Jason Bryant’s College Wrestling Wrap Sheet is a look at five topics from the world of college wrestling with highlights, things you know and things you don’t. Here’s the five for November 16, 2021.
2-0 for the new coach and 2-1 for the old coach
Chris Basford has long been a guy who’s paid great attention to the world of Division II wrestling. Currently the interim head coach at Limestone University in Gaffney, South Carolina, the former Division II rankings guru improved to 2-0 in his head coaching career as the Saints topped Emmanuel 39-7, getting four falls on the night. Basford was an assistant coach last season, but was given the interim tab when previous coach Kelly Revells stepped down after seven seasons. Limestone’s women’s team improved to 2-1 under Brandy Green, who’s in her second year at the helm. The Saints topped Emmanuel 25-14 on the women’s side.
Rocky start for Delgado
Speaking of interim head coaches, the head coaching debut as a men’s coach for Central Methodist’s Brieana Delgado was a rocky one. The Eagles gave up six falls as Briar Cliff cruised to a 54-6 win at home. Delgado’s the first woman to serve as a men’s head coach in college wrestling history. Already the women’s coach, Delgado is stepping into the role until Central Methodist officially replaces former head coach Terrel Wilbourn.
Tuesdays in Ohio
One thing you can bank on in Division III is the Tuesday night conference dual in the Ohio Athletic Conference. That started this week as Muskingum, currently looking for a head coach, topped Wilmington 33-18. … John Carroll, the university, not the individual, opened up its OAC slate with a 34-9 win over Otterbein. In the first release of the year, tip of the cap to the John Carroll SID who described the 125-pound match as such: “Eddie Wallace opened the night with a win at 125. The freshman tallied his first collegiate victory and did it in style, with a wily first-period pin to do the trick at 2:56.” At least he didn’t say pinfall, which is often misapplied to college wrestling by new SIDs, people who don’t cover wrestling, professional wrestling marks, and the guys at Flowrestling. … Ninth-ranked Baldwin Wallace opened up with a solid 31-7 win over No. 11 Mount Union. Ohio State transfer Jacob Decatur picked up an 8-3 win at 125 pounds for the Yellow Jackets while All-American Stanley Bleich was solid in a 7-1 win at 157. … and in a battle of rare nicknames, the Polar Bears of Ohio Northern beat the Student Princes of Heidelberg 24-15.
The Battle for Valhalla won by NEO
Wow, yet another mention for Carl Albert State College! The first-year Viking program started a traveling trophy dual with one of the powers in the NJCAA, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. According to OWrestle’s Seth Duckworth, here’s the skinny on that. “This summer the term for the new-found rivalry between NEO and Carl Albert State College, Oklahoma’s newest college wrestling program, was termed “The Battle for Valhalla”. The winner of this rivalry match each year will receive Thor’s hammer as the traveling trophy that moves between each program.”
Coach Joe Renfro’s Golden Norsemen will take the trophy to Miami … in Oklahoma … after the 42-6 win over Carl Albert. NEO and Carl Albert also beat Neosho County, which was also in the tri. NEO won 49-6, while Carl Albert prevailed 42-6.
Keeping it Oklahoma
Because Oklahoma Wesleyan coach Tom Carr routinely calls me to talk wrestling, wrestling philosophy, realignment, or basically any relevant topic in the sport, the Eagles victory tonight in KCAC action over Bethany, the one in Kansas, makes the list. While only five individual matches were wrestled, Oklahoma Wesleyan won four of them, with falls by Wade Landrum at 125 pounds, Dallen Presgrove at 174 and and Ridge Smith at 184 pounds. Kolby Encinas picked up a 5-0 win at 133. Coach Carr might also believe I’m Trackwrestling tech support, which I’m not.
