www.WrestlingUSA.com April 15, 2021 Volume 56, No. 4 $5.00 Editor-In-Chief Lanny Bryant Wrestling USA Magazine Order of Merit National Wrestling Hall of Fame Letter from the Editor AAU National Wrestling Hall of Fame Managing Editor Cody Bryant Ten Championships Later, Iowa Returns to the Top National Editor Dan Fickel By Cody Bryant, Managing Editor National Photographer G Wyatt Schultz year a$er the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships were canceled due to the pandemic, Contributing Editor Iowa with one champion and seven All-Americans, propels Iowa back on top of the NCAA Bill Welker Wrestling Championships held at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. !is year’s Design Director A Championships had to have a very di%erent feel to the past with only a total attendance of Cody Bryant 19,751 watched over seven sessions, a far cry from the sellout crowds of the prior years. What didn’t Administrative Assistants change was the intensity of the 330 wrestlers "ghting for the top of the podium. !ree "nal matches Ann Bryant ended with sudden victory takedown, and the largest margin of victory was seven points when Iowa’s LanAnn Bryant Shannon Wolfe two-time defending champion, Spencer Lee, defeated Arizona State’s Brandon Courtney 7-0 at 125 lbs. Codi Jean Bryant Iowa relied on three "nalists and seven All-Americans to power to the top as they led from start to Ginger Flowers "nish to upend four-time defending champions, Penn State, 129 to 113.5. Iowa’s other two "nalists, Advertising Eierman at 141 lbs. and Kemerer at 174 lbs. would lose to runner-up Penn State opponents. Penn State Cody Bryant had four "nalists, all winning championships, and a total of six All-Americans. Oklahoma State would Web Master "nish third with 99.5 points in the team race with one champion and a total of six All-Americans. Lanny Bryant Arizona State followed with 74 points, Michigan (69), North Carolina State (68), Minnesota and National O!ce Missouri (64), Ohio State (46.5) and Northwestern rounding out the top ten with 45 points. 101 Briar Lane A total of 34 teams "nished with at least one All-American with a total of 63 teams entered. Iowa Pass Christian, MS 39571 led all teams with seven All-Americans, with their one champion, two runner-ups, placing third were (406) 360-9421 Austin DeSanto and Tony Cassioppi, Jacob Warner (4th), and Kaleb Young (7th). Penn State and [email protected] Oklahoma State had six All-Americans, followed by Arizona State and North Carolina State with "ve Wrestling USA (ISSN) 0199-6258 All-Americans, Michigan (4), Minnesota (3), Missouri (3), Northwestern (3), Ohio State (3), Rutgers Wrestling USA Magazine is printed six times (3), Virginia Tech (3), Illinois (2), Iowa State (2), Nebraska (2), Pittsburgh (2), Stanford (2), Utah Valley yearly published by Wrestling USA Magazine, (2), Wisconsin (2), and Appalachian State, Binghamton, Bucknell, Cal Poly, Central Michigan, Fresno Inc., 101 Briar Lane, Pass Christian, MS 39571 as State, North Carolina, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Oklahoma, Rider, South Dakota State, Virginia, follows: October, December, February, April, June West Virginia, and Wyoming each with one All-American. and August. With this shortened season not beginning until January, many of the top collegiate tournaments Editorial O!ce: Wrestling USA Magazine, Inc., including Cli% Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Midlands, and Southern Scu&e reduced the number of 101 Briar Lane, Pass Christian, MS 39571. All matches coming into the NCAA Wrestling Championships. Not to mention that several duals were contributions are welcome. Please enclose postage with manuscripts, Illustrations and photographs canceled because of Covid-19, including the much anticipated dual between Iowa and Penn State in submitted if they are to be returned. We assume February. It wasn’t unusual in the past "ve decades for wrestlers to "nish with over 30 matches. !is year no responsibility for unsolicited materials. All most of the 330 wrestlers came into the Championships with less than a dozen matches to their name. rights, in letters and photos sent to Wrestling USA I pray and hope that as this year moves forward, we can overcome the struggles we all have faced Magazine, will be treated as unconditional assigned with the pandemic and move back to normalcy. I can’t even begin to imagine the challenges this year for publication and copyright purposes. !ey are for the coaches, wrestlers, families and administrators trying to put these pieces of the wrestling season subject to Wrestling USA Magazine’s unrestricted together. And not to mention the season always having a chance to being canceled, I don’t know how it right to edit and to comment editorially. Printed can be done without faith. in the USA; entire contents © 2021 Wrestling USA Ephesians 3:16, “I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner Magazine; reprinting in whole or in part is forbidden strength through His Spirit”. except by written permission of publisher. I thank the NCAA committee for allowing the hard work of these young men to pursue their dream Subscriptions: One year (6 issues) $25 in United of wrestling for a National Championship. God Bless! States and Possessions. All other countries $50 in US currency or international money order. Send As Always, Let’s be “On !e Go Together,” to: Wrestling USA Magazine, 101 Briar Lane, Pass Cody Christian, MS 39571. Send National Record Proposals: 2021 NCAA Division I Championship Finals Wrestling USA Magazine 101 Briar Lane, Pass Christian, MS 39571 125-Spencer Lee (Iowa) dec. Brandon Courtney (Arizona St) 7-0. E-mail: [email protected] 133-Roman Bravo-Young (Penn St) dec. Daton Fix (Oklahoma St) SV-1 4-2. Send All-American nominations or correspondence on high school or college wrestling: 141-Nick Lee (Penn St) dec. Jaydin Eierman (Iowa) SV-1 4-2. Dan Fickel 149-Austin O’Connor (North Carolina) dec. Sammy Sasso (Ohio St) 3-2. 10757 Woodrun Drive, Strongsville, OH 44136 157-David Carr (Iowa St) dec. Jesse Dellavecchia (Rider) 4-0. E-mail: d"[email protected] Change of Address: Four weeks are required to 165-Shane Gri!th (Stanford) dec. Jake Wentzel (Pittsburgh) 6-2. change your mailing address. Forwarding postage 174-Carter Starocci (Penn St) dec. Michael Kemerer (Iowa) SV-1 3-1. is paid by you and lost copies can not be replaced. 184-Aaron Brooks (Penn St) dec. Trent Hidlay (North Carolina St) 3-2. To ensure delivery, send us your old and new address at least 4 weeks before moving. Change of 197-AJ Ferrari (Oklahoma St) dec. Nino Bonaccorsi (Pittsburgh) 4-2. address can by e-mail to [email protected] 285-Gable Steveson (Minnesota) dec. Mason Parris (Michigan) 8-4. Advertising: Rates available upon request. Contact Cody Bryant, Managing Editor, COVER PHOTO Phone: (406) 360-9421 or e-mail: [email protected] 2021 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championship Finals - Postmaster: Send address changes to Wrestling USA Magazine, Inc., 101 Briar Lane, Pass Christian, 125 lbs. Spencer Lee (Iowa) working on arm bar on Brandon Courtney MS 39571. Periodical postage paid at Pass (Arizona State). Lee won by decision 7-0 to win his third national title. Christian, MS 39571 and at additional o#ces. Photo by Darren Miller/Hawkeyesport.com. PRINTED IN THE USA E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.wrestlingusa.com NATIONAL ACTION WRESTLING PHOTOS Instagram: @wrestlingusamagazine Send your best action wrestling photos to [email protected]. Facebook: wrestling usa magazine The best photos will be recognized each issue. All photos should be submitted digitally at 300 dpi. Wrestling USA Magazine - April 15, 2021 Page 3 Wrestling USA Magazine Table of Contents April 15, 2021 Volume 56, No. 4 "e National Voice of High School Wrestling Since 1965 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR COLLEGE ACTION 3 Ten Championships Later, Iowa Returns to the Top 19 "e Best to Never Win a NCAA Division I Title By Cody Bryant, Managing Editor By Dan Fickel, National Editor HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR RANKINGS OFFICIAL’S CORNER 6 Nation’s Best 2020-2021 High School Senior Class 30 Principles for Successful O!ciating in Wrestling By Dan Fickel, National Editor By Bill Welker, EdD NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME 11 2021 Spring Journal 2021 NCAA Division III National Wrestling Championship Finals - 2021 NAIA National Wrestling Championship Finals - 141 lbs. Baterden 184 lbs. Paul Detwiler (US Coast Guard) trying to come out the back Boldmaa (Doane) with a high single leg on Ryan Moore (!omas More). door on Shane Liegel (Loras College). Liegel won by decision 4-1. Boldmaa won by decision 7-4. Photo by G Wyatt Schultz. Photo by Johnny Johnson. Page 4 Wrestling USA Magazine - April 15, 2021 HIGH SCHOOL Senior Rankings NATION’S BEST 2020-2021 HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR CLASS By Dan Fickel, National Editor Editor’s Note: Here are updated rankings of the Nation’s Best 2020-21 High School Seniors as of 3-14-21. Seven factors, which considered the overall accomplishments of the wrestlers, were used in determining these rankings. !ey include: (1) Performances at the state high school championships (folkstyle); (2) National Junior Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships; 3) Achievements at prestigious regular season high school tournaments and club dual/tournament events; (4) Super 32 Challenge Tournament; (5) Cadet National Championships; (6) Grappler Fall Classic; (7) FloWrestling Who’s #1. Weights are projected and subject to change. Please e-mail updated credentials of listed or deserving wrestlers to: d"[email protected] 106 lbs. 113 lbs. 120 lbs. TOP RANKED TOP RANKED TOP RANKED Eli Lanham Blake West Richard Figueroa Plainview, Nebraska Shakopee, Minnesota Selma, California 2.