Wrestling411 » Features

Harvard’s Jay Weiss talks Crimson with Wrestling 411

411 — 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

411 — 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

411 — 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

411 — 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.

Binghamton’s Pat Popolizio on building from the ground up

411 — 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

411 — 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

411 — 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.

Looking to the future with Oklahoma State’s Eric Guerrero

411 — 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?

Mike Moyer recaps topics discussed at annual NWCA Convention

411 — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:00:20 +0000

The National Wrestling Coaches Association wrapped up its annual convention in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., last weekend and Executive Director Mike Moyer was pleased with the turn out. Among the issues discussed were approaches coaches can market and promote their programs by becoming a CEO rather than “just” a wrestling coach.

Among the topics also discussed besides the successful Coaches Academy were APR, scheduling and and discussion about shifting the college wrestling season. Get all the details by listening in.

Mizzou assistant Pritts talks Tiger wrestling, Bradley’s gold

411 — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:00:29 +0000

Lee Pritts returned from Ankara, Turkey after watching his young Missouri Tiger heavyweight win the 2009 Junior World Championships. Pritts, while not on the USA staff, helped the squad and his athlete and gives an interesting insight to the happenings in Turkey.

One happening directly affected by Dom Bradley’s gold medal is the one Missouri faces at heavyweight. You have Bradley, the Junior World Champion, and Mark Ellis, the returning NCAA Champion. What’s going to happen in Columbia?

TP & Esco prepping for big show; Travis Piccard explains

411 — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:00:00 +0000

The Citadel wrestling pair of Michael Arias and Travis Piccard have steadily made their mark on the Grand Rapids, Mich., music scene. With their latest release, Sinergy, a collaborative effort with another hip-hop outfit, Fireproof, TP & Esco eye an August 14 show where they’ll be on the bill with Sean Kingston and Flo-Rida.

Piccard, who was ranked as high as sixth in the nation during his career at The Citadel, talks with Wrestling 411 on the latest news with himself and Arias and how wrestling still continues to play a role in both of their lives.

ODU assistant Mike Dixon talks about recruiting, the program and the Cubs

411 — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:00:08 +0000

Indiana native Mike Dixon was a two-sport athlete during his days wrestling for Duane Goldman and the Indiana Hoosiers. Dixon joined Wrestling 411 to talk about his tenure at Old Dominion, where he’ll enter his fifth season as Steve Martin’s assistant coach.

Dixon talks about recruiting in a non-power wrestling conference, the goals of the program and his love for the Chicago Cubs. Find out what’s brewing in Norfolk.