 8-0, 0:45 vs. Vaughn Monreal-Berner, Marines
win 1-1 vs Ben Provisor, NYAC/NLWC
win 3-1 vs Patrick Martinez, NYAC

2019 Wrestler of the Year

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April 26, 2019

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The 2019 d3wrestle.com Wrestler of the Year is Darden Schurg of Wabash. Schurg capped a 26-1 season with a championship at 174 lbs. at the NCAA championships. He was the champion at the Michigan State and Concordia Opens, and he was 2nd at the Little State and Central Regional. He defeated the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 7th place finishers at his weight either during the season or during the NCAA tournament and was undefeated against DIII competition. He topped the defending NCAA champion at this weight in both the opening tournament of the year and in the NCAA finals. His only loss this year came in the Little State finals to the 2019 NAIA national champion.

A senior from Crown Point, Indiana, Schurg is a two time All-American and three time NCAA qualifier. He finished fourth at 174 lbs. in the 2018 NCAA Championships. At that event, he lost to the 2nd and 3rd place finishers while picking up a win over the returning runner-up in the consolation semifinals who had defeated Schurg in the quarterfinals in the 2017 championships. During his freshman year, he was injured after just two matches and missed the rest of the season.

Schurg’s record is now 107-16, and he is a three time NCAA qualifier, two time All-American, and a national champion. He has helped the Little Giants finish 3rd, 5th, and 9th in his three trips to the championships, and he is the second Wabash wrestler to be named Wrestler of the Year along with two time winner Riley Lefever. Congratulations to Darden Schurg.

Previous Winners
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

Millikin Full Time Assistant

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April 25, 2019

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Click Here for Full Posting and to Apply

Position Title: Assistant Wrestling Coach
Department: Athletics
FLSA: Non-Exempt

Job Summary: The Assistant Wrestling Coach is a full-time position and will assist the Millikin Wrestling program in all aspects led by the Head Wrestling Coach – recruiting, team development, home game management, day of competition coaching, fundraising and other duties common to a collegiate wrestling program.

Primary Responsibilities:
Assist in recruitment of quality wrestlers to the program. Help create a positive team culture that leads to success. Foster good relationships with the local high school coaches and the wrestling community.
Responsible for assisting Head Wrestling Coach in all facets of the team including the organization of practices, monitoring academic progress of the student-athletes, day of competition management and strategy.
Comply with all applicable Millikin University, CCIW and NCAA rules, regulations and policies.

Other Duties:
Other duties as assigned by the Director of Athletics.
A second duty may be assigned dependent upon on the candidate’s strengths and experience.

Minimum Position Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree
Previous coaching experience
Extensive knowledge of the sport of wrestling
Excellent organization, interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively to various audiences
Ability and willingness to work effectively in a team atmosphere in the Athletic Department
Strong commitment to the University and NCAA Division III philosophy
Demonstrate commitment to the academic and athletic success of the student-athlete

Osborn takes over Concordia

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April 25, 2019

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Quincy Osborn (middle) was named the head coach for the Cobber wrestling program.

After the departure of head coach Phil Moenkedick, Concordia-Moorhead has elevated assistant coach Quincy Osborn to fill the position. Osborn is in his second stint as a head coach, as he was head coach at Lakeland for the 2014-2015 season. He spent the past three seasons as an assistant at Concordia and also has been on staff at Ohio University and Buffalo. Osborn wrestled for Minnesota and Augsburg, and he won an NCAA title for the Auggies in 2007.

Osborn Named Head Coach
MOORHEAD, Minn. (4/24/19)—Concordia Athletic Director Rachel Bergeson announced that Quincy Osborn has been named the head coach for the Cobber wrestling program.
Osborn replaces Phil Moenkedick who resigned to take become of Dean of Students at Perham High School.
Osborn steps into the head coach position after serving as the full-time assistant for the team for three seasons.
“Quincy’s experience with college wrestling and the Cobber program made him a perfect fit for the job,” Bergeson stated. “Quincy will make this a smooth transition process and I am excited to have him lead the wrestling team as we go forward. He is an excellent leader and will carry on the tradition of Concordia wrestling.”
Prior his stint as assistant coach for the Cobbers, Osborn was the head coach at Lakeland College (Wis.) for the 2014-15 season. He has also served as an assistant coach at Division I programs Ohio University and State University of New York at Buffalo. Osborn started his college coaching career at perennial Division III national champion Augsburg.
I am thrilled to get this opportunity at Concordia,” Osborn said. “I believe in this institution, I have a great connection with the athletes on the roster and the program has excellent support. Concordia wrestling is in an awesome position and there is so much to be excited about.”
Osborn was a Division I wrestler in college and finished his career as a Division III national champion at Augsburg. He lettered three times for the Gophers and qualified twice for the NCAA national championship meet. Osborn finished fifth at 149 pounds at the Big Ten championship meet in 2005. He then transferred to Augsburg where he won the 2006-07 NCAA Division III national title at 141 pounds with a record of 44-2.
Osborn earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Augsburg in 2009 and then went on to obtain his master’s degree in coaching education from Ohio University in 2011.
“My vision for the program is clear, we will continue to emphasize lifestyle and character in order to help our wrestlers accomplish their goals and to develop into great leaders,” Osborn added. I believe by continuing to focus on our commitment to the process, and a championship lifestyle, we will be in a position to pursue team and individual success at the national level.”
Osborn will begin his head coach duties at the start of June.

Moenkedick steps down at Concordia

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April 23, 2019

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Concordia wrestling head coach Phil Moenkedick announced his resignation to take the position as Dean of Students at Perham HS.

Phil Moenkedick has stepped down after three years as head coach at Concordia-Moorhead, leaving the school where he won a pair of national championships as an athlete. He is headed to Perham High School where he will be the Dean of Students. Read on for more.

Moenkedick Resigns As Head Coach
MOORHEAD, Minn. (4/23/19)—Concordia wrestling head coach Phil Moenkedick announced that he will resign from his position effective at the end of May to take the job as Dean of Students at Perham High School.
Moenkedick said that the decision was very difficult and easy at the same time. “My wife and I are excited about the opportunities this move provides for our family,” Moenkedick stated. “This is a great opportunity for me to continue to have a positive impact on young people in the Perham Schools. Perham is home for Tara (wife) and I and we have a lot of family there.”
Moenkedick just finished his third season as head coach of the Cobber wrestling program. He helped Concordia to a national Top 25 ranking in each of his three seasons at Concordia and guided seven wrestlers to an appearance in the Division III National Championship Meet. He also had seven wrestlers earn All-Region honors and Adam Presler was named the winner of the NCAA Elite 90 award at the 2017 NCAA Meet. Moenkedick was the top assistant coach for the Cobbers for two years prior to being named the head coach in the summer of 2016.
“We are sad to see Phil leave Concordia,” Athletic Director Rachel Bergeson said. “He has done a tremendous job as a mentor to all the student/athletes and has carried on the successful tradition of the Cobber wrestling program. He made an impact on his athletes and the entire Concordia athletic department. He will be missed.”
Moenkedick was also one of the most decorated wrestlers in Cobber wrestling history. He won back-to-back national championships in 2010 and 2011. Moenkedick was also a 3-time All-American and is the all-time leader for wins in a career in school history. In the classroom Moenkedick earned CoSIDA Academic All-American honors in his junior and senior seasons and was a 3-time NWCA Scholar All-American.
“I am so grateful for my experience at Concordia as a whole and more specifically within the athletics department and wrestling program,” Moenkedick said. “I have been supported, challenged, and fulfilled in an abundance of ways. The people here are special and I feel very blessed to have been able to contribute to the mission of impacting young people in a very positive way over the past 5 years alongside others who are committed to that mission. I am excited for how the athletics department and wrestling program will continue to grow moving forward.”

Cornell Assistant Position

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April 11, 2019

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Full-Time Head Assistant Wrestling Coach

Cornell College, a residential liberal arts college, and a member of the Midwest Conference of the NCAA Division III located in Mount Vernon, IA, is seeking applications for a full-time head assistant wrestling coach.

This individual will assist the Head Coach with all aspects of the program including but not limited to:

coaching and developing student-athletes athletically and assisting in their personal growth as young people;
recruitment of qualified student-athletes;
designing and implementing training;
home meet and equipment management;
travel planning;
other administrative duties as assigned by the head coach

About Cornell College

Cornell College is committed to fostering a faculty and staff community that reflects its diverse student body. We encourage applications from candidates who share our vision for a campus that embraces differing backgrounds, viewpoints, and identities. We believe in the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion that serve to enrich and strengthen our campus community.

Cornell College is a selective liberal arts college distinguished by its One Course At A Time curriculum, which allows students more opportunities for off-campus study, full-time internships, and research blocks. Academic immersion and unparalleled flexibility attract an ambitious student body from nearly all 50 US states and territories and many foreign countries. External endorsements include selection as one of the Colleges That Change Lives, a U.S. News Top 100 liberal arts college, and a Fiske Guide to Colleges Best Buy. Founded in 1853, Cornell’s picturesque hilltop campus contains a mix of historic and modern facilities, ranging from the majestic King Chapel to the newly constructed Russell Science Center. It is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, an urban fringe community recognized by Frommer’s as one of “America’s Coolest Small Towns” and located in the heart of Iowa’s Creative Corridor.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required; experience in coaching at the college level is preferred. The successful candidate will have solid knowledge of the sport, be eager to learn and assist with all aspects of coaching, have strong people skills, be dedicated to enriching the experience of the student-athlete, and be committed to the development and success of the wrestling program. Valid driver’s license is required.

To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and list of at least three professional references through Cornell College’s online application system.

Click Here for Job Posting

2019 Coach of the Year

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April 9, 2019

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The 2019 d3wrestle.com Coach of the Year is Jim Moulsoff of Augsburg. Moulsoff led the Auggies to their 13th NCAA team championship and his second as head coach. Augsburg lapped the field at the 2019 championships, scoring 130 points, winning four championships, and taking home seven All-American awards. Augsburg nearly doubled the score of the second place team, winning by 64 points over Loras. David Flynn, Ryan Epps, Lucas Jeske, and Lance Benick won titles for the Auggies, with Victor Gliva, Alex Wilson, and Tanner Vassar getting on the podium as well. Epps and Jeske each won their second consecutive championship.

Moulsoff, in his fifth year as head coach, has led the Auggies to the last five of their 17 straight regional championships. The team was 11-1 in dual meets and won the NWCA National Duals for the second year in a row. Moulsoff has now coached 27 All-Americans in his five years and Augsburg has been in the top five of the NCAA Championships in each of his years at the helm.

Moulsoff began at Augsburg in 2007 as an assistant coach before taking over for the 2014-2015 season. All four of Augsburg NCAA champions and six total 2019 All-Americans are set to return to the Auggies next season. Congratulations to Jim Moulsoff, the 2019 d3wrestle.com Coach of the Year.

Previous Coach of the Year Winners
2018 – Eric Keller, Wartburg
2017 – Eric Keller, Wartburg
2016 – Bryan Brunk, Messiah
2015 – Eric Keller, Wartburg
2014 – Tim Fader, Whitewater
2013 – Steve Marianetti, Elmhurst
2012 – Jim Miller & Eric Keller, Wartburg
2011 – Mark Hawald, Mount Union
2010 – Dave Malecek, La Crosse

2019 Freshman of the Year and All-Freshman Team

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April 1, 2019

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The d3wrestle.com Freshman of the Year award is given to the top Division III wrestler who competed in high school in the previous season. The 2019 d3wrestle.com Freshman of the Year is Antonio McCloud of Mount St. Joseph. McCloud came to the Lions from Cincinnati’s Elder High School where he was coached by former Mount St. Joseph All-American Jason Roush. McCloud won the 2018 Ohio Division I championship at 220 lbs. before heading to Mount St. Joseph this season.

McCloud finished 8th at 197 lbs. in the 2019 NCAA Championships, giving the Lions their first All-American since 2014 and first for new head coach Charles Mason. In addition to his All-American Award, McCloud was the Central Region champion, and he won the Patriot Open, Trine Invitational, and Waynesburg Invitational while finishing second at the Spartan Mat Classic and sixth at the Pete Willson Wheaton Invitational. He finished the year with a 29-6 record with all six losses to All-Americans or NCAA qualifiers. He is the first Mount St. Joseph wrestler to win the award and the fourth winner from a team currently in the Central Region.

The 2018-2019 d3wrestle.com All-Freshman team is listed below. The team is made up of wrestlers who are listed on their respective rosters with freshman eligibility and placed in the top eight at the 2019 NCAA Championships. Please leave a comment if any other 2019 All-Americans belong on this list.

125 Carlos Champagne, Wabash, 7th
125 Eron Haynes, Nebraska Wesleyan, 8th
133 Levi Englman, Ferrum, 7th
141 Brady Fritz, Wartburg, 6th
174 Ben Sarasin, Chicago, 7th
197 Antonio McCloud, Mount St. Joseph, 8th

Previous Freshman of the Year Winners
2018 – Brett Kaliner, Stevens
2017 – Troy Stanich, Stevens
2016 – Angus Arthur, Adrian
2015 – Matthew Grossmann, Wilkes
2014 – Riley Lefever, Wabash
2013 – Josh Thomson, Messiah
2012 – Nate Giorgio, Coast Guard
2011 – Chris Burdge, Centenary
2010 – Kyle Kwiat, Ohio Northern

NWCA Academic Awards

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March 15, 2019

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The NWCA Academic awards were presented at the NCAA Championships to the top 30 teams and the individuals who became Scholar All-Americans. To become a Scholar All-American, a wrestler has to meet academic and athletic qualifications. A wrestler must achieve at least one of the following, along with the required GPA, to be recognized:

NCAA qualifier with a winning record
Regional placewinner (top 8) with a winning record and appeared in at least half of a team’s scheduled events
Won at least 2/3 of matches and appeared in at least half of a team’s scheduled events

List of 2019 NWCA Scholar All-Americans

The top 30 teams are calculated by calculating the overall GPA of at least six wrestlers who competed in the regional and up to four others who competed in at least half of a team’s scheduled events. Only ten total wrestlers from a given team are used to calculate the team totals.

2019 Team List

Rank	Institution	Calculated GPA
1	Johns Hopkins University	3.776
2	Baldwin Wallace	3.766
3	Wesleyan University	3.714
4	Stevens Institute of Technology	3.704
5	Ithaca College	3.668
6	Springfield College	3.665
7	Saint John’s University	3.650
8	University of Chicago	3.644
9	Williams College	3.627
10	Norwich University	3.620
11	Case Western Reserve	3.611
12	Muhlenberg College	3.608
13	Washington and Lee University	3.602
14	Messiah College	3.597
15	Wilkes University	3.586
16	Rochester Institute of Technology	3.545
17	United States Coast Guard Academy	3.537
18	Augsburg University	3.537
19	Cornell College	3.532
20	Trinity College	3.522
21	York College of Pennsylvania	3.519
22	Worcester Polytechnic Institute	3.515
23	New York University	3.508
24	Wartburg College	3.473
25	SUNY Oneonta	3.406
26	Heidelberg	3.399
27	Johnson & Wales University	3.396
28	Concordia College-Moorhead	3.389
29	Waynesburg University	3.360
30	University of Wisconsin-Platteville	3.359

Bracket Notes

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March 13, 2019

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Of the 20 wrestlers seeded 1st or 2nd, seven made the finals.

There were 21 unseeded All-Americans.

Two defending champions failed to place (Rathbun, 133; Evans, 285).

Two #1 seeds failed to place (Stanich, 141; Burns, 149).

One #2 seed failed to place (Bennyhoff, 133).

No #1 seed lost his first match. Two did last year (Pestano, 125; Stanich, 133).

Earliest a #1 and #2 seed met was at 149 in the round of 12 (#2 Cooper pinned #1 Burns).

Neither returning finalist at 133 placed. Of the 13 returning finalists from 2018, five returned the finals in 2019 (Albis, Warner, Epps, Jeske, James).

Recent unseeded champs: Ryan Budzek, TCNJ, 149, 2019; Devin Broukal, Wabash, 133, 2016; Devin Biscaha, Springfield, 157, 2013; Vincent Renaut, Merchant Marine, 165, 2010.

Seven semifinalists placed 6th.

Seed	# All-Americans
1	8
2	9
3	5
4	8
5	8
6	8
7	6
8	7
unseeded	21

All-Americans and Regional Performance

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March 12, 2019

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Mideast – 18
Upper Midwest – 18
Lower Midwest – 17
Central – 15
Northeast – 8
Southeast – 4

Unseeded All-Americans in Italics

Place	Name	Team	Region	Place	Name	Team	Region
125				165
1	Jay Albis	JWU	NE	1	Lucas Jeske	Augsburg	UM
2	Mike Tortorice	Whitewater	UM	2	Dempsey King	RIT	ME
3	Peter Del Gallo	Southern Maine	NE	3	Mark Choinski	Oshkosh	UM
4	Ferdinand Mase	Ithaca	ME	4	Eddie Smith	Loras	LM
5	Victor Gliva	Augsburg	UM	5	Nicholas Bonomo	Whitewater	UM
6	Cameron Timok	Central	LM	6	Kyle Hatch	Wabash	C
7	Carlos Champagne	Wabash	C	7	Taylor Shay	Roger Williams	NE
8	Eron Haynes	Nebraska Wesleyan	LM	8	Austin Whitney	Ithaca	ME
133				174
1	Jordin James	Mount Union	C	1	Darden Schurg	Wabash	C
2	Ben Vosters	Stevens Point	UM	2	Jairod James	Mount Union	C
3	Bobby Jordan	JWU	NE	3	Kyle Briggs	Wartburg	LM
4	Charles Nash	Baldwin Wallace	C	4	Daniel Kilroy	TCNJ	ME
5	Jake Giordano	TCNJ	ME	5	Tanner Vassar	Augsburg	UM
6	Yoseph Borai	Stevens	ME	6	A.J. Aeberli	Coast Guard	NE
7	Levi Englman	Ferrum	SE	7	Ben Sarasin	Chicago	UM
8	Kimo Dial	Merchant Marine	ME	8	Jacob Krakow	Loras	LM
141				184
1	David Flynn	Augsburg	UM	1	John Boyle	Western New England	NE
2	Chris Williams	Millikin	LM	2	Jake Ashcraft	Ithaca	ME
3	Clint Lembeck	Loras	LM	3	Khamri Thomas	JWU	NE
4	Ben Brisman	Ithaca	ME	4	Joshua Glantzman	Merchant Marine	ME
5	Evan Drill	NYU	NE	5	Kyle Peisker	Chicago	UM
6	Brady Fritz	Wartburg	LM	6	Dylan Roth	Heidelberg	C
7	Brendan Ladd	Alma	C	7	Nick Stencel	Whitewater	UM
8	Mario Vasquez	Ferrum	SE	8	Josh Edel	Coe	LM
149				197
1	Ryan Budzek	TCNJ	ME	1	Lance Benick	Augsburg	UM
2	Gregory Warner	York	SE	2	Keajion Jennings	Millikin	LM
3	Brett Kaliner	Stevens	ME	3	Riley Kauzlaric	Whitewater	UM
4	Alex Wilson	Augsburg	UM	4	Etiini Udott	Centenary	ME
5	Zachary Cooper	Alma	C	5	Taylor Mehmen	Coe	LM
6	Jarrad Lasko	John Carroll	C	6	Guy Patron	Loras	LM
7	Ryan Snow	Brockport	ME	7	Zeckary Lehman	Baldwin Wallace	C
8	Luke Hernandez	Mount Union	C	8	Antonio McCloud	Mount St. Joseph	C
157				285
1	Ryan Epps	Augsburg	UM	1	Garrett Wesneski	Lycoming	SE
2	Antwon Pugh	Mount Union	C	2	Adarios Jones	Augustana	LM
3	Cross Cannone	Wartburg	LM	3	James Bethel	Oneonta	ME
4	Brandon Murray	Loras	LM	4	Jake O`Brien	Ithaca	ME
5	Kaidon Winters	RIT	ME	5	Drew Kasper	Otterbein	C
6	Bradan Birt	Millikin	LM	6	Bowen Wileman	Wartburg	LM
7	Keone Derain	Elmhurst	UM	7	Konrad Ernst	La Crosse	UM
8	Grant Zamin	La Crosse	UM	8	Connor Calkins	RIT	ME

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