The Offi cial Publication of USA Wrestling $5$5 June 2019 Volume 47, Issue 5 Articles Contributed by WIN Magazine Mekhi!Mekhi! JuniorJunior WorldWorld championchampion LewisLewis becomesbecomes fifi rstrst NCAANCAA championchampion forfor VirginiaVirginia TechTech Colorado Springs, CO 80918 6155 Lehman Dr. USA Wrestling USA Wrestler Volume 47, No. 5 Contents June 2019 USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for amateur wrestling in the United States and a United States Olympic Committee member Features 14 organization. USA WRESTLING BOARD OF DIRECTORS SUPER MEKHI Offi cers 8 Virginia Tech’s Lewis added President - Bruce Baumgartner First Vice President - Mark Reiland an NCAA championship to his 2018 Second Vice President - Greg Strobel Junior World gold medal. Treasurer - Van Stokes Secretary - Kerry McCoy Past President - James Ravannack THE NCAAs Directors 12 What Div. I teams did well in Jay Antonelli Sam Barber Pittsburgh and what wrestlers will Brian Beck Marc Burchard Jordan Burroughs Veronica Carlson lead their teams at the 2020 NCAAs? Rob Cate Zac Dominguez Dave Foxen Joan Fulp ROYAL KNIGHTS Kyven Gadson William Grant Adeline Gray Eric Guerrero 14 Two Jersey boys — Nick Anthony Holman B. Elliot Hopkins Suriano and Anthony Ashnault — Mike Juby Craig LaMont 26 Mike Moyer Richard Perry won Rutgers’ fi rst NCAA titles. Tony Ramos Don Reynolds Louis Rosbottom Lee Roy Smith SOONER THAN LATER Pat Smith Jon Stefanowicz Matt Stevens Bill Swink 16 Dom Demas, who earned Steve Thorpe Rick Tucci All-American honors in his fi rst NCAAs, is now set to take on freestyle USA Wrestler is published at: and Greco-Roman challengers. USA WRESTLING NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 6155 Lehman Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80918-3439 U.S. OPEN RECAP (719) 598-8181 - (719) 598-9440 (FAX) 19 What American wrestlers made website address: http://www.themat.com the biggest impact at the annual U.S. USA WRESTLER Open in Las Vegas? JUNE 2019, VOLUME 47, NO. 5 Executive Director Rich Bender WOMAN OF MANY MEANS Communications Director Gary Abbott Communications Coord. Taylor Miller 26 Alleida Martinez fi nished Communications Intern JD Rader incredible freshman season winning Departments WIN Publisher Bryan Van Kley WCWA title for team champ Menlo. WIN Editor/Designer Mike Finn Copy Editor Tony Black 18 Final X Update Copy Editor Shonna Vest COACH’S CORNER 25 Training Tips Printing Quad Graphics 28 Mike Clayton of USA Wrestling 30 Social Media Highlights USA Wrestler is the offi cial publication of the shows how wrestlers can L.O.V.E. their 36 USAWrestling Technique National Governing Body for amateur wrestling sport. and is published six times a year (August, 40 Photo Contest October, December, February, March, May) by USA Wrestling. Each issue is mailed to ALIREZ WINS JR. HODGE approximately 160,000 households of members Colorado state champ to join and supporters of the organization. Non-member 32 subscriptions are available for $30.00; inquire for local team UNC and Coach Troy Columns/Q&As foreign subscriptions. © 2019 Nickerson, a past Junior Hodge winner. USA WRESTLING’S MISSION 6 Rich Bender USA Wrestling, guided by the Olympic spirit, USA WRESTLING ELECTIONS 7 Dan Gable provides quality opportunities for its members to Details are now out on how to achieve their full human and athletic potential. 38 24 Adeline Gray join USA Wrestling’s leadership team Cover photo by Tony Rotundo or how to nominate someone. 42 Bryan Van Kley USAUSA WrestlingWrestling CorporateCorporate PartnersPartners 4 USA WRESTLER Wrestling Directory: College Opportunities, Camps & Products WIN Magazine Wrestling Camp Directory The following is a list of summer wrestling camps and websites — by regions of the country — that are available for wrestlers. Southeast For more information about advertising in USA Wrestler, WIN and the Appalachian State www.appstatesports.com/index.aspx?path=wrestling Magazine Wrestling Camp Directory, contact WIN Magazine at 888.305.0606 or www.WIN-magazine.com. North Carolina State www.wolfpackwrestlingcamps.org West West Virginia www.wvucamps.com Air Force Academy www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/2018/8/8/camps. aspx Northeast Steve Fraser Camps www.uscamps.net Army www.goarmywestpoint.com Western State/ Baumgartner Camps www.baumgartnerflynnwrestlingcamps.com Rocky Mountain W.C. www.gomountaineers.com/sports/2013/1/23 Brown www.brown.edu/go/wrestlingcamps GEN_0123135725.aspx Ken Chertow Camps www.kenchertow.com Gene Mills www.genemills.com Midwest Journeymen www.journeymenwrestling.com Corn Cob Camps www.corncobcamps.com Lehigh www.lehighsports.com Camp of Champs www.wrestleworx.com/camp/index.cfm?cam Maryland Camps www.marylandwrestlingcamps.com pid=67027F46-F7CF-4EE8-8293-CEF8A302BD87 Navy Camps www.register.navywrestlingcamps.com Iowa www.iowawrestlingcamps.com Penn State www.gopsusports.com/sports/2018/8/8/camps-m- J Robinson Camps www.jrobinsoncamps.com wrestl-camp-html.aspx John Smith Camps www.osuwrestlingcamps.com Nebraska www.huskerwrestlingcamps.com USA WRESTLER 5 Executive Director’s Message Future is bright with a record-setting membership n April 5, USA Wrestling tunities for young people in their are created through USA Wrestling’s was pleased to announce communities. bylaws, plus others which are formed Othat two major member- Through April, USA Wrestling to work on specific needs. ship records had been broken. The has over 4,500-chartered clubs, with Through April, USA Wrestling total membership of the organiza- 36,700 Wrestling Leader members had over 2,100 sanctioned events, tion (which includes Athlete and (coaches and officials). These individ- with many more expected in the final Wrestling Leaders) for 2018-19 had uals are there on week nights holding months of the year. Most of these reached 237,573, an all-time record practices at a local school or facility, events are hosted by state and local for a membership season. and give up countless weekends to leaders. USA Wrestling has a schedule Only a few hours later, the total host clinics and competitions for of about 40 national and regional number of athlete members had wrestlers and teams in the surround- events, which bring together athletes reached 202,020, another record for ing communities. These wrestling from across the nation. the organization. What is remarkable enthusiasts not only provide the USA Wrestling takes great is that these new records occurred opportunity for youth to learn about pride in running first-class events, with almost five full months left in wrestling and grow in the sport, constantly working to improve all Rich Bender the membership year, which ends but often become role models and aspects of the event presentation and August 31, 2019. mentors for them. experience. NWCA, the National Wrestling Hall At this point, we can project, USA Wrestling has been built Our State Services department, of Fame, Beat the Streets USA, the based upon our membership trends through state associations. Each overseen by Associate Executive U.S. Wrestling Foundation and Wres- that there will be between 210,000 state association takes on the task of Director Les Gutches and State tle Like A Girl, help raise the bar. Our and 215,000 athlete members of organizing competitions and activities Services Director Tony Black and elite clubs, like Titan Mercury, NYAC, USA Wrestling this year. in that state and region, and also puts their talented staff, handles USA Sunkist, Minnesota Storm also make There are many reasons that together state-level teams for major Wrestling’s membership needs. These a huge difference. USA Wrestling has continued to events hosted by USA Wrestling. are the people who answer questions, You can’t underestimate the grow. I would like to focus upon the These state leaders have a shared love respond to specific needs and put influence that the NCAA Wrestling people who are behind this growth, of wrestling and a commitment to programs into action. Championships broadcasts on ESPN the individuals and groups who put the young people they serve. Some The explosive growth of girls make in reaching the public, nor their heart and soul into making our are also coaches and officials. Others and women’s wrestling has expanded the popularity of MMA and all the organization and our sport the best it are supportive parents. Still others are membership, but the number of boys former wrestlers in that sport have can possibly be. former wrestlers who step up to give who have joined USA Wrestling is on promoting wrestling from coast to A majority of USA Wrestling back to the sport. also increasing. We thank our media coast. members are too young to drive a car. Administratively, USA Wrestling partners, including FloWrestling, We also recognize the great The growth of youth sports happen is a non-profit organization led by TrackWrestling and WIN Magazine work of the scholastic system, at a local level, and USA Wrestling a volunteer Board of Directors, for helping make the sport more including coaches and leaders on the is blessed to have an army of local which provides policy and direction visible and popular. junior high, high school and college member coaches, officials and club to a professional national staff. This We recognize our many spon- levels who make a huge impact. For leaders who are providing learning, structure is supported by a system sors who provide resources to grow all these people, and so many more, training and competition oppor- of committees and councils, which the sport. Our partners, such as the we say thank you. Q 6 USA WRESTLER Wrestling with a Legend by Dan Gable Now is the time to prepare for the 2020 Olympics (Editor’s Note: Dan Gable, a World to wrestle at a Olympic weight by 2020. I like to believe Bill Zadick has already and Olympic champion, recently spoke to looked ahead to the 2020 Olympics and worked backwards from there on how WIN Editor Mike Finn about the next two and when are the best ways to prepare those possible wrestlers for Tokyo.