Wrestling411

Make a commitment. Get involved!

JanieLenz — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:52:22 +0000

For the past 2 years Wrestling 411 has been dedicated to the marketing and promotion of wrestling. Our sole goal has been to promote wrestling on all levels. Our final goal is to produce a weekly made for TV highlight show within the next 3 years that follows the action thorough out the college wrestling season.

In this past year we had over 4 million hits on the web/pod cast shows that we produced from December to March; had more than 350,000 unique visitors in the month of March alone, and produced a pilot highlight show. Wrestling 411 was at the Junior College National tournament and all 3 Division NCAA Championships and have worked closely with the NCAA in bringing a presents to all three NCAA Championships.

We are going to be taking the next 60 days off programming to fund raise and explore financial backing for the program. There has been support for the program these past 2 years that has allowed us to develop our internet/podcast/radio/highlight show but we now need a sustained effort and resources to continue the program. We need to raise $250,000 in the next 60 days (November 21st) to continue. All the funds raised go directly for expenses.

We are going to be calling on coaches, camps, organization, individuals, tournaments and wrestling teams to help us raise the support that is necessary. Many people and organizations in the past 2 years have proven by their financial commitment there is a need for this type of organization and promotion and now the wrestling community must support it in order for it to grow. Without the commitment and financial support of the wrestling community projects like this cannot and will not survive. Wrestling as a result will continue to remain where it is. We hope that you well get involved, help us meet this goal, and keep this great project going forward. We cannot do it by ourselves.

Make a commitment. Get involved, give Wrestling 411 a call, 612-812-0713.

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Harvard’s Jay Weiss talks Crimson with Wrestling 411

Jason Bryant — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:10:03 +0000

Harvard is one of the nation’s most elite and respected academic institutions. Jay Weiss is also one of the most respected wrestling coaches in the country. The F&M graduate starts his 16th year at the helm and talks with Wrestling 411’s Kyle Klingman and Jason Bryant about the past, present and future of Harvard wrestling.

What can Weiss look forward to this season with J.P. O’Connor and Louis Caputo leading the way? What true freshmen will make an impact in this year’s line-up?

Once an afterthought, Kerry McCoy has continued high hopes at Maryland

Jason Bryant — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:00:13 +0000

Kerry McCoy inherited a strong team at the University of Maryland and the first-year coach produced three All-Americans last season, leading the Terps to a 10th place finish at the 2009 NCAA Division I championships.

With Steve Bell, Alex Krom and Hudson Taylor return and the lineup will be bolstered by the return of Mike Letts off a redshirt, what does McCoy expect from his squad in his second year in College Park?

Kyle Klingman and Jason Bryant catch up with McCoy and talk about his upcoming season and the new additions to the Maryland coaching staff as well as getting his thoughts on diversity amongst the college coaching ranks.

Dennis Hall goes back to school at Northern Michigan

Jason Bryant — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:00:40 +0000

Dennis Hall, a 1995 World Champion and 1996 Olympic Silver Medalist, has been named the new head coach at the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan. Hall, a stalwart on the Greco-Roman scene through the 1990s, will lead the Greco-Roman athletes in a post vacated earlier this year by Ivan Ivanov.

For Hall, a Wisconsin native, the journey is two-fold. First is to continue to build world-level Greco-Roman athletes from the USOEC, and the second, to finish his degree.

List to what Hall has to say about his new post.

Joe Pantaleo steps back into coaching at Liberty

Jason Bryant — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:20:29 +0000

Joe Pantaleo was a two-time Big Ten and NCAA finalist while competing for the University of Michigan back in the 1980s. After several stints as an assistant and a jump into the “private sector,” Pantaleo joined the coaching staff at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

Pantaleo joins Jesse Castro’s staff and he talked with Jason Bryant and Kyle Klingman of Wrestling 411 about the move back into coaching and what called him to Liberty. He discusses what else can call people to a school like Liberty and also talks abwpout what it will be like to coach his nephew Joey on Liberty’s team.

Will the Gophers be Golden in 2010? Minnesota assistant Joe Russell chimes in

Kyle Klingman — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:42:16 +0000

There is much promise for this year’s Minnesota Golden Gophers wrestling team. After winning a team title in 2007, the Golden Gophers slipped to 10th place in 2008 and 14th place in 2009. But this year’s team has a different look.

Leading the charge is Dustin Schlatter, an NCAA champion as a freshman and this year’s freestyle world team member at 163 pounds. Following a redshirt season, Schlatter will move up to 165 pounds after three seasons at 149.

Oregon native Joe Russell spoke with Wrestling 411 about the potential of this year’s team, Brock Lesnar’s continued impact on Minnesota wrestling, the disappointment Oregon dropping two Division I programs, and overcoming adversity.

Gordy Morgan says yes to wrestling and no to burnout

Kyle Klingman — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:00:05 +0000

Gordy Morgan knows wrestling at all levels. As the club coach at the University of Minnesota he teaches college and post-college wrestlers. But Morgan also coaches youth level, working with kids at the state and national level at tournaments across the country.

Morgan, Greco-Roman Olympian in 1996, says American folkstyle wrestling is the king of all styles…but he is aware that focusing on Greco-Roman or freestyle exclusively can be an advantage internationally. And as the first head coach at the United States Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan, Morgan knows firsthand what that program has done for the sport.

Morgan chimes in on a variety of topics — including the burnout myth — with Wrestling 411.

Binghamton’s Pat Popolizio on building from the ground up

Jason Bryant — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:00:12 +0000

Until 2009, Binghamton wrestling had never had a wrestler achieve All-American status at the Division I level. The school had produced over two dozen as a Division III school and one during its short stay in Division II, the last coming in 1999.

With the resurrection of the program and new guidance by Pat Popolizio and staff, there’s a new excitement in New York as two Bearcats, Donnie Vinson and Jimmy Chase, represented the U.S. on Greco-Roman Junior World Team, a rarity for a school like Binghamton.

What’s in store for the Bearcats in the future? Can they look to challenge Hofstra and Old Dominion atop the CAA?

Arizona State’s Shawn Charles takes the long road to get back home

Jason Bryant — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:00:18 +0000

Shawn Charles took a long and winding road to end up back in his home state. The Tuscon, Ariz., native and four-time All-American at Arizona State is settling in to his new job as the head coach of his alma mater. He’s retained Brian Stith and brought in Bryan Snyder, Ben Askren, Raymond Jordan and Brandon Halsey to the coaching staff and looks to get things moving.

Charles, once a head coach at Fresno State, went from Fresno to Brown to Missouri before landing back in a head coaching position. Charles outlines his plan for success and talks about his opinions on the diversity, or lack thereof, in college wrestling at the head coaching level.

Charles has big plans. Find out what they are.

Barry Davis address some issues about dress, accountability

Jason Bryant — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:00:35 +0000

When Wrestling 411 set up this interview with Barry Davis, we were expecting to get some comments about the discussion at the NWCA Convention focusing on the potential shift in seasons. What we got was a very spirited discussion about some issues Davis found important for building the image of wrestlers, wrestling and coaches.

Wrestling 411’s Jason Bryant talked with Davis about issues brought up at the NWCA Convention as well.

Founder Jason Bross explains Pinning Down Autism

Jason Bryant — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:00:29 +0000

Jason Bross founded Pinning Down Autism, an advocacy group looking to expand awareness about autism and help raise money for the cause by putting on wrestling events and working with other foundations.

Wrestling 411’s Jason Bryant talked with Bross about the formation of Pinning Down Autism and what we as a wrestling community can support the worthy effort.

Looking to the future with Oklahoma State’s Eric Guerrero

Jason Bryant — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:00:07 +0000

After returning to the U.S. after helping lead the Junior World Team, Wrestling 411’s Kyle Klingman and Jason Bryant talk with Oklahoma State assistant coach Eric Guerrero.

Guerrero, extremely versed in freestyle, talks about the performances of Cowboys Jordan Oliver and Chris Perry in Turkey and what the squad looks for this season after an atypical year for Oklahoma State.

What’s Guerrero think about the upcoming season?