Coleman Scott 2nd at University nationals

Pat Galbincea of the Cleveland Plain Dealer covered the ASICS University and FILA Cadet National Championships over the weekend and Coleman Scott wrestled Franklin Gomez in the third round at 132 pounds of the University division. The following is his report on the match:


When over 1,300 wrestlers compete in a tournament like the ASICS University and FILA Cadet National Championships, it's often hard to focus on a highlight match.

But that was an easy task Saturday at the University of Akron. Wrestlers and fans alike knew beforehand that the third-round freestyle match in the University division between Franklin Gomez and Coleman Scott at 132 pounds was a no-brainer highlight.

Gomez, a junior at Michigan State, is the reigning NCAA champion at 133 pounds. Scott was the NCAA champ at the same weight in 2008 wrestling at Oklahoma State. Because brackets are randomly drawn, the winner is looked upon as the favorite to win the tournament.


And a great match is was, with the taller, rangier Scott edging the quicker Gomez, 1-0, 1-1. In freestyle, the last point wins a match even if the score is tied.

In the first period, Gomez's quick, outside single-leg takedown attempt was neutralized by Scott's whizzer. After 90 scoreless seconds, Scott won a coin flip and in the 30-second clench position, took Gomez down with a single leg.

Gomez shot in and completed a low double-leg takedown in the second period and his 1-0 lead appeared to be sending the match into a third tiebreaker period. Scott dashed those hopes, however, with a single-leg takedown in the final two seconds.

"I'm not upset I had to wrestle a good, tough guy like Gomez so early in a tournament," Scott said. "To win a championship, you have to beat everybody anyway, whether it's in the first round or finals. For me, though, this is a big win.

"I'm looking to make the World team, and two weeks ago in Las Vegas [at the U.S. Nationals] I wrestled the worst I ever have. So I came here refocused. That's why I was able to come back on Gomez in the second period. Funny, sometimes I wrestle better when I'm behind . . . I wrestle harder."

Scott finished second to his teammate at Oklahoma State, Jordan Oliver, when he decided to take an injury default. The move assured that Oliver and Scott would advance to the World Team Trials. Had Scott beaten Oliver, the former Easton star would have had to wrestle again for a true second place against Kent State senior Dan Mitcheff. Scott beat Mitcheff earlier in the tournament so he did not have to wrestle for a true second.

Sanderson hire pays quick dividends

From a story by Guy Cipriano (a former worker at the Observer-Reporter) in the Centre Daily Times.

. . . Speaking on a WSNU show hosted by Clinton County radio personalities John Lipez and Melissa Gee on Friday morning, Central Mountain stars Andrew and Dylan Alton announced they will attend Penn State beginning in 2010.

The juniors unveiled their decisions after an early-morning workout and before beginning the school day. The Altons are the first wrestlers to publicly commit to Penn State since last week’s hiring of Sanderson as head coach. Sanderson, an Olympic gold medalist and four-time NCAA champion, left Iowa State to become Penn State’s 12th coach last week.

“It was pretty exciting hearing that Cael was going to be the coach,” Dylan told the Centre Daily Times after the radio announcement. “Once we knew that, we wanted to go to Penn State.”

Andrew and Dylan, both of whom captured PIAA Class AAA titles last month, ended this past season as the nation’s top-ranked 140-and 145-pounders, according to Amateur Wrestling News. Andrew and Dylan are projected to wrestle anywhere from 141 to 157 in college. Dylan currently weighs two pounds more than Andrew.

The Altons were the most heavily-recruited wrestlers in Central Mountain’s 10-year history. The twins selected Penn State over Nebraska, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Iowa and Iowa State. Andrew, a friend of Oklahoma State redshirt freshman and three-time PIAA Class AAA champion Jordan Oliver, said Sander-son’s presence convinced the twins to select Penn State.

Brands rebukes Sanderson

This short article from the KIMT-TV Web site in Mason City, Iowa.

Iowa assistant wrestling coach Terry Brands says it was "shocking" to hear Cael Sanderson's comments about Penn State high school wrestling being the best in the nation.

"He's not from Iowa. He doesn't understand the state as much as maybe he should have or we thought he could have or as much as we do," Brands said. "I disagree with his comment but it doesn't mean that I'm right either. I like Iowa kids. I watched the Pennsylvania tournament this year...I watched the tournament in Des Moines and I like the style of wrestling that Iowa kids wrestle. That's just me. It doesn't mean I'm right. It was shocking to hear some of the comments he said about that."

Sanderson was introduced as Penn State's head wrestling coach on Monday.

Sanderson to Penn State

It didn't take long for Penn State to find a replacement for Troy Sunderland. The Nittany Lions hired legend Cael Sanderson to replace Sunderland. More amazing is that Sanderson left his alma mater, Iowa State, to take the job in Happy Valley. A lot of money must have been offered - one report had it at five years for $400,0000 per year. Sanderson said those reports are untrue. He made $130,000 as ISU coach last season.

During Sanderson's wrestling career at Iowa State (1999-2002), he went 159-0, won four NCAA titles and was named outstanding wrestler at the national finals after each gold-medal performance.

As a coach, he went 44-10, won three Big 12 Conference championships, qualified all 30 of his starting wrestlers for nationals, and earned 15 All-America awards and two individual national titles.

"It's been a real tough decision, and I never really consider leaving Iowa State," Sanderson, 29, told Gary Mihoces of USA TODAY. "It's just I think it's a better opportunity long term for me and my family. And as tough as it is, I'm excited to go that route."

Sunderland didn't have a shabby coaching career. A two-time NCAA runner-up as a wrestler at Penn State, Sunderland compiled a 115-90-2 record and had four top-10 team finishes at the NCAA tournament. He was in the corner when three Nittany Lions won national titles.

Trinity makes a good hire

The hiring of Mike Marino to replace Jeff Bricker as Trinity wrestling coach is a good move. Marino has been with the program since 1977 and the bet here is if you cut him open, he would bleed blue and white. He has been the junior high coach for most of his stay at Trinity and helped turn many unpolished athletes into champions.

Marino's name has come up before when there were openings but he has enjoyed his time in the junior high program and didn't want to give that up. But this was an opportunity he couldn't pass up, especially with his brother Butch pushing him to take the position.

Butch, Paul Reihner and Andy Migyanko are going to stay on as assistant coaches and Mike said he is getting interest from athletes who had left the program but now want to return. That's a good start.

Catching up with Kurt Angle

A good article on Kurt Angle was in the Philadelphia Inquirer this week. Here's the link:


www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/20090409_Kurt_Angle_Wrestles_On_.html

Sunderland out

This did not make much of a ripple on the Associated Press' state wire, but I am certainly surprised.

STATE COLLEGE (AP) — Penn State wrestling coach Troy Sunderland has resigned after the team dropped to seventh place in the Big Ten this season.
Athletic director Tim Curley said Saturday the resignation took effect immediately. The school will begin a national search for a replacement.

Sunderland coached 11 seasons at his alma mater, with four top 10 finishes at the NCAAs, including a third-place finish in 2008. The Nittany Lions slipped to 17th at nationals this season.

Legends results

Here are the results for the WPIAL Legends event at Chartiers Valley High School Saturday.

Blue Team 27 Gold Team 12

Chris Neidermeier dec Mike Goslicky (3-1)
Brandon Coury dec Mark Farrell (10-2)
Zac Bowman dec Mark Throckmorton (OT Rideout)
Kirk Main dec Mike Catalano (7-5)
Lanfer Simpson dec Tiny Anderson (4-3)
Mike Minella dec Bobby Owens (5-4)
JJ Zanetta dec Reimark Neidermeier (4-3)
Nick Hursky dec Jason Dami (3-0)
Mark Marshall dec Shane Tarap (5-1)
Chris Matarese dec Ryan Lang (3-1)
Matt Hill dec Aaron Gibbs (7-0)
Sean Clark dec Keilan O’Daniel (5-4)
Josh Testa dec Rico Borz (5-2)
Kurt Brenner dec Logan Downes (7-5)
Jay Robison dec Ray Brinzer (7-2)
Teague Moore dec Eric Albright (OT Rideout)


Also, if you would like to see video of the event, go to www.flowrestling.org.

Podish Freshman of Year in PSAC

From Clarion University

Clarion University freshman wrestler Clint Podish, a graduate of Waynesburg High School, was named today as the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference)"Freshman of the Year" for his accomplishments in 2009 from a vote by the PSAC head coaches.

Podish, who wrestled at 184-pounds for the Golden Eagles this season, put together a 20-15 overall record against mostly NCAA Division I competition and notched 4 pins and 4 majors among his 20 wins. Podish also placed second at the PSAC Championships and fifth at the Eastern Wrestling League championships.

"Clint is really deserving of this honor," said Clarion head coach Teague Moore. "Clint sat out last season, worked hard on his own, dedicated himself to the sport, did it right, and now has this accomplishment because of it. I'm proud that Clint is wrestling here at Clarion. He has a bright future ahead and will have the opportunity to accomplish a lot of great things in a Clarion singlet."

Podish, an undecided major at Clarion, is the son of Bob and Diane Podish of Sycamore, Pa. Clint had a high school career record of 100-24 at Waynesburg Central and was a 2-time "Beast of the East" placewinner. He was 41-4 his senior year.

Legends Night

"WPIAL Legends Night" is the brainchild of Thiel College Associate
Director of Admission and Assistant Wrestling Coach Jeff Linn. The event
will feature former high school greats, former state champions, and
former NCAA All-Americans all on the same mat.


The event will take place on Saturday at Chartiers Valley High
School. The doors will open at 6 pm and wrestling beginning at 7.
Tickets will be $5 for adults and $3 for children and will be sold at
the gate. Below are the bouts:



Feature Bouts:
Teague Moore (North Allegheny, 1995) vs. Eric Albright (Red Lion,
2005)-filling in for injured Mark McKnight
Ray Brinzer (North Allegheny, 1990) vs. Jay Robison (Hampton, 1993)

College Bouts:
Josh Testa (Hempfield, 2006) vs. Rico Borz (Bethel Park, 2008)
Kurt Brenner (Freedom, 2004) vs. Logan Downes (Valley, 2005)

Other Bouts:
Ryan Lang (Gateway, 1993) vs. Chris Matarese (Kiski Area, 1997)
Keilan O'Daniel (Canon-McMillan, 1994) vs. Sean Clark (Elderton, 1996)
Mark Farrell (Southmoreland, 1998) vs. Brandon Coury (South Park, 2004)
Aaron Gibbs (Canon-McMillan, 1999) vs. Matt Hill (Freedom, 2002)
J.J. Zanetta (Keystone Oaks, 2003) vs. Reimark Neidermeier (Waynesburg,
2002)
Mike Catalano (Canon-McMillan, 2005) vs. Kirk Main (McGuffey, 2003)
Mark Thockmorton (Waynesburg, 2004) vs. Zac Bowman (Canon-McMillan,
2003)
Bobby Owens (Canon-McMillan, 1993) vs. Mike Minella (Chartiers Valley,
1997)
Shane Tarap (Canon-McMillan, 1991) vs. Mark Marshall (Burgettstown,
1981)
Nick Hursky (Chartiers Valley, 2003) vs. Jason Dami (Canon-McMillan,
1995)
Tiny Anderson (Greensburg Salem, 1991) vs. Lanfer Simpson (Waynesburg,
2000)
Mike Goslicky (Thomas Jefferson, 2003) vs. Chris Neidermeier
(Waynesburg, 2005)