Chapman returns to Lakeland

By

-

August 25, 2017

I missed this one from last month, but Ben Chapman has been named as the Head Wrestling Coach at his alma mater of Lakeland College. Chapman takes over for Dillon Bera and has spent the past three seasons as the head wrestling coach at nearby Plymouth High School. Chapman graduated from Lakeland in 2010 and was a three time Northern Wrestling Association champion for the Muskies.

Chapman named new Lakeland wrestling coach
July 31, 2017

Ben Chapman, a standout wrestler during his time as a Muskie, is returning to his alma mater this fall to become Lakeland University’s head wrestling coach, LU Athletic Director April Arvan announced today.

Chapman, a 2010 Lakeland graduate, returns to Lakeland after several years of coaching and training high school and college athletes.

For the past three years, he has been the head wrestling coach at his high school alma mater, Plymouth High, after previously serving as assistant and head wrestling coach and strength and conditioning coach at Sheboygan North High School.

In addition, for the past five years, he’s worked as a fitness trainer at the Sports Core in nearby Kohler, Wis., and in 2016, he was named youth fitness coordinator for the Sports Core’s Boost Academy, which provides physical and mental training for young athletes.

Chapman, who received a bachelor’s degree in biology, was a three-time Northern Wrestling Association champion and team captain who helped lead the Muskies to three straight conference team titles.

“Throughout my wrestling journey, this sport has taught and given me more than I can describe,” Chapman said. “I appreciate this opportunity to give back to the sport and the school I love so deeply, and I welcome the responsibility to teach our student-athletes about commitment, sacrifice and persistence.”

Known for his versatility on the mat, Chapman won conference titles at Lakeland at 149 pounds, 157 and 174. As a senior at Plymouth High School, he capped an undefeated season with a state championship.

“We are excited to welcome Ben back to Lakeland to lead our wrestling program,” Arvan said. “His time at Lakeland and his accomplishments since graduation will make him a great leader for our student-athletes. We look forward to big things from our wrestling program.”

Millikin Assistant Position

By

AV

-

August 24, 2017

0

Millikin has another position open for this season. Read the description below and contact Head Coach Ryan Birt with questions.

Click for full description and to apply

Assistant Wrestling Coach Intern

Millikin University, a NCAA Division III member of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), is accepting nominations and applications for an Assistant Wrestling Coach Intern. Millikin University is a four-year undergraduate university with 2,100 full-time students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Fine Arts, College of Professional Studies, and Tabor School of Business. Millikin is situated on an attractive seventy-acre campus in Decatur, IL (population of 85,000) 180 miles southwest of Chicago, 150 miles west of Indianapolis, and 120 miles northeast of St. Louis.

This position reports to the Head Wrestling Coach. This internship is designed as an educational experience from August 15 through July 15 and is designed to give an individual with an interest in coaching the opportunity to hone his or her skill development and coaching ability in one or more position areas. The current appointment is for 11 months, with a possible one year renewal. Pursuing a graduate degree at a nearby university may be possible. You may view a complete position description at www.millikin.edu/employment.

Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and contact information for three professional references to millikin.edu/employment. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Employment and first day of work is contingent upon successful completion of background check. Millikin University is an equal opportunity employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Position Title: Assistant Wrestling Coach Intern
Department: Athletics
FLSA: Internship

Working Relationships:
Reports to: Head Wrestling Coach
Works Closely with: Athletic Department Staff; Wrestling Team Members

Position Summary: This position will report to the Head Wrestling Coach. This internship is designed as a 11 month educational experience from August 15 to July 15 and is designed to give an individual with an interest in coaching the opportunity to hone his skill development and coaching ability in one or more position areas. The appointment is for one year, with a possible one year renewal. Pursuing a graduate degree at a nearby university may be possible.

Values:

All employees are expected to uphold the values of the University. At Millikin University, we value:

• Commitment to the discovery of knowledge
• Civil debate
• Passion and enthusiasm
• Dignity and respect for individuals
• A diverse and inclusive community
• Integrity and responsibility
• Advancement of the greater good

Primary Responsibilities – Intern Functions:

Under the guidance of the Head Wrestling Coach, the Intern will:

1. Learn the process for recruiting successful student athletes.
2. Assist in recruitment and retention of wrestling players for Millikin University.
3. Gain an understanding for the role of the student athlete in a DIII Athletic Program.
4. Develop skills to compete for a full time assistant coaching position or graduate assistantship.
5. Serve as a position coach.
6. Develop ability to monitor academic progress of student-athletes.

Under the guidance of the Athletic Director, the Intern will:

1. Have an opportunity to gain an understanding of the structure and organization of the NCAA, specifically Division III.
2. Have an opportunity to gain an understanding of the role of athletics in a relatively small comprehensive University.
3. Have an opportunity to gain exposure to athletic operations and event management beyond wrestling.

Minimum Position Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Collegiate playing experience preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills

The stipend for this 11-month internship is $5500, and also includes a $1500 food allowance and on-campus housing. This internship does not necessarily entitle the individual a paid position at the conclusion of the internship.

Pitt-Bradford to Add Wrestling for 2018-19

By

AV

-

August 22, 2017

0

The University of Pittsburgh-Bradford will add wrestling for the 2018-2019 season. The school is located just south of the New York border and roughly 75 miles east of Erie. Pitt-Bradford has had a club team for the past few years, and the school will elevate the sport to varsity status next year. The school hopes to have a head coach in place by January. See the release below.

Pitt-Bradford to Add Wrestling as Varsity Sport

BRADFORD, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will add wrestling to its NCAA Division III varsity sports beginning with the 2018-19 academic year.

“We’re certainly aware of the passion and enthusiasm students and parents in our region have for wrestling,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, Pitt-Bradford’s president. “Accordingly, we’ve been planning and organizing the necessary resources to advance our wrestling program from club status to the NCAA intercollegiate level. The time has come to do so, and we’re now poised to begin competition at the Division III level in fall 2018. We hope the wrestling enthusiasts in our area will no longer feel they have to leave the region to study and wrestle.”

The Pitt-Bradford wrestling team will compete in an independent schedule made up of a combination of duals and tournaments. The Panthers will join the 104 other programs in NCAA Division III wrestling, of which 31 compete independently.

All Pitt-Bradford wrestlers will have the opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Division III National Wrestling Tournament, which has followed the Division I regional format since 2012.

Wrestling came to Pitt-Bradford two years ago when a group of students wanted to compete beyond high school. Andrew McRandal, a biology major from Pittsburgh, spearheaded the club along with a group of his peers. They received additional support from Rich Kahle, facilities and fitness manager; and Kathy Moonan, manager of accounts payable. Moonan’s son, Matthew, is studying business management and accounting at Pitt-Bradford and is an assistant coach for Bradford Junior Olympic Wrestling Club while filling in for the Pitt-Bradford wrestling club at times.

A significant boost to the wrestling club came when Kevin and Cindy Keane of Bradford gave a generous gift to Pitt-Bradford that covered the cost of new practice and competition mats and other one-time gear, rent for practice space at neighboring St. Bernard Elementary School, association dues, tournament entry fees, and transportation and lodging for the club’s meets.

Last year’s Pitt-Bradford wrestling club had 12 members, nine coming from the state of Pennsylvania, two of which local from Bradford and Coudersport. Two participants came from New Jersey while one each came from Ohio and New York.

The club competed at the USCAA Wrestling Invitational in State College (Feb. 11), a dual match at Penn State Mont Alto (Feb. 12) and the NCWA Mid-East Conference Championship (Feb. 25).

“I am very excited about our plans to start an NCAA Division III varsity wrestling program at Pitt-Bradford,” said Bret Butler, director of athletics. “Wrestling is not only extremely popular in our region, but it is simply a fantastic sport. We expect interest in our program to be very high, and I personally cannot wait to be sitting in the KOA Arena on a winter evening, watching our team in a dual. This addition will be great not only for Pitt-Bradford, but also for the Bradford sports community.”

A national search for a head coach will begin in October. Pitt-Bradford officials hope the new coach will be on board in January.

The addition of wrestling next fall increases Pitt-Bradford’s men’s sports teams to seven: baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, swimming and tennis. Pitt-Bradford also offers seven women’s sports: basketball, bowling, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

For further information about the new sports program, contact Butler at 814-362-5093 or bab15@pitt.edu.

Healey to become 2nd ever coach at King’s

By

AV

-

August 20, 2017

0

Adam Healey has been named the head wrestling coach at King’s College, the school announced on Wednesday. Healey has been an assistant at King’s for the past three seasons and will become the second ever head coach following the retirement of Ned McGinley who helmed the team since its inception in 1968. Healey is a Wilkes-Barre native who attended Wyoming Seminary and Bucknell University before getting his MBA from Wilkes. He takes over a team that is set to return 17 wrestlers including 2017 regional placewinner Eddie Merrill and 2016 regional placewinner Ralph Bernardo.

The season-opening Monarch Invitational hosted by King’s has been renamed the Ned McGinley Invitational to honor the outgoing coach who began the program and amassed 455 wins, 45 NCAA qualifiers and 18 All-Americans. Click the link below for the King’s release.

King’s Names Adam Healey Head Wrestling Coach, Becomes Just 2nd Coach in Program History Following Ned McGinley Retirement

Possible new DIII team

By

AV

-

August 14, 2017

0

Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, appears to be ready to start a new wrestling team that will begin competition in 2018. WrestlingTexas posted an article with some information about the new men’s and women’s teams from new head coach Troy Jewell. While the women’s team is set to compete in the WCWA, the status of the men’s team is a bit up in the air, which explains the headline above. Schreiner is a Division III school in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. No other school in the conference has wrestling, and the nearest DIII wrestling teams are the University of the Ozarks (618 miles), Huntingdon (892 miles), and Westminster (898 miles).

The info in the linked article quotes new head coach Troy Jewell as saying that the team hopes to give out scholarships and will potentially compete first in the National Collegiate Wrestling Assocation (NCWA) which is comprised of a mix of club teams and varsity teams not in the NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA. Coach Jewell also indicated the possibility that the team competing in Division II, but that would likely only be possible if Schreiner reclassified from Division III to Division II as an entire athletic program.

Schreiner University in Kerrville, TX to add Wrestling Programs (WrestlingTexas)

Quiros to lead MacMurray

By

AV

-

August 7, 2017

0

Alberto Quiros has been named head wrestling coach at MacMurray College. Quiros moves to MacMurray after spending the past five seasons as an assistant at his alma mater Augustana College. He helped coach three All-Americans and was a 2012 NCAA qualifier at 149 lbs. The 2012 CCIW Outstanding Wrestler and Great Lakes Regional runner-up compiled a 91-54 overall record. Quiros replaces Pete Di Pol who spent one season with the Highlanders.

MacMurray returned to competition in the 2016-2017 nine years after dropping the sport in 2007. 14 wrestlers competed for the Highlanders last year with six wrestling in the Central Regional.

Kihn to lead reborn Wilmington program

By

AV

-

August 2, 2017

0

Justin Kihn was announced as the new head coach at Wilmington College this week. He will take the reigns and build a team this year before the Fightin’ Quakers begin competition in the 2018-2019 season. Kihn stays in the Ohio Athletic Conference as he competed and coached at Heidelberg before taking on his current role. He was an All-American at Heidelberg and the OAC Wrestler of the Year as a senior. Wilmington will return to the mats after a seven year absence. Read on for more.

Kihn named @DubC_Wrestling coach
Jul 31, 2017
Wilmington College Vice President of Athletic Administration Dr. Terry Rupert is pleased to announce the hiring of Justin Kihn (pronounced Keen) as the head wrestling coach.

Kihn comes to Wilmington after serving as an assistant coach at Ohio Athletic Conference’s foe Heidelberg.

“We are thrilled to have a coach at W.C. with such impeccable wrestling knowledge and a great set of coaching mentors,” said Rupert. “Justin has major recruiting roots in some of the most fertile wrestling areas of Ohio that will serve our program very well.”

A graduate of Heidelberg, Kihn was the OAC Wrestler of the Year as a senior, and a Division III All-American. He finished fourth nationally (in the 141 weight class) at the NCAA Championships. Kihn was also an Academic All-American his senior year.

His wrestling highlights include being a four-time letter winner while helping the Student Princes claim two OAC championships. He was also a two-time wrestling captain at the ‘Berg.

Kihn has spent the last eight years as a counselor and technician at the nationally renowned Jeff Jordan State Champ camp. During his time with the camp, 682 state champions – including more than 130 from the state of Ohio – have participated in the prestigious camp.

Wrestling returns to WC in 2018 after a seven-year hiatus with the hopes of establishing a strong program and rekindling some of the great traditions of yesteryears. History shows a number of Fightin’ Quaker wrestlers that have won multiple conference championships and advanced to the national tournament. Indeed, W.C. Hall of Famer Jimmy Wallace won the 2002 national title in the 157-pound weight class and was selected as the NCAA National Tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOU JUSTIN KIHN

Jeff Jordan, Founder of Jeff Jordan State Champ Camp and Head Wrestling Coach St. Paris Graham High School

“I am really excited to see a young man like Justin Kihn hired as the head wrestling coach at Wilmington College. He is very connected in southwest Ohio, as well as the rest of the state. I have seen Justin build great relationships with many wrestlers, and he has positively impacted their lives. I’m confident he will build a winning tradition for the Fighting Quakers.”

Frank Baxter, Head Wrestling Coach Kettering Fairmont High School

“I think this is a fantastic hire for Wilmington College! Justin will be a strong, morally sound, and dynamic leader for the Quakers. I’ve known Justin, literally, since he was 5 years old. I’ve seen him commit himself to elite goals and be fanatical about improvement over long periods of time. He will recruit young men of high character and then help them grow on and off the mat. He has a vision for what the Wilmington College program can become and I know he will work extremely hard to make that vision a reality.”

Jimmy Wallace, Wilmington College Hall of Famer

“I’m excited Wilmington College is taking all the right steps to bring in a new wrestling team. One of those steps is hiring the new wrestling coach Justin Kihn. I believe he will do a great job building the program and developing a solid team for the Quakers. He is focused, driven, and has a positive attitude. After speaking with him, I’m confident he will give this challenge everything he’s got.”

Kevin Schiltz takes over at St. John’s

By

AV

-

July 21, 2017

0

St. John’s announced yesterday that longtime assistant Kevin Schiltz will take over the wrestling team and replace Tony Willaert. Willaert left to become the new head coach at Augustana when he was informed by the school that the head wrestling coach position was going to be reduced to a part time position. Read more at the 7th post at this link. Schiltz has been an assistant wrestling coach and equipment manager for the past 16 seasons at St. John’s. The Augsburg graduate was a three time All-American and finished 7th in the 1997 US Open. He has coached in Division I, II, and III. See below for the release from St. John’s.

Longtime SJU assistant takes over wrestling program
July 20, 2017

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Kevin Schiltz, a 16-year assistant wrestling coach at Saint John’s University, has been named head coach of the Johnnies’ program, athletic director Bob Alpers ’82 announced on Thursday, July 20.

Schiltz replaces Tony Willaert ’11, who was named head wrestling coach at Augustana College (Ill.) June 22. Schiltz will continue to serve as the SJU athletic department’s equipment manager.

“I am thankful for this opportunity to be the head wrestling coach at Saint John’s University,” Schiltz said. “I believe that I have a strong foundation here to build a program that everyone can be proud of.”

Schiltz’s tenure as an assistant coach at SJU covered three different head coaches: John Elton ’80 (2000-04), Brandon Novak ’01 (2004-14) and Willaert (2014-16). In total, the program produced 18 All-Americans, including national champions Novak and Minga Batsukh ’11 (three-time), and 53 national qualifiers in those 16 seasons.

“We are thrilled that Kevin has accepted our head coaching position,” SJU athletic director Bob Alpers ’82 said. “We had some outstanding candidate for the position, but Kevin’s combination of experience, both as a decorated wrestler and assistant coach, proves that he is the right person to lead this program. Our commitment to wrestling is strong and we are excited for the future of the program.”

A native of Albert Lea, Minn., and the 1988 Minnesota state high school champion at 185 pounds, Schiltz was a three-time High School All-American in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. He graduated from Augsburg in 1993 and was a member of two NCAA Division III national-championship teams with the Auggies (1991 and 1993). He was also a two-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Auggies’ football team.

Individually, Schiltz compiled a 150-28 record and was a rare four-time Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion and national qualifier, of which he earned All-America honors three times (third nationally at 190 pounds in 1989, fifth at 190 in 1990 and sixth at heavyweight in 1993). He finished fifth at the 1989 collegiate freestyle national championships and was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in September 2016.

Following graduation, Schiltz competed as an amateur on the national stage, finishing seventh at the 1997 U.S. Men’s Open (freestyle).

He started his coaching career as an assistant for two seasons (1996-98) at Division I Virginia and returned to Minnesota to serve as an assistant for one season at Division II St. Cloud State in 1999 before joining SJU.

“I have spent the last 33 years living in the wrestling community. I have had experience coaching at the Division I, II and III levels as an assistant under many head coaches,” Schiltz said. “I have seen what it takes to build a great program. I am going to work diligently with the current wrestlers and I look forward to recruit young men that will thrive in this community.”

Schiltz is the first non-SJU graduate to lead the wrestling program since Jim Lind, who coached the Johnnies for two seasons from 1979-81. Lind later served as an assistant football coach with the Green Bay Packers from 1992-98, and later the Seattle Seahawks from 2000-08.

Regional Proposal Sent to Coaches

By

AV

-

July 20, 2017

9

The NCAA Division III Wrestling Committee has sent a regional proposal to coaches and administrator for a vote and comment period in advance of the NWCA Convention August 4-6. All regions in the proposal have either 17 or 18 teams. Conference affiliation and team strength were two important factors used in creating the proposal. This proposal will be voted on and discussed before a final proposal is sent to the NCAA Division III Championships Committee for approval in September.

The wrestling committee is composed of:
Ron Beaschler, Head Coach, Ohio Northern
Roger Crebs, Head Coach, Lycoming
Scott Honecker, Head Coach, Williams
Dave Kemmy, Athletic Director, Roger Williams (term ends 8/31/17)
Nathan Shearer, Head Coach, Washington & Lee
Jeff Swenson, Athletic Director, Augsburg
Eric Van Kley, Head Coach, Central

Here is the roster for the Division III Championships Committee.

2017-2018 Regional Alignment Proposal | Map of Schools by Region

Lower Midwest (17)	Upper Midwest (17)	Central (18)
Augustana	Augsburg	Adrian
Buena Vista	Concordia Wisconsin	Alma
Central	Concordia-Moorhead	Baldwin Wallace
Coe	Eau Claire	CWRU
Cornell	Elmhurst	Heidelberg
Hungtingdon	La Crosse	John Carroll
Loras	Lakeland	Manchester
Luther	MSOE	Mount St. Joseph
MacMurray	Oshkosh	Mount Union
Millikin	Pacific	Muskingum
Nebraska Wesleyan	Platteville	Ohio Northern
North Central	St. John’s	Olivet
Simpson	St. Olaf	Otterbein
University of Dubuque	Stevens Point	Thomas More
University of the Ozarks	University of Chicago	Trine
Wartburg	Wheaton	Wabash
Westminster	Whitewater	Washington & Jefferson
		Waynesburg

Southeast (18)	Mideast (17)	Northeast (17)
Averett	Brockport	Bridgewater State
Delaware Valley	Centenary	Castleton
Ferrum	Cortland	Coast Guard
Gettysburg	Elizabethtown	Johnson & Wales
Greensboro	Hunter	New England College
Hampden-Sydney	Ithaca	Norwich
Johns Hopkins	Keystone	NYU
King’s	Merchant Marine	Plymouth State
Lycoming	Mount St. Vincent	Rhode Island
McDaniel	Muhlenberg	Roger Williams
Messiah	Oneonta	Southern Maine
Penn College	Oswego	Springfield
Penn State Behrend	RIT	Trinity
Southern Virginia	Scranton	Wesleyan
Thiel	Stevens Institute	Western New England
Washington & Lee	TCNJ	Williams
Wilkes	Ursinus	WPI
York

New Rules Approved for 2017-2018

By

AV

-

July 13, 2017

0

New rules for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons were recently published on the NCAA website. A link to the full update appears below, but some of the highlights include:

Facial hair is permitted up to 1/2 inch long, provided a proper skin check can be done
Wrestler can choose top, bottom, or neutral in a tiebreaker. Previously, one wrestler chose top or bottom for the first 30 seconds, and then the position was reversed in the second
Open tournaments may once again have high school entries. Matches against high schoolers will not count on the season record form
A wrestler may wrestle a maximum of six matches in one day (forfeits do not count against the limit)
Mandatory 30 minute rest between matches (rest time was just a suggestion previously)
When a referee is executing a count for a drop-down, and the defensive wrestler is in the process of scoring, the wrestling action can continue and the defensive wrestler afforded the opportunity to score. Once the scoring opportunity has passed, the stall call can then be issued.

The biggest change is the new neutral danger zone takedown. If a wrestler in the neutral position is stopped with his back at less than a 90 degree angle, a count will commence. If the official gets to three before the wrestler improves out of the position, a takedown will be awarded to the opponent. This will take some getting used to for wrestlers, coaches, and officials, and the first few weeks of the season will be interesting.

Notably missing from the final rules was the proposal to eliminate the requirement that wrestlers wear headgear. That proposal did not get past the Playing Rules Oversight Panel.

2017-18 and 2018-19 Major Rules Changes for Wrestling

Lakeland Head Coach Opening – Updated

By

AV

-

July 7, 2017

0

Lakeland University posted a head coach opening yesterday on the school’s website. Dillon Bera has been the coach for the past two seasons at the Plymouth, Wisconsin, school. This post will be updated as more information becomes available.

Lakeland University – Head Coach – Wrestling

Update from Lakeland

Bera resigns as Lakeland head wrestling coach

Dillon Bera has resigned as Lakeland University’s head wrestling coach to explore opportunities outside of coaching.

Bera served as the team’s interim head coach in the 2015-16 season before being named the program’s full-time head coach. He was at Lakeland for three seasons, having served as an assistant coach in the 2014-15 season.

Bera coached two Lakeland national qualifiers, Eddie Terres and Mitchell Fucile. In 2016, he was named the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association District 8 Coach of the Year, the first Muskies coach to receive that honor since Pete Rogers.

Bera came to Lakeland after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He started his coaching career after a four-year collegiate wrestling career when he was a four-time NCAA Division II All-American at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside from 2010-13.

A national search for a new coach will begin immediately.

Spence returns to Mount St. Joseph – updated

By

AV

-

June 30, 2017

0

Elliott Spence has been named the head wrestling coach at Mount St. Joseph University, according to a post on his Facebook page and a subsequent Intermat article. The Cincinnati native was an All-American for the Lions and replaces Brennan Ryan who held the reins for the 2016-2017 season. Mount St. Joseph took this past season off from competition as they attempt to rebuilt the program. That task will now fall to Spence as the Lions again take the mat in 2017-2018. This post will be updated once an official announcement is made by the school.

Update 6/30 – Story from Mount St. Joseph

Mount alum tabbed to take over wrestling program

Jun 29, 2017
CINCINNATI, Ohio– Mount St. Joseph University Director of Athletics Steve Radcliffe has named Elliott Spence as the new Head Coach of the Lions wrestling program.

Elliott Spence will replace Brennan Ryan as the leader of the Lions wrestling program. Spence is a 2004 graduate of Elder High School where he qualified for the Ohio State high school championship tournament three-times, placing in each of his three appearances. After his stellar high school career Spence decided to stay close to home and wrestle for The Mount. His career at the Mount was a stellar one, as he was a three time NCAA All-American. Placing eighth in the nation in both 2006 and 2007 at 157 pounds. In his senior year Elliott was the national runner up at 149 pounds. He was also a stellar student being selected twice by the NWCA (National Wrestling Coaches Association) Academic All-American.

After graduating from The Mount, he immediately began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delaware Valley University. In his time at Delaware Valley Spence coached seven NCAA All-Americans and helped the team to two top 10 team finishes. For his efforts he was named the NCAA Midwest Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2010.

After leaving Delaware Valley, he returned home to Cincinnati. Returning to the Elder program, taking over as the head coach at West Cincinnati Wrestling Club at Elder Junior High School, where he has been since 2012.

In an interview with intermatwrestle.com Spence said, “I am excited to take over the Mount St. Joseph wrestling program, I grew up a mile from the Mount and can remember going to their camps as a youth wrestler, and never thought that one day i would have the opportunity to lead the program.”

He went on to say, “Mount St. Joseph was once one of the best wrestling programs in the country and has a deep supportive alumni base. One of the first things I plan to do, besides recruit, is to get the alumni involved in the program. The Mount has wrestling alumni are coaching at high schools all over Cincinnati. A lot of them were a part of the program when the Mount was regularly sending wrestlers to nationals and they were returning as All-Americans. Those days will return in the near future.

Mount St. Joseph Director of Athletics Steve Radliffe had this to say about the hiring, “We are very excited to have Coach Spence return to the Mount and our wrestling program. When you combine his passion for the sport and the personal success he had as a wrestler here, I beleive he can provide young wrestlers a high level of coaching and leadership. The future of the Mount wrestling program is in extremely good hands.”

Please join us in welcoming Elliott back home to The Mount!

2018 NCAA Championships Site

By

AV

-

June 27, 2017

0

At the Cleveland Auditorium on a site visit for the 2018 NCAA D3 National Championships. Can’t wait to see this floor covered in mats! pic.twitter.com/Z5MFhK7SdP

— BW Wrestling (@_BW_Wrestling) June 27, 2017

Willaert moves to Augustana

By

AV

-

June 26, 2017

0

Tony Willaert has been named as the new head coach at Augustana College. Willaert spent the last six seasons at St. John’s and the last three as head coach for his alma mater. Willaert takes over for Eric Juergens who resigned at the beginning of May. The Vikings return two All-Americans from last year’s team that placed 17th in the NCAA Championships.

TONY WILLAERT NAMED TERRY & SANDY SHOCKLEY ENDOWED WRESTLING COACH
6/22/2017 10:58:00 AM

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Tony Willaert, most recently the head wrestling coach at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, has been name to succeed Eric Juergens as Augustana’s Terry & Sandy Shockley Endowed Wrestling Coach. Willaert will take over in 2017-18 as the 15th head coach in the history of the Viking program.

Augustana Director of Athletics Mike Zapolski indicated Willaert emerged from a solid field of candidates. “I am excited that Tony will be leading the Augustana wrestling program. We were fortunate to have a strong applicant pool for the position, and Tony has the vision and work ethic to continue the positive momentum established by Eric Juergens, said Zapolski. “Tony was an integral part of several solid teams at St. John’s, and has an excellent track record of identifying and developing young men who want to excel in the classroom and on the wrestling mat.”

For the last three seasons, Willaert has led the wrestling program at his alma mater—Saint John’s. He guided the Johnnies to a 6-5 dual-meet record this past season and third-place finish at the NCAA West Regional. He had four of his grapplers advance to the 2017 national meet, giving him a total of nine national qualifiers during his three seasons.

“I am honored to take over the Augustana wrestling program and look forward to picking up where Eric left off,” said Willaert. “I am anxious and excited to get started and I look forward to working with this team. This year’s team has great potential and the future is bright as well.”

Willaert’s charges also excelled in the classroom. Four of his athletes earned National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-America honors this year and the Johnnies posted the fourth-best team grade point average in the nation.

Prior to being named head coach at St. John’s, Willaert was an assistant on the Johnnie staff for three years. During that time, he mentored three All-Americans and seven Scholar All-Americans and helped lead SJU to top-three regional finishes each year.

In addition to leading the Saint John’s program, Willaert has been the head coach of the Central Minnesota Wrestling Club for the last three years. He trained a pair of state high school champions as well as a half-dozen All-Americans at the Freestyle/Greco-Roman National Championships in Fargo, North Dakota. He is also active with Minnesota/USA Wrestling and the NWCA/Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Academy.

A 2011 graduate of Saint John’s, where he majored in nutrition with a sports medicine minor, Willaert was a four-year letter winner. As a senior captain for the Johnnies, he was ranked as high as third in the nation at 197 pounds and qualified for the national meet, advancing to the round of 12. His performance helped SJU finish sixth in the nation.

Willaert inherits an Augustana outfit that finished 17th at the 2017 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. The Vikings crowned a pair of All-Americans—184-pounder Christos Giatras (Lemont HS, Lemont, Ill.) and 285-pounder Adarios Jones (Moline HS, Moline, Ill.)—both of whom are scheduled to return for Willaert’s first season in Rock Island.

Ice Hour 22: Jeremiah Tobias

By

AV

-

June 20, 2017

0

Subscribe to this show via: iTunes | Android | RSS

Entering his second season as the head wrestling coach at Alma College in Alma, Michigan, Jeremiah Tobias has been there and done that. He’ll talk about it on Episode 22 of The Ice Hour.

As an athlete, Tobias had high aspirations coming out of Manchester High School in Michigan as a four-time state champion. He went to the University of Michigan and spent his time fighting for time in the starting lineup, but opportunities to represent the Maize and Blue beyond open tournaments and an occasional spot start were limited.

When his athletic career ended, a coaching career began, first at the University of Wyoming, then to Division II Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina. Finally, Tobias settled back in his native Michigan where then-Alma head coach Todd Hibbs gave him a call. A few years later, Hibbs is in administration and Tobias is leading his own program, this time at the Division III level.

What’s he like about coaching in Division III, what about the opportunity for growth in Michigan and the story of how an Alma alum and Arkansas businessman has changed the course of the small college’s athletic landscape forever.

The Ice Hour is proudly sponsored by My House Sports Gear.

JOIN THE TEAM
And if you’re a fan of the extensive and broad-based reach of the shows on the Mat Talk Podcast Network, become a TEAM MEMBER today. There are various levels of perks for the different levels of team membership. If you like wrestling content — scratch that — if you LOVE great wrestling content, consider becoming a team member. You’ll get some cool stuff too.

Freestyle World Team Trials Preview

By

AV

-

June 7, 2017

0

A pair of former Division III wrestlers have qualified for the Freestyle World Team Trials set to take place on Saturday in Lincoln Nebraska. Nazar Kulchytskyy qualified on the strength of his runner-up finish at 70 kg in the US Nationals back in April. Joe Rau qualified by winning the last chance qualifier at 86 kg in Rochester, Minnesota, last month.

Kulchytskyy has been successfully competing in senior level freestyle events since he graduated from Oshkosh in 2014 where he won three NCAA championships for the Titans. He was 4th in the 2015 World Team Trials and came one match away from qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Trials. He was third in the Dave Schultz Memorial back in February was a part of the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club team that won the Clubs World Cup in November of last year. Kultchytskyy was the 2013 and 2014 d3wrestle.com Wrestler of the Year.

Rau was a 2013 NCAA champion and three time All-American for Elmhurst. He placed in the Midlands twice and has primarily wrestled Greco-Roman at the senior level. In 2014, he wrestled in the World Championships at 80 kg and University World Championships at 85 kg. He has won the Bill Farrell International Open and has placed multiple times in the US Nationals at weights ranging from 80 kg to 98 kg. He won the 2016 Olympic Trials but missed out on going to Rio when he did not qualify the weight for the United States. This year, he was the runner-up in the Greco-Roman World Team Trials at 85 kg. This loss prompted him to enter the Last Chance Qualifier in freestyle where he emerged victorious with a pair of falls and a pair of tech falls to earn the last spot at 86 kg in the World Team Trials.

Follow along on FloArena on Saturday beginning at 11:00am Eastern.

COSIDA Academic All-Americans Named

By

AV

-

June 6, 2017

0

The Division III Men’s At-Large Academic All-America team was named today by CoSIDA. First, second, and third team Academic All-Americans were named from those previously identified as Academic All-District.

The Men’s At-Large team is made up of athletes who compete in Wrestling, Fencing, Golf, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lacrosse, Rifle, Skiing, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, and Water Polo.

Daniel Del Gallo of Southern Maine, Stephen Jarrell of Johnson & Wales, and Riley Lefever were named First Team Academic All-Americans. Lefever was a repeat selection on the first team, while Del Gallo was a second team member last year. Lefever and Del Gallo were NCAA Champions this year while Jarrell was a runner-up.

Adam Presler of Concordia-Moorhead was the lone wrestler on the second team, and he was an NCAA qualifier this season.

Brandon Conrad of Lycoming, Lance Evans of Wartburg, Justin Kreiter of Luther, John Messinger of NYU, and Ben Swarr of Messiah were third team members this year. Conrad was a second team member in 2016 while Evans and Swarr are repeating on the third team. Swarr and Kreiter were NCAA runners-up, Evans was 4th in the NCAA, and Messinger was an NCAA qualifier.

CoSIDA Academic All-America Division III At-Large Teams

DIII at University Nationals

By

AV

-

June 5, 2017

1

There was a solid contingent of current and former DIII wrestlers at the University Nationals this past weekend in Akron, Ohio. DIII placewinners included:

Greco-Roman
59kg – Mike Fuenffinger, Augsburg – 2nd place
59kg – Nelson Baker, La Crosse – 5th place
59kg – Jared Brickley, Olivet – 6th place
59kg – Devon Jackson, Ozarks – 8th place
71kg – Isaac Dukes, Case – 3rd place
75kg – Alec Donovan, Centenary – 8th place
85kg – Richard Carlson, La Crosse – 2nd place
85kg – Jordan Newman, Whitewater – 4th place
98kg – Dan Olsen, Wheaton, 7th place
130kg – Donny Longendyke, Augsburg – 1st place
130kg – Justin Karkula, Eau Claire – 8th place

Freestyle
70kg – Cole Erickson, Coe – 6th place

Full Results at FloArena

Platteville Assistant Wrestling/Strength Coach

By

AV

-

May 30, 2017

0

Click This Link to Apply

JOB DETAILS:
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville seeks applicants for the position of Assistant Wrestling/Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Athletic Department. This is a 91% time, benefit eligible, 9-month basis position.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Required:
Bachelors degree
Minimum one (1) years of successful coaching experience on the collegiate level or 3 years experience on the high school level.
Written and oral communication skills
Knowledge of computer applications, including that for recruiting
Organizational skills
Event planning and camp experience
Fund raising experience and developing community support for the program
Demonstrated successful recruiting ability
Ability to manage multiple tasks
Ability to work weekends & evenings and also to travel
Ability to design and conduct in-season and off-season strength and conditioning programs for various sport teams.
Educational background, expertise or experience to serve as strength and condition coach.

Preferred:
Masters degree.
Recognized National Strength and Conditioning organization certification
Competitive experience on the collegiate level

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Duties include, but are not limited to, coaching, recruiting qualified student athletes to meet university enrollment goals, including use of recruiting software, fund raising, camp operations, developing community support for the program, monitoring academic progress of student-athletes. Prefer collegiate coaching experience and participation. Knowledge of NCAA rules. Candidates will also serve as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach developing and monitoring programs for various sport programs. Position will also have equipment duties and other duties as assigned to support the athletic department operations.

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION:
Athletic Department. Member of NCAA Division III, Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). www.letsgopioneers.com

CAMPUS INFORMATION:
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville, founded in 1866, enrolls about 8,000 students in 42 baccalaureate and 6 master’s programs. It possesses institutional strengths in middle level education, engineering, industrial technology, agriculture, criminal justice and business. The campus is located in Southwest Wisconsin’s largest and most historic community. The region offers excellent school systems, high quality medical and hospital facilities, outstanding recreational opportunities, and vibrant businesses and industries. UW-Platteville is a cultural and educational center for the Tri-State region of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.

TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION:
For full consideration, applications must be submitted by June 18, 2017. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

TO APPLY:
Applications are required to be submitted electronically through the UW-Platteville Careers portal. Please be sure to upload the following:

A letter of application addressing each of the qualifications required for the position;
A current resume; and
A list of three references (name, address and telephone number).

Questions about this position may be addressed to: Kara McCarville, mccarvillek@uwplatt.edu

MacMurray Men’s/Women’s Head Coach

By

AV

-

May 26, 2017

0

Pete DiPol had previously been the coach of the Highlanders for the 2016-2017 season, their first as a revived program. There has not been an announcement of his departure, but the following job advertisement is live on the MacMurray website.

MacMurray College, an NCAA Division III institution, is part of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC). MacMurray College is an independent, four-year, residential, baccalaureate college with a strong liberal arts tradition located in the affordable, safe and stimulating city of Jacksonville, Illinois. For more than 170 years, MacMurray College has been committed to prepare graduates for satisfying and productive professional careers, providing the tools needed for effective leadership and encouraging individual growth throughout one’s education and future endeavors.

MacMurray College invites applications for the full-time position of Head Wrestling Coach. The ideal candidate will have the knowledge and versatility to coach a variety of positions, skills, and techniques. This position may also include an additional responsibility such as teaching.

Responsibilities:

Primary duty of a coach is imparting knowledge by instructin student-athletes in how to perform their sport.
To fulfill all the responsibilities of an NCAA Division III institution head coach, including, but not limited to coaching, recruiting and budget management
To recruit high quality student-athletes to the institution.
Follow all conference, NCAA and MacMurray regulations and guidelines pertaining to the reporting of the statistics for MacMurray College athletic events.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree strongly preferred
Must have a minimum of three years coaching experience at the college level.
Must have a demonstrated ability to provide leadership both on- and off-the field
Must have a clear commitment to working in an undergraduate liberal arts environment and at an NCAA Division III institution.
Must have excellent communication and leadership skills.
Valid driver’s license with clean/good driving record and insurable

MacMurray College is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age physical or mental disability or covered veteran status. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. The College will not sponsor applicants for work visas. Interested applicants may send a brief cover letter describing your interest in this position, a résumé outlining your qualification for the position, and contact information including e-mail addresses for three professional references. Any finalist for the position must successfully pass a background screening. Applications will be reviewed immediately. All materials should be sent to: HR@mac.edu

d3wrestle.com