Vote on every device you have. Phone, computer, Ipad, etc they all work and you can vote on each device once every day! Get everyone you know to do the same!

Wrestling doesn’t need to only win this poll, we must DOMINATE!! We need to make dropping wrestling from the Olympics as difficult as possible for the IOC. Let’s DOMINATE this poll.

Go to work!

Executive Committee Members:
(Address at bottom)

Mr Ching-Kuo WU – TPE (Chinese Taipei)

Mr Willi KALTSCHMITT LUJÁN – GUA (Guatemala)

Count Jacques ROGGE – BEL (Belgium)

Mr Thomas BACH – GER (Germany)

Sir Craig REEDIE – GBR (Great Britain)

Dr René FASEL – SUI (Switzerland)

Mr Sam RAMSAMY – RSA (South Africa)

Mr Patrick Joseph HICKEY – IRL (Ireland)

Mrs Gunilla LINDBERG – SWE (Sweden)

Ms Nawal EL MOUTAWAKEL – MAR (Morocco)

Mr Ser Miang NG – SIN (Singapore)

Mr John D. COATES, AC – AUS (Australia)

Mr Juan Antonio SAMARANCH JR – ESP (Spain)

Mr Sergey BUBKA – UKR (Ukraine)

Mrs Claudia BOKEL – GER (Germany)
————————————————————————-

I.O.C.
Château de Vidy
Case postale 356
1001 Lausanne
Switzerland
Phone +41 21 621 61 11
Fax +41 21 621 62 16

Note: this proposal is not to replace our current NCAA Championship. The current NCAA Championship is the crown jewel of college wrestling and we don’t want to messing with it. This proposal is simple. It takes a weekend that we are already wrestling duals and uses these duals to hit our objectives.

Dual Series

Quick overview:

We predetermine 8 B1G Conference sites based on attendance histories as part of a Championship Dual Series. After regular season and conference duals are completed, the Championships duals are assigned to a school. The winners of their conferences are also assigned to a site. The teams wrestle a “championship dual series.” The top dual will feature whoever wins the B1G Conference and the highest ranked conference champion from the other conferences. In football, teams are “assigned” to bowls. In this proposal, the bowl (dual) would be assigned to a team.

Details:

8 Predetermined Sites based on home attendance histories. We need ticket sales to guarantee revenue and cover expenses of last minute travel. The sites would change each year based the previous year’s attendance figures. (We could have more sites and more teams involved but based on attendance histories it doesn’t look like they will generate revenue. We could grow and add more each year based off of success.)

The sites are B1G schools (this is not ideal but I think works best after playing with other scenarios

Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State, Ohio State, Nebraska, Michigan, Illinois, Northwestern , Michigan State, Purdue, Indiana, Wisconsin (the bottom three of the 8 would likely rotate annually and add incentive to grow attendance.

Troubleshooting: If we gave the sites to the top 8 attendance bases nationwide instead of just B1G we would likely not have the same big time match ups in the Championship Dual Series. Attendance figures are usually centered on competitiveness of teams. If we give the sites to all of the biggest attendance bases we would not have a real competitive Championship Dual Series. If the top two teams are from the B1G Conference, it does not matter, the regular season conference dual champion hosts the “the National Champions Dual.” One the same token if the two top teams are outside the B1G Conference, again it doesn’t matter, that is the risk but the whole system works better. Also this eliminates top teams in the same conference from re-wrestling a dual for the dual championship. This puts more emphasis on regular season duals.

We sell each of 8 Dual Championships to Sponsors. We would sell the top dual as the “Championship Dual” and the dual featuring the B1G runner-up as the “bronze medal dual” .The sponsorships prices would be based on the dual sold. All duals will feature a conference champion vs. a top8 B1G team. It would be a big deal for sponsors to get the championship dual named after them, especially when it is on TV.

For example, it would be known that the “Asics Bowl” will be the national dual championship just like the Tostitos Bowl or whatever it is in football.

The Bowl names will be awarded after our conference dual seasons end and would look something like this.
Championship Dual Series

(#1 Dual “Asics Bowl”) B1G #1 vs. EIWA #1 (or Big 12 #1 or who is non B1G team ranked the championship

(#2 Dual “K-Mart Bowl”) B1G #2 vs. Big 12 #1
(#3 Dual “Flo Bowl”) B1G #3 vs. PAC 12 #1
(#4 Dual “Undefeated Cookie Bowl) B1G #4 vs. MAC #1
(#5 Dual “Black & Decker Bowl”) B1G #5 vs. ACC #1
(#6 Dual “Home Depot Bowl) B1G #6 vs. Southern Conference #1
(#7 Dual “Lamisil Bowl”) B1G #7 vs. EWL #1
(#8 Dual “Target Bowl”) B1G #8 vs. WWC #1
Etc., etc.

So each conference champion (make duals more important) is invited to a bowl.

-Each bowl is at a place that has a big crowd so there will be revenue sharing between the two schools involved.

-we know where bowls will be we just don’t know which one will be where…exciting. The bigger the bowl the more the money, more fun for fans. This way we advertise on our schedules months in advance.

-we secure television for the big bowls and as many as possible, I assume B1G Network has first right of refusal but I don’t see why ESPN, PAC 10 (the dual with their champion) etc

-we would need to wrestle conference duals earlier if possible so we could establish who has what dual and what teams would be traveling to our schools to save money. Knock out 3-4 conference duals before Christmas.

- have the Championship Dual Series two weeks before the B1G Championships

We get sponsors, especially if on TV, make money and share with the teams invited so winning their conferences is a bigger deal.

This proposal attempts to solve all of our objectives by simply adding one more dual each season. That is better for the welfare of student-athletes and will help our sport’s concerning APR scores.

1. Foundation sport. Wrestling is the perfect foundation for all other sports. Wrestling is balance, agility, hand –eye coordination, flexibility, positioning, strength, speed, explosiveness, footwork, hustle, mental focus, mental toughness, core strength, concentration, competition, and endurance. Wrestling will make our youth better at all other sports.

2. Fun. Wrestling is a game. It is the most basic and instinctual game. Toddlers wrestle. The sport of wrestling is the ultimate competition where two individual take their individual strengths and match them up against each other. Wrestling is a battle of wits, technique, speed, agility, flexibility, and toughness. No two wrestlers are alike. Fun stuff!!

3. Exercise. Wrestling is one the world’s most premier physical fitness sports. Wrestling develops strength and endurance. Poor health is a major issue in our society today and wrestling will help develop a love of exercise and physical fitness in our youth.

4. Self-confidence. Very little is accomplished without self-confidence. Wrestling teaches self-confidence like nothing else I know outside of religion and knowing that you are a child of God. Insecure people have the most difficult time learning from others and make progress even more difficult than it already is. Wrestling teaches hard work, self-improvement, sense of accomplishment, camaraderie of team, 1 on 1 aspect, and self-defense to name a few. These promote self-worth, respect and confidence.

5. Self-defense. Although wrestling is not commonly considered a “martial art,” it is the #1 base discipline in the world of MMA. Wrestlers know how to defend themselves and neutralize threats quickly. Wrestling is controlling an opponent. If you want your kids to know how to defend themselves, put them in wrestling.

6. Humility. Nothing teaches humility better than a 1-on-1 sport. Winning and losing in a 1-on-1 setting brings humility. There is nowhere to hide and no one to blame but yourself. All wrestlers will lose at some point and doing so in these conditions teaches humility. Hard work and discipline are two keys to success in wrestling and both teach humility.

“…I learned a lot about taking responsibility for my actions when I wrestled for 4 years…All professional athletes ought to spend a year wrestling. It teaches you something, You get pinned; you can’t blame the coach. You can’t blame your teammates. The guy you are looking for is staring back at you in the mirror” –former Phillies pitcher Mitch Williams

7. Respect. The challenges of being a wrestler teach you to respect yourself. After you learn to respect yourself you will learn to respect others. You learn to respect your team mates as well as your opponents. You learn to listen to and respect your coach. After you learn to respect others you are able to learn from them, a life lesson.

8. Self-discipline. Wrestling is discipline. Repetition of drills, hard work, weight management, and continually doing the best thing instead of the easiest thing is discipline. Wrestling requires postponing instant “wants” to gain something more valuable long term. It takes discipline and focus to reach goals.

9. Roadmap to success. Wrestling is the perfect example of what it takes to be successful in life. Goal setting, hard work, determination, focus, love of challenges, love of competition, confidence, being coachable, mental toughness, discipline, creativity, team work and accountability.

10. Toughness. Wrestling is a physical, contact sport. You learn that sometimes you just get poked in the eye. Physical and mental toughness go hand in hand. You learn that a little pain or struggle is part of the process of doing great things.

“In June of 1965, a group of brethren in the Physical Facilities Department of the Church was doing some work outside the Hotel Utah apartment of President David O. McKay. As President McKay stopped to explain to them the importance of the work in which they were engaged, he paused and told them the following:

Let me assure you, Brethren, that some day you will have a personal priesthood interview with the Savior, Himself. If you are interested, I will tell you the order in which He will ask you to account for your earthly responsibilities.

First, He will request an accountability report about your relationship with your wife. Have you actively been engaged in making her happy and ensuring that her needs have been met as an individual?

Second, He will want an accountability report about each of your children individually. He will not attempt to have this for simply a family stewardship but will request information about your relationship to each and every child.

Third, He will want to know what you personally have done with the talents you were given in the pre-existence.

Fourth, He will want a summary of your activity in your Church assignments. He will not be necessarily interested in what assignments you have had, for in his eyes the home teacher and a mission president are probably equals, but He will request a summary of how you have been of service to your fellowmen in your Church assignments.

Fifth, He will have no interest in how you earned your living, but if you were honest in all your dealings.

Sixth, He will ask for an accountability on what you have done to contribute in a positive manner to your community, state, country and the world. [From Notes of Fred A. Baker, Managing Director, Department of Physical Facilities]”

Sophomore Matt Brown heads intot he season ranked No. 7 in WIN Magazine’s pre-season rankings at 174.

Sept. 14, 2012

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team, the two-time defending NCAA and Big Ten Champions, will head into the 2012-13 season ranked No. 1 in WIN Magazine’s Pre-Season Tournament Power Index. In addition, head coach Cael Sanderson has seven wrestlers ranked individually, each of whom is ranked in the top eight.

Penn State is ranked No. 1 in the team TPI, which efforts to rank according to predicted tournament finish. The Nittany Lions check in with 97.5 points, almost 20 points ahead of second-place Iowa, which has 79.5 points and six wrestlers in the top eight. Oklahoma State rounds out the top three with 79.0 points and five wrestlers in the top eight.

Minnesota is back in fourth with 77.0 point and five top-eight individuals while Ohio State is in fifth with 65.0 and four. In all the Big Ten holds four of the top five spots with Northwestern checking in at No. 10 with 31.5 points as well.

Sophomore Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.) enters the season ranked No. 2 at 125. Megaludis was a freshman All-American and national runner-up last season and ended a stellar true freshman campaign with a 28-8 overall record. Megaludis lost a close decision to current No. 1 Matt McDonough of Iowa in the national finals.

Sophomore Andrew Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) will head into the season ranked No. 8 at 149. With Penn State graduating four-time All-American and ’12 NCAA Champion Frank Molinaro, Alton steps in at 149 after a red-shirt season. As a true freshman in 2010-11, Alton went 30-10 and was a NCAA quarterfinalist. He dazzled Penn State fans with 18 pins as well.

Sophomore Dylan Alton (Mill Hall, Pa.) heads into the new campaign ranked No. 3 nationally at 157. Alton capped of an All-American season last year with a third place finish at NCAAs and ended the year with a 30-6 record. National finalists Kyle Dake of Cornell and Derek St. John of Iowa sit No. 1 and No. 2 at 157.

Defending NCAA Champion David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) heads into the season ranked No. 1 at 165. Taylor, the 2012 Hodge Trophy Winner as the national wrestler of the year, is the two-time Big Ten Wrestler of the Year and won the NCAAs Most Dominant Wrestler Award as well. He posted a perfect 32-0 record last season and heads into his junior campaign with a 70-1 career record as a two-time All-American.

Sophomore Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) was among the best 174 pounders in the nation last season, but with teammate Ed Ruth on his way to an undefeated season, Brown was unable to compete in the post-season. Still, the Nittany Lion ended the year with a 27-2 record and was the only wrestler to push Ruth last year, losing a 6-3 decision in the Southern Scuffle finals. Brown enters the year ranked No. 7 by win at 174.

Defending NCAA Champion Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) will move up a weight this season to 184 and heads into the year ranked No. 1 at the new slot. Ruth was a perfect 31-0 at 174 a year ago, rolling to the NCAA title and becoming a two-time All-American. The Harrisburg native was Intermat’s National Wrestler of the Year as well and heads into his junior season with a 69-2 career record.

NCAA Champion Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.), the champion at 184 in 2011 and national runner-up last year, moves up to 197 this year and enters the year ranked No. 2 at his new weight. Wright went 30-4 last season and is ranked behind only Kent State’s Dustin Kilgore, who red-shirted a year ago. Wright is a three-time All-American and heads into his final season with Penn State carrying an 84-23 career record.

Penn State will begin the new season on Nov. 1 when it hosts its Intrasquad Scrimmage at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. Ticket information for the 2012-13 season is forthcoming very soon. The season ticket package will include seven home duals (the Intrasquad is a free event and the package does not include the Nittany Lion Open). For information on Penn State wrestling tickets simply call 1-800-NITTANY or check online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstateWRES and on Penn State Wrestling’s facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling.

…..Developing Story……

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA — Federal authorities are investigating a possible point shaving scandal reported to ESPN. Citing anonymous sources that have knowledge of the scandal, the FBI began an investigation into the 15 – 13 victory by Team Skins. NCAA officials are also looking into the situation. In a written statement, an official for the NCAA said they take point shaving allegations very seriously because it threatens the core values of the organization. The two athletes in question, Nico Megaludis and Mark McNight, could not be reached for comment. In the game in question, the two athletes combined for 23 turnovers and 47 unforced errors. The team leader of Team Skins, Matt Brown, has been known to associate with several notable Las Vegas sports bookies. When asked about the situation, Matt insisted on answering the questions in Portuguese, but no translator was available. Two time league MVP of Team Shirts, Coach Cody was asked to comment on the situation, he replied, “Adversity”.

*In a related story, after his performance in the game in question, Coach Cody became a lock for this seasons “sixth man award”. Team shirts had fallen behind 7-2, when he entered the game. While he was on the mats, his team outscored their opponents by a score of 11-8.

By Cody Sanderson

Here are some of the arguments we have been making the last three weeks to the 77 Div1 programs in order to oppose the National Duals proposal and STOP THE VOTE.

Why oppose the National Duals proposal?

-there should be data, supporting evidence to support such a drastic change – we have none.

-the question posed at the NWCA Convention was: BY A SHOW OF HANDS “Who is in favor of the national duals?” Somehow that turned into an unanimous decision to fundamentally change college wrestling and change the NCAA National Team Championship to the National Duals by the 2012-2013 season.

-After some uproar and demand for clarity, 20-24 days after the NWCA Convention college coaches were presented the ”official proposal” by the B1G Conference Office.

-because they are dismantling the greatest wrestling tournament in the world. The ticket sales, excitement, media coverage and TV coverage continue to increase year after year.

-Because this proposal is being pushed using the argument “To get what we have never had, we must do what we have never done”. ironically, this proposal is in direct contrast to that argument. We have been trying for 25 years to make the National Duals work and still have not created a satisfactory result. Is this not continuing to do the same thing (disguised a little differently) and expecting a different result? Yes.

-because the less funded programs will suffer. A team with partial scholarships will struggle to compete. Not having a chance to compete in the National Team Championship makes a program less relevant. How many years of not even sniffing at qualifying for the National Team Dual Championship will an AD put up before considering reducing support or changing divisions? Can we afford to lose more programs as we trial run the national duals for the 26th time?

-because the reason we have a national championship is to determine the best team in the nation. Dual meets are subjective to “line-ups”and not the best way to determine real champion. The brilliance of the traditional format is that it “corrects” for the statistical problems with a larger “sample size.

-The current and traditional method for determining the National Champion team is superior to the dual meet proposal.

In the following example the rankings are ARBITRARY – Don’t get hung up on the actual number.
The important part is the relativity of the numbers.
The purpose is to demonstrate how two equal teams have very different results based on individual match ups.
Between Examples 1 and 2, the “balance” of the teams is exactly the same.
Team B and C are EXACTLY the same in strength.
But because of “match-ups”, the results are very different.
In varying degrees, this happens in every single dual meet wrestled.
As you can see, dual matches are very subjective to match ups. (sorry couldn’t get file to copy/paste well)
Example 1
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
TEAM A – Flying Ducks
TEAM B – Big Bears
Results with no upsets
Results with Upset at 157
125
Ranked #1
vs
Ranked #2
3-0
3-0
133
Ranked #1
vs
Ranked #2
6-0
6-0
141
Ranked #1
vs
Ranked #2
9-0
9-0
149
Ranked #1
vs
Ranked #2
12-0
12-0
157
Ranked #1
vs
Ranked #2
15-0
12-3
165
Ranked #3
vs
Ranked #4
18-0
15-3
174
Ranked #3
vs
Ranked #4
21-0
18-3
184
Ranked # 3
vs
Ranked #4
24-0
21-3
197
Ranked #3
vs
Ranked #4
27-0
24-3
285
Ranked #3
vs
Ranked #4
30-0
27-3
Example 2
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Team A – Flying Ducks
Team C – Wild Dogs
Results with no upsets
Results with Upset at 157
125
Ranked #1
vs
Ranked #4
3-0
3-0
133
Ranked #1
vs
Ranked #4
6-0
6-0
141
Ranked #1
vs
Ranked #4
9-0
9-0
149
Ranked #1
vs
Ranked #4
12-0
12-0
157
Ranked #1
vs
Ranked #4
15-0
12-3
165
Ranked #3
vs
Ranked #2
15-3
12-6
174
Ranked #3
vs
Ranked #2
15-6
12-9
184
Ranked #3
vs
Ranked #2
15-9
12-12
197
Ranked #3
vs
Ranked #2
15-12
12-15
285
Ranked #3
vs
Ranked#2
15-15
12-18
-The reason we have a national championship is to determine the best team in the nation.

-because the current system is a true “Team” Championship. Every individual can qualify their weight class for the NCAA Tournament throughout the season. That makes every match (and dual) matter. In the end only 33 student-athletes advance to the NCAA Championships. The team members that are most capable of scoring have demonstrated their ability and are participating in the event. This is not a problem with our sport and doesn’t distract from the excitement of the team race.

-because it is better to have 77 teams represented at the NCAA Team Championship even if several programs are only represented by 2 or 3 of their student-athletes. It is better to have only a few individuals competing than to have no representation at the Team Championship.

-because the reason the NCAA Championship sells-out is that participants and fans from 77 programs are there.

-because of the 50+ schools that are sitting at home in February while the “same old teams” wrestle for a championship and receive no media attention

-because this will not help build home duals for the schools that actually need the help. Half of the D1 programs don’t have a chance to qualify for the National Duals so how does that help grow home attendance? it won’t. That responsibility falls on each program. In high school many states have added a dual state championship. Has adding a dual format increased the dual meet home attendance at high schools with poor attendance? Any evidence to support that claim would help but we haven’t heard any..just. speculation

-because of the 4 week void created in the season for the majority of wrestling programs

-because the coaches out west will have fewer opportunities to host a dual with a “major” program

-because if you look at Oklahoma State Schedule Release – Outside of the duals, they now only have 14 scheduled dates. The format is already reducing the number of teams that will have an opportunity to wrestle major teams

-because last year there was a similar situation with Iowa’s schedule last year – outside of the duals, they had 14 competitions. that is 2 teams that missed the opportunity to have the Hawkeyes on their schedule. And about that revenue increase for the sport, it appears that it is more of a revenue “allocation”. take the money that a team would have raised by hosting Iowa and give it to one of the major teams to attend the duals.

-because some advocates of the change keep calling the current format an all-star match. unless, we consider the top 330 athletes all stars it is not.

-Some coaches would be in favor of the National Duals if 24 or 32 teams were invited instead of 16. We are being told that this is a great possibility down the road. However, hard to believe the NCAA will double the teams in the tournament when they said “no” to bumping the individual qualifiers from 330 to 360. These are two different issues on why the NCAA would say no but the point being that the NCAA will very unlikely change on this later. More teams means much higher costs for NCAA.

-because there are concerns and questions on the qualification process and selection of teams

-because wrestling teams don’t “see” the revenue shares, the athletic department gets it

-because there won’t be any revenue shares

-because there has been little or no concern for the welfare of our student-athletes. The National Duals will cause a student-athlete to miss two more days of school on top what they already miss. This will be a problem.

-because of the sneaky way this has come about and the effort to keep the coaches out of the way

-because hosting your premier championship in the middle of the season makes no sense. (if really thinking this through and this proposal passed wouldn’t you switch the individual tournament to Feb and premier TEAM championship to the end?)

-because they keep saying football coaches didn’t make the decision to play football on Wednesday and for the life of me, I can’t figure out how that is relevant to breaking apart the greatest event we have.

-because they keep saying that we need to make a change… by having an event that has been tried for 25 years—IT HASN”T WORKED YET!! Why would it now?! There are other ways.

-because the “leadership” said the NCAA representative “went so far as to say that the NCAA would even be willing to generate the team score for us”… that is great, now we won’t need to find a computer program to automatically tally the unofficial team score

-because they tabled the proposal and then

-because they untabled the proposal

-because it took 8 hrs after deadline to release the results of “the vote” and there happen to be the perfect number needed to pass the vote.

-because they had one meeting and managed to address the “vast majority” of the concerns… Once again, without any input from the opposing voices

-because Real or imagined, there seemed to be an active, coordinated effort to keep this proposal away from coaches AND the wrestling community. It took 20-24 days after the NWCA Convention for coaches to see a copy of the proposal.

-Why the rush? Why does everything I read imply “we have to do this now or we will never get the chance again.”?

-because instead of answering legitimate questions and concerns on this proposal and the questionable ethics of how it has unfolded, they just tried to discredit the opposition and our opinions “as childish rants” that they don’t have time for.

-because a leader pushing this change said “I am not 100% on board, I am probably 60%”

-This change is going to get wrestling on TV one more time? Yes, but what difference will that make? Wrestling has been on TV more in the last 10 years than it was the 30 years before that. has that blown our sport up enough that we are going to gamble to get wrestling on TV one more time? Obviously not or we would not be having this discussion. TV those weekends anyway.

-It is a mistake to say that the only reason the National Duals hasn’t been a success is because all the top teams haven’t been there. There have been years that all the best teams have been there. This is an excuse and an example of explaining away data. Numbers don’t lie.

-We need another marque, sell out event? Ok, fine lets create one. However, based on numbers and history, this is not as easy as it seems. Why doesn’t the B1G tournament sell out? It is in theory the second most important event to the NCAA tournament, with 12 of the biggest programs in the country. The majority of fans only fly once a year. They only miss work once or twice a year. That is just a reality we have to face instead of saying that if we break the NCAA Tournament into two pieces we will now have two sell-out events. Why are our most elite wrestling tournaments not well attended..the U.S. Open and World Team Trials? Even in football and basketball, the great majority of fans don’t fly more than once a year. They go to the bowl game. Look at the away section of football games when the competition is long distance from home, it is small. Wrestling is not unique in this regard. The argument that the NCAA Tournament sells-out every year and thousands of fans get left home is not a good one. when they make you buy your tickets in the Fall, this is going to happen. How many emails were there before the NCAA tournament last March from teams trying to sell their extra tickets? There were many. My point is that every wrestling fan who passionately wanted to go to the NCAA tournament last year, could be there. So to break apart the #1 event in wrestling because we assume that we now have two huge events is shaky at best. Build our foundation on facts, numbers and history not a hope.

-Why are we stuck on the National Duals as the marque event? We could create an annual “Wrestling Week” or something similar with 7 Days of Duals. Would a TV Network not pick that up? Let the network pick the teams they want for the duals. Monday night Iowa vs Oklahoma, Tuesday Penn State vs Oklahoma State, Wed Cornell vs Iowa State, Thursday Lehigh vs Minnesota, Friday Central Michigan vs Ohio State, Sat. Ohio State vs Missouri, Sunday Boise State vs Rutgers…Quick idea but to the point that to think “outside the box” we have to consider that other solutions. Or how about a B1G All-Star match vs nation all-stars. Lots of ways to get on TV and more exposure. The logistics of Natioal Duals doesn’t work. Home duals draw the crowds so lets focus on them. (plus only one team travels to cut back on missed class and budget. Or talk to ESPN to lock in a weekly date and make it Wrestling’s Day, Takedown Tuesday or something and feature a big dual every week. take the time/ day we can get and lock it in 6 months in advance so wrestling fans know to tune. there are alternatives…

-The change will increase competition and excitement? Maybe but probably not. There is less parity in dual meets than in the individual tournament. Some teams are operating on a few scholarships, some more than a few, some 9.9 and some much more than that with unlimited grants, academic scholarships, reciprocity, etc. Because a team with 3 scholarships can do a great job and get a couple All-Americans and place ahead of a team that beat them in a dual meet during the year is a good thing, not a negative. We have that mixed up. That is our sport and reason we still have 77 programs and not 50.

-if you want to help school’s increase home attendance, ask those programs how you can help. don’t tell them what will help them. trust the coaches that they know their community best. The future of wrestling is in our youth. Wrestling fans are already hooked. We need to create more wrestling fans. We need recreational youth wrestling programs. Our youth programs have turned ultra competitive and many kids don’t last. What good does it do for our youth to see Henry Cejudo, Jake Varner or Jordan Borroughs win an Olympic Gold? they get inspired but quickly find there is no youth program in their area. Or if there is it is too intense for a 6 year old to have fun? Let’s get wrestling in every YMCA, Boy’s and Girl’s Club in America. Penn State is rolling out a youth recreation program this Fall to start this initiative and will make the franchise style program available for free to any high school or college program looking to raise money but more importantly build wrestling in their community. Get a kid hooked on wresting, you get his family also. Make part of the youth program an opportunity to watch the college team compete. This is a 10-15 plan but that is what it is going to take. Not continuous shuffling of our feet at the top. My dad designed this youth program and in 10 years turned a traditional basketball community into a wrestling community. We have slightly tweaked the program but it is PROVEN. for programs to become revelent they need to gain community support and put fans in the stands. outside of winning, I believe this is the best way. very easy to run.

-Pushing the National Duals through right now with this much confusion, separation and disagreement is a mistake.

-When a leader is preaching doom and gloom, the team is destined to get more doom and gloom. When a leader presents optimism and focuses on positives, the team will get more positives. The sky is falling approach in our sport is only speeding up the process. Please stop trying to motivate people to action by proclaiming doom and gloom, it hurts the cause. Motivating people to action by saying “we have to go down fighting…” hurts our sport. We have plenty of positives to celebrate, focus on and build off of. Let’s do that!!

At what age did you start wrestling? Why and how did you get involved in the sport?

Age 5. I have always been in wrestling because my dad used to wrestle and was the head wrestling coach at my high school back in the late 1970′s through the 1980′s. He had also helped get a youth club started at my high school. My dad told me that one day I told him I wanted to wrestle so he took me down to youth club.
Were you a natural when you started, or did it take time for you to get good?

I am not sure if I was a natural. It took me time to figure out things and get better just like any kid. One thing I did realize though is that I did not like to lose. I just figured out how to win no matter how good or bad I was. As I got older, I just wrestled and competed hard and won more than I lost. I never won any really big tournament, like a national tournament until my Junior year of college. Then, also with freestyle, I never was the best and did not start to excel until my senior year of high school and then in college. I was always decent at it growing up but began getting a lot better in all positions of freestyle later in my career.You have some pretty good genes in your family! Was it helpful to have two older sisters who would beat on you?

Yeah, I lucked out on the genes I suppose. I mean without them, who knows where I would be today, haha. I am also not sure what this sister thing means, and why everyone brings it up. Just because one of my sisters can bench 425 lbs. and front squat 440 lbs. does not mean they can beat me up. I have actually laid the smackdown on them numerous times. But yes it was helpful having two sisters who THINK they could beat on me. They knew if they messed with the bull, they would get the horns, and I am the bull.

When did you realize you wanted to continue wrestling in College?

Growing up, I did most sports. I liked all sports really; it was fun to do. Wrestling was always my number one, and I liked it the best. I had goals going into high school that I wanted to accomplish, and knew if I accomplished them that I could probably wrestle for a good college. When I got into high school, I only wrestled. My focus was to accomplish those goals and go to college to wrestle and do what I needed to do in order to go to the best college program I could.

I was recruited by Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Iowa, and Nebraska. After I took my recruiting trip to Iowa State and met Coach Cael, I knew that was the place for me. I knew that was the guy that was going to be able to help me the most to accomplish my goals. It was a perfect fit because he wrestled the same weight I ended up wrestling in college, and I would be able to wrestle with him every day. To accomplish my goals, I needed someone like that, and he was the man, and I owe a lot to him. He has brought me a long way and taught me a lot.

Wrestling at Iowa State was awesome! I went to ISU with the number 1 recruiting class in the nation, which was pretty exciting. We had a lot of tough guys on the team and the best coaches in the country. I could not ask for anything better. I loved wrestling in the Hilton Coliseum. Those were always fun duals, wrestling against Iowa because it was always heated, and of course wrestling in the NCAA’s.

College wrestling is awesome and I do miss it because of the intensity and excitement of the wrestlers and fans.

Wrestling for the Sandersons was awesome! These guys know their wrestling and know how to prepare their wrestlers. There were also a couple other guys on staff that were a big part of my success at Iowa State as well. They were Tim Hartung who was there my first two seasons and was one of the toughest guys I have ever wrestled. The other was Casey Cunningham who is one of the strongest guys I have ever wrestled. Coach Cunningham is still one of my coaches now along with Coach Cael and Coach Cody. Wrestling for these guys was something special because they wanted to help you in any way they could. They wanted the best for every one of their wrestlers and wanted them to win just as bad as their wrestlers did. They are top notch guys and very trusting and loyal guys. I could not have asked for better coaches and do not know what I would do without them. They have all played a big role in my career and I could not thank them enough. I have learned from each one of them and still am learning from them. They have so much knowledge, not just in wrestling but also in life as well. They are just all amazing guys and wrestling for them and still wrestling for them is just simply amazing.

Ending my college career as a 2xNCAA Champ was special. Obviously it was not the way I wanted to end it. My goal was to be a 4xNCAA champ. I took 2nd my freshman and sophomore years, so when I finally won my junior year, I was very happy to finally get over the hump. Then ending with another title my senior year just was a great way to go out in college. You cherish every moment in college wrestling because it flies by, and those were two big moments that felt great.

It was hard on me when he did leave. I also did think about transferring and really wanted to. It ended up not happening, and I finished my career at Iowa State. Right after I graduated and had my graduation ceremony, I took off the next day to move to State College. I could not wait to get out here. It was a tough year without Coach Cael because I was so used to the system and plan they had us on. When you get a new coach, things do change and you have to figure out how to deal with them. The good thing was Coach Cael said if I ever needed anything or to talk that he would always be there for me. That really helped keep me calm throughout my senior year and helped me be able to focus and keep my eye on the goal. Coach Cael is a standout guy, and I owe him everything. I could not wait to get back to wrestling with him and get my training started out in Happy Valley, and it was the best move I could have made. It was a long year my senior year because all I could think was, I am going to win my 2nd NCAA title and graduate then get out to State College where I belong, haha. And here I am.

Actually, it was 5 years. He was a great roommate and easy to get along with. I was bigger than him so basically it made things easier, and I told him what to do all the time, and he listened of course, haha. He was a good roommate though, and we got along really well. He is a great guy and good friend, one of my best friends, and we still keep in touch. He lives about 100 yards from me now, but he is also married and does not have time for me anymore, haha. Nick is a very, very clean kid and washes his hands about a billion times a day. He also has bad circulation in his hands, and that’s why his hands get really dry and cold all the time.

The one thing I learned the most from the World Championships in 2009 was that to win, you have to go score points. Especially in freestyle, if you put points on the board, it makes it a lot easier to win. Weird I know, but that’s’ how it works. Also, it is important just realizing that if you get scored on or taken down that it is not a big deal because you still had to score no matter what to win the match. Also, just staying focused in the match and not getting frustrated. Coach Cael has played a huge role getting me to the next level. Without him, I would not be nearly where I am now. I wrestle with him as much as I can because I know I am not going to wrestle anyone better than him in the world. And wrestling with him keeps me sharp. Also, Coach Cunningham has helped me a ton. He is so good on top that if you can stop him from turning you, you should be able to stop anyone from turning you. He pushes me everyday too which is awesome. And Coach Cody has also played a role in my career. He is so smart as far as training and technique. Just in general, he is a smart dude. I try to learn from all of these guys because they all have different styles that were successful.

It is an honor to be able to represent the United States. I have done it twice now, and it is like nothing else competing for your country. For the Olympics, it will even be more special because it’s the Olympics. I have always wanted to be an Olympic Champion, and that is why once I got to high school, I started to focus on just wrestling. It is just a great honor to be able to do something like this.

I do not really have a best or favorite match because most of the matches you usually remember are the ones you have lost. But winning my first NCAA title was a good feeling knowing I finally got that title and jumping in Coach Cael’s arms.

I plan on staying in wrestling for a while, whether it is competing or some type of coaching role. I like to help the up and comers that will be representing this country some day and feel I have a lot to offer them. After I am done with wrestling, I am not sure what I will do.

I liked everywhere I have lived. I like the west coast probably the most because of the weather. Living in Ames, Iowa was a good time, and I enjoyed my time there. I did not mind living there because I knew what I was there for. I also enjoy living out east in state college as well. It is a great place to be and a great environment. Iowa was definitely the coldest which was not very fun. I have enjoyed all the places I have lived.

I had part of my pinky chopped off when I was little, and it grew back. That’s why they call me Wolverine because I can regenerate. Just how I roll.

Fishing is one thing I love to do when I am not wrestling. It keeps me relaxed, and when you are catching a ton of fish, it’s just an awesome feeling. I also like to golf, even though I am not very good. I just like to try and see how far I can smash the ball. Watching and quoting movies has always been something I like doing. Or just hanging out with friends.

Who would in a fight, a Silverback Gorilla or a Grizzly Bear and why?

It does not really matter who would win, because I would win this fight.Who was recruiting you out of high school? Did you always have aspirations to wrestle for Coach Cael?You had one of the most successful careers ever for a college wrestler? There have only been a handful of wrestlers to make the finals 4 times. Please talk about wrestling at Iowa State, wrestling for the Sandersons, and talk about what it meant to end your career as a 2x national Champion?Coach Cael left for Penn State right before your senior year. Was it hard when he left and did you think about trying to transfer with him? How did you cope with losing your mentor?You roomed with fellow Resident Athlete, Nick Fanthorpe, for 4 years at Iowa State. How was that? Tell us something about Nick that we don’t know.Last year you placed third at the World Championships which was your first placing at a major world-level tournament. You have made considerable gains in freestyle. Talk about your gains and what has helped you make such a jump and be of the favorites at the Olympic Games this summer.Please talk about representing the U.S. at the Olympic Games in London. What does that mean to you and has that always been a goal of yours?Please tell us about a match that you wrestled that you consider your best or favorite match.What do you see yourself doing after your competitive career is over?You were raised on the west coast, lived your college years in the mid-west, and now reside on the east coast. Which area has been your favorite and which has been your least favorite?Tell us something about Jake Varner that we might not know?What does Jake Varner like to do for fun when not on the wrestling mat?Give me one word to describe your coaches.

Coach Cael-Knowledgeable, trustworthyIf you were to compete professionally in another sport, we all believe it would be the WWE. What would your name be and your secret move?Any last things you would like to say to the NLWC membership?

One common but major mistake in coaching is telling kids
what they are doing wrong instead of focusing on what they are doing
right.  At least 90% of coaches believe their
job is to point out mistakes.  This is
partially true, but anyone can see a mistake.
Most fans in the stands can see a mistake, especially after the fact.  The trick is to focus on what the athlete is
doing well.  Think about yourself, if
someone tells you are doing something poorly, it is deflating.  If someone tells you are doing something
well, you light up inside and you’re motivated to do an even better job.  There is a time and place for criticism but
it needs to be rare and presented properly.   As a parent, focus on what your young
wrestler is doing well and secretly have them working on their weaknesses.   That doesn’t
mean you can’t help your young athlete fix a mistake, just do it delicately and
out of love for them.

—–Original Message—–

From: CFry79@gmail.com [mailto:CFry79@gmail.com]

Sent: Friday, October 07, 2011 9:16 AM

To: Cael Sanderson

Subject: Cael Sanderson | Ask a Question

Results from
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name:                  Red Beard

email:                 CFry79@gmail.com

question:              Do you think starting wrestling
at a young age is helpful/important?