Let's Talk Wrestling: Recent Episodes
Kelby Bachman
Listen in as we meet with various members of the wrestling community to chat about the sport, their family and favorite snacks. Every episode entails a new guest with a different story - each one unique and entertaining.
Kale is from Rockwell, IA and began his career at West Fork High School. He placed 6th as a freshman before winning a state title as a sophomore. That’s when he and his family made the tough decision to allow him to move 2 hours south and live with his club coach, T.J. Sebolt. Kale finished his career at Greene County High School and won 2 more state titles. Kale is now an Iowa Hawkeye and will be a redshirt freshman this upcoming season. He has his eyes set on big things this year. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Kale Petersen!
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Kaid is from Stillwater, OK and was a 3x state champ for Stillwater High. It was no surprise when Kaid chose to be a Cowboy and wrestle for Oklahoma State. He announced his presence immediately when he was pulled out of redshirt and pinned the returning national champion Cody Brewer in his first collegiate match. Kaid would finish his career as a 2x AA for the Cowboys, as injuries unfortunately took a toll on his body. Nowadays, Kaid lives to hunt and just returned from a big elk hunt him and his buddies just went on. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Kaid Brock!
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Courtney is from Dinsdale, Iowa and was a state champion for North Tama. He wrestled one year at Utah State before enlisting in the United States Air Force. Courtney spent 40+ years in the military, instructing SERE training and para rescue. Courtney also is big into coon hunting, something else we get into. Throughout it all, wrestling remained a key part of his life and still is to this day. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Courtney Risk!
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Alex moved around a bit as a kid, so wrestling became the one constant in his life. He finally settled in Missouri, where he became a 3x Missouri state champion. At the college level, Alex was a 4x NCAA qualifier for Edinboro, ending his career with a 4th place finish. After coaching stints at Virginia and Missouri, Alex has planted his flag in College Park, Maryland as head coach of the Terrapins. Entering his 6th season, Coach Clemsen has high hopes for the program, both this year and beyond. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Head Coach Alex Clemsen!
If you want to donate to the Maryland wrestling program, check out the link below.
Link to donate to Maryland wrestling program: https://giving.umd.edu/giving/fund.php?name=wrestling-fund
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Max is from La Porte City, IA, where he became the 24th 4x state champion. He finished his illustrious career with a 210-1 record while also helping the Knights claim their 2nd-ever dual team state title in 2015. Max wrestled for the UNI Panthers and was an AA for Coach Doug Schwab. Max is living back in his hometown of La Porte City with his wife and daughter. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Max Thomsen!
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Cruse is from Cedar Rapids, IA, where he was a 2x state placewinner for CR Kennedy. It all culminated his senior year, when Cruse won a 3A state title at 103 lbs. and became the #1 ranked 103 pounder in the nation. He chose to attend UNI, where he cracked the lineup as a senior. Cruse is now the head coach at Immortal Athletics Wrestling Club where he not only wants to prepare kids to win on the mat, but he also prepares them to win in life. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Cruse Aarhus!
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Cole is a native of Parkersburg, IA and placed 3 times at the state tournament for the Falcons, finishing 4th, 3rd and 8th. Cole found his home after high school at Ellsworth CC, where he became an AA. He would then go on to compete at Northwestern College, an NAIA school in Iowa, and qualify for nationals 2 more times. After his competitive career came to an end, Cole found himself in the corner. He became Head Coach of his alma mater Ellsworth CC in 2011 and brought them back to national relevance. Then, in 2019, Indian Hills CC called him up and wanted him to be the first wrestling coach in the schools history. In 5 years as coach of both the men’s and women’s programs, he’s put Indian Hills wrestling on the map at the JUCO level. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Head Coach Cole Spree!
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Connor is from New Hampton, IA and was a part of the rich wrestling tradition that is Chickasaw wrestling. Connor was a 3x NEIC champion, which is an accomplishment in itself. He was also a 2x state placewinner, finishing 2nd as a sophomore and 3rd as a senior. Connor continued his wrestling career at Wartburg, where he competed his entire collegiate career. Connor now lives in Kasson, MN with his wife and his son, Anders. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Connor Cleveland!
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Max is from Dyersville, Iowa and was a 4x state placewinner for Western Dubuque. He finished 4th and 2nd before winning back-to-back titles for the Bobcats. Max went to Purdue University and was a 4x NCAA qualifier for the Boilermakers, ending his career with a run to the round of 12. Max is now hanging around West Lafayette with his wife and baby boy. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Max Lyon!
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A.J. is from Tyrone, Pennsylvania. He was a 4x placewinner for Tyrone Area HS, capping it off with a state title as a senior. A.J. chose to attend Edinboro University and wrestled for the Fighting Scots. While there, A.J. became a 3x AA and helped lead Edinboro to two top-5 finishes at the NCAA tournament, including their highest finish ever at the 2015 NCAA championships when they finished 3rd behind only Ohio State and Iowa. After spending the last 6 seasons as an assistant coach at Purdue, A.J. recently accepted a position to return to Edinboro as their top assistant on the coaching staff. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Head Assistant Coach A.J. Schopp!Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Zach is from Centerville, Iowa and wrestled for the Big Red. After high school, Zach started creating content while also attending barber school. Alas, StaleMates was born. StaleMates is a wrestling media company that rolls out high level wrestling content. Zach has become a well-respected member of the wrestling media, even if you don’t always agree with what he says. He’s unapologetically himself, which I think we can all appreciate. His linktr.ee can be found below so you can subscribe to his content. Zach is also the owner of Heartland Barbers, a barber shop in West Des Moines. If you’re in the Des Moines area and need lined up or a fresh cut, check this guy out! His website is also listed below. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Zach Bogle!
StaleMates linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/stalemates
Heartland Brothers website: https://heartlandbarbers.com/
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Hunter is from Monroeville, Ohio, where the population in 2022 was 1,282. Despite the small size, Hunter did big things. He was a 4x Ohio state champion, ending his career 193-2. Hunter traveled 2 hours south and went to THE Ohio State University. While there, he became a 2x AA, finishing 3rd and 6th. Although injuries derailed his final two years of college, Hunter was still a member of the 2015 national title team, the first in Buckeye history. Nowadays, Hunter is living his best life in Dallas, Texas. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Hunter Stieber!
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A native of Harrisburg, PA, Edmond was a 3x finalist and 2x state champ for Susquehanna Township. Edmond lost 15 times as a freshman, but only once his final 3 years. He wrestled his redshirt year at Lehigh before making the transfer to the University of Illinois in part due to their highly esteemed film program. Edmond also made gains on the wrestling mat, as he won his first Big Ten title this past season and earned his first AA status with a 7th place finish. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Edmond Ruth!
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Micky is from Derry, PA and wrestled at Derry Area High School. He was a 4x state placewinner and 3x state champion. Straight out of high school, Micky went to the University of Virginia and wrestled his redshirt season there. Following his freshman season, Micky transferred to the University of Pittsburgh and quickly became a fan favorite for the Panthers. Micky won 2 ACC titles and was a 4x NCAA qualifier for Head Coach Keith Gavin. Micky now is the Director of Operations for the Brown University wrestling team. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Micky Phillippi!
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Anthony is from Decorah, Iowa and he kicked my butt more than a few times back in the day. He started wrestling in 4th grade and eventually made his way over to the CVMC wrestling club. Anthony became a 2x state qualifier for the Vikings, placing 5th as a junior. He started his college career at UW-La Crosse before transferring to Upper Iowa, where he finished his career. Anthony now lives in New Hampton and runs the Chickasaw Elite Wrestling Club. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Anthony Hable!
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Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Registration is open for the Granby Wrestling Camp in Belle Plaine, IA. The camp is from June 24th-26th and is hosted by The Granby School of Wrestling. All the information, including registration and event details can be found using the links below or head to granbyschool.com. Remember: Summer wrestling makes winter champs!
Granby School of Wrestling registration: http://www.granbyschool.com/shop/product/326989
Granby School of Wrestling Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2525819390924322/?ti=ls
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Jordan is from New Hampton, Iowa and placed 7th and 3rd for the Chickasaws. Jordan stayed in-state and wrestled for Upper Iowa and Head Coach Heath Grimm. Jordan was a 4-year starter for the Peacocks at 141 lbs. and qualified for the DII national tournament twice. After competing, he spent 3 years as an assistant at Upper Iowa followed by 2 years at Indian Hills Community College. Jordan has since returned to Fayette and will be heading into his third season as an assistant for the Peacocks. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Jordan Roths!
Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Registration is open for the Granby Wrestling Camp in Belle Plaine, IA. The camp is from June 24th-26th and is hosted by The Granby School of Wrestling. All the information, including registration and event details can be found in the links below or head to granbyschool.com. Remember: Summer wrestling makes winter champs!
Granby School of Wrestling registration: http://www.granbyschool.com/shop/product/326989
Granby School of Wrestling Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2525819390924322/?ti=ls
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Doyle is from Waco, Nebraska and was a 4x state champion for Centennial High School, the 25th in Nebraska history and only the second to ever do it in Class C. But, on April 5, 2015 (Easter Sunday), Doyle was involved in a single-vehicle accident that ultimately cost him his left leg above the knee. If you thought this was the end of the story, you’re wrong. Doyle was committed to the University of Wyoming at the time and they would fully honor his scholarship, regardless if he would be able to compete or not. After a lot of hard work and prayer, Doyle made his collegiate debut for the Cowboys at the Wyoming Cowboy Open in November of 2016. He wrestled all 4 years at Wyoming and finished with 21 career victories. Doyle is now the Head Coach of Midland University, an NAIA school located in Fremont, Nebraska. An inspiring story lies ahead. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Doyle Trout!
Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Registration is open for the Granby Wrestling Camp in Belle Plaine, IA. The camp is from June 24th-26th and is hosted by The Granby School of Wrestling. All the information, including registration and event details are listed in the show notes or head to granbyschool.com. Remember: Summer wrestling makes winter champs!
Granby School of Wrestling registration: http://www.granbyschool.com/shop/product/326989
Granby School of Wrestling Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2525819390924322/?ti=ls
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Matthew Ciccarello is retired Air Force. He did 21 years of active duty, which included flying tankers, U-28’s, C-27’s and more. Aside from being in the Air Force, Ciccarello also wrestled for the USAFA. He began his career at St. Edward’s High School in Ohio before joining the Air Force. Ciccarello went on to become a 2x NCAA qualifier and was part of the first Air Force team to win an outright WAC championship in 1991. Ciccarello also coached at Air Force and was an amazing mentor to a lot of young men and women. Now residing in Hurlburt Field, Florida, Ciccarello flies for United, works on his tan on the beach and still gives Chris Szabolcs a hard time. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Retired Lt.Col. Matthew Ciccarello!
Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Registration is open for the Granby Wrestling Camp in Belle Plaine, IA. The camp is from June 24th-26th and is hosted by The Granby School of Wrestling. All the information, including registration and event details are listed in the show notes or head to granbyschool.com. Remember: Summer wrestling makes winter champs!
Granby School of Wrestling registration: http://www.granbyschool.com/shop/product/326989
Granby School of Wrestling Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2525819390924322/?ti=ls
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Lee is from Protivin, Iowa and wrestled for Turkey Valley High School. In the early 2000’s, Turkey Valley was a very tough and well-respected program. And Lee was right in the middle of it all. He comes from a long line of wrestlers in his family and he fit right in. Lee was a 4x conference champ, which doesn’t sound like that big of a deal but the Upper Iowa Conference was chalk full of studs. Lee finished his career 167-12 with 103 pins and placed 5th, 3rd and 2nd at state. Lee would go on to wrestle at Luther College before calling it a career. A little longer interview here, but it’s definitely worth the listen. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Lee Meirick!
Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/
Registration is open for the Granby Wrestling Camp in Belle Plaine, IA. The camp is from June 24th-26th and is hosted by The Granby School of Wrestling. All the information, including registration and event details are listed in the show notes or head to granbyschool.com. Remember: Summer wrestling makes winter champs!
Granby School of Wrestling registration: http://www.granbyschool.com/shop/product/326989
Granby School of Wrestling Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2525819390924322/?ti=ls
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Chloe is a sophomore at Vinton-Shellsburg and has had a great start to her young career. Chloe is a 2x state placewinner, finishing 2nd and 3rd. She is also having a heck of an offseason, placing 3rd at USA folkstyle nationals and 2nd at Virginia Beach. Chloe’s two older brothers, Gabe and Cooper, were talented wrestlers as well. If you haven’t already heard the name ‘Chloe Sanders’, you better start learning it because she’s a star. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Chloe Sanders!
Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/
Registration is open for the Granby Wrestling Camp in Belle Plaine, IA. The camp is from June 24th-26th and is hosted by The Granby School of Wrestling. All the information, including registration and event details are listed in the show notes or head to granbyschool.com. Remember: Summer wrestling makes winter champs!
Granby School of Wrestling registration: http://www.granbyschool.com/shop/product/326989
Granby School of Wrestling Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2525819390924322/?ti=ls
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Tyler is from Orion, Illinois and was a 3x state finalist for the Chargers, winning a state title as a sophomore. As a senior, Tyler moved to Bettendorf, Iowa and was a state runner-up for Head Coach Dan Knight. Tyler continued wrestling for Iowa State, where he was a 2x national qualifier. He then transferred to arch-rival Iowa and graduated as a Hawkeye. He was inducted into the Orion High School Hall of Fame in 2018. So, Tyler competed at both Illinois and Iowa High School state wrestling tournaments and wrestled for both Cael Sanderson and Tom Brands. Quite the interesting story lies ahead! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Tyler Clark!
Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/
Registration is open for the Granby Wrestling Camp in Belle Plaine, IA. The camp is from June 24th-26th and is hosted by The Granby School of Wrestling. All the information, including registration and event details are listed in the show notes or head to granbyschool.com. Remember: Summer wrestling makes winter champs!
Granby School of Wrestling registration: http://www.granbyschool.com/shop/product/326989
Granby School of Wrestling Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2525819390924322/?ti=ls
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
A couple weeks ago, the 2024 Olympic Trials took place in State College, Pennsylvania. There was a lot to unpack from all the action, both good and bad. So, I enlisted the help of my friend and former teammate Duane Richardson to come on the podcast and talk about it all.
Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/
Registration is open for the Granby Wrestling Camp in Belle Plaine, IA. The camp is from June 24th-26th and is hosted by The Granby School of Wrestling. All the information, including registration and event details are listed in the show notes or head to granbyschool.com. Remember: Summer wrestling makes winter champs!
Granby School of Wrestling registration: http://www.granbyschool.com/shop/product/326989
Granby School of Wrestling Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2525819390924322/?ti=ls
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Behind all these great athletes we love and cheer for is an even greater support system. Kourtney Hardy is a perfect example of this. She is the wife of 2x AA and current Husker wrestler Brock Hardy. Kourtney grew up literally down the street from Brock in Brigham City, Utah. She’s currently taking classes online at Southern Utah University and lives in Lincoln. In this episode, Kourtney talks about how she handles being the wife of a wrestler in the spotlight. She talks about what it was like to uproot herself from Utah and move to Lincoln and how she, herself, stays strong. Kourtney has started a little business called My Everlasting Flower, where she turns flowers into lasting memories. You can find more information on instagram at myeverlastingflower (all one word) or myeverlastingflower.com. Both links can be found in the show notes. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Kourtney Hardy!
Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/
My Everlasting Flower instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myeverlastingflower/
My Everlasting Flower website: https://www.myeverlastingflower.com/
Registration is open for the Granby Wrestling Camp in Belle Plaine, IA. The camp is from June 24th-26th and is hosted by The Granby School of Wrestling. All the information, including registration and event details are listed in the show notes or head to granbyschool.com. Remember: Summer wrestling makes winter champs!
Granby School of Wrestling registration: http://www.granbyschool.com/shop/product/326989
Granby School of Wrestling Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2525819390924322/?ti=ls
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Shannon is an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee in the school of journalism and media. She has contributed to NCAA.com, covering wrestling for the last 6 years. Prior to this, she was a swimmer at American University. Shannon’s roots run deep in wrestling, as her dad was an All-American for Maryland. She actually wrote a piece about him that I have linked below in the show notes. Shannon is another amazing person in the sport of wrestling and I am truly honored to share a piece of her story. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Shannon Scovel!
Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/
Shannon’s article: https://www.theeagleonline.com/article/2017/03/op-ed-the-power-of-sport
Registration is open for the Granby Wrestling Camp in Belle Plaine, IA. The camp is from June 24th-26th and is hosted by The Granby School of Wrestling. All the information, including registration and event details are listed in the show notes or head to granbyschool.com. Remember: Summer wrestling makes winter champs!
Granby School of Wrestling registration: http://www.granbyschool.com/shop/product/326989
Granby School of Wrestling Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/2525819390924322/?ti=ls
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Brett is from Manchester, Iowa and wrestled for West Delaware. Unfortunately, injuries cut his career short. But Brett just couldn’t get away from wrestling. He’s been involved at the coaching level, holding roles at Waterloo West, Waverly Shell-Rock and Loras, to name a few. Currently, Brett is the head coach at West Des Moines Valley and guided them to a 15th place finish at state this year, which included a state finalist. In the show notes you’ll see a link to Pay It FOREward Connolly, a non-profit organization that serves to financially aid persons with disabilities and their families. The organization was founded in memory of Andrew Connolly, a good friend of Brett Wheelan. Again, the link to the organization can be found in the show notes. If you know someone who could benefit from this amazing organization or if you simply want to know how you can help, all the information is found through that link. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Brett Wheelan!
Pay It FOREward Connolly: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064756686289
Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Leighton is from New Hampton, Iowa and wrestled for the Chickasaws. He was a 3x state placewinner, finishing 5th, 3rd and 3rd. After high school, Leighton wrestled for UNI and was in the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman. That same year, he won the Tim Ascherli Most Courageous Award. Leighton now resides in Kendallville, Iowa and helps out with the Northeast Iowa Wrestling Club in Decorah. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Leighton Gaul!
Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
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Tony has been involved in wrestling his entire life. He started out competing as youth in New York. Tony continued wrestling in college at the University of Buffalo. After graduating, Tony moved cross-country to San Francisco, CA, where he took on a coaching role. But after coaching for a brief period, Tony eventually found his way to behind the lens of a camera. And he knew that was his calling. Tony has been photographing wrestling ever since and is now one of the most highly-renowned photographers in the sport of wrestling. You can find his work at tonyrotundo.smugmug.com. The link is also posted in the show notes. One other note, it is actually Tony’s birthday today, so happy birthday Tony! He’s actually currently in Fairfax, VA shooting the Last Chance Qualifier as we speak. With all that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Tony Rotundo!
Tony Rotundo website: https://tonyrotundo.smugmug.com/
Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Naomi is from Decorah, Iowa and made history this past year by becoming the first girls 4x state champion in Iowa history. Naomi also was selected as Ms. Iowa Wrestler of the Year and won a Junior Fargo national title last July. She’s committed to wrestle for the University of Iowa. Naomi is also competing at Last Chance Qualifier this weekend in an attempt to make an Olympic team. This was awesome to get to know a little more about Naomi on a personal level and no doubt she’s going to look good in black and gold. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Naomi Simon!
Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Tim is a wrestling and baseball dad. He has 3 sons. Ben and Cade wrestle and both won state titles this year for Skutt Catholic. His other son, Jace, is a flamethrower for the Skutt Catholic baseball team. He’s a well-respected father in the Omaha metro area and his family is also highly praised as being a genuine group of people. I wanted to bring him on to highlight a family that is doing things the right way and pick his brain on how they do it. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Tim Ziola!
--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Nate is from Tucson, Arizona and was a 2x state champion for Sunnyside High School. Nate went on to wrestle at Iowa State, where he was a 3x All-American and a national champion for the Cyclones. At the senior level, he was a U.S. Senior national champion, a 4x U.S. national team member and finished 3rd at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials. After a couple of brief coaching stints, Nate now works at Wells Fargo and resides in Iowa. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Nate Gallick!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
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Jared is from Graettinger, Iowa and wrestled at Graettinger-Terrill. He was a 3x state placer, securing 3rd twice before becoming a state champion as a senior. After high school, Jared got into the world of weightlifting. He’s competed in both Strongman and Powerlifting competitions before picking up Olympic Weightlifting. In 2015, Jared switched to CrossFit full time and made the 2018 CrossFit Games. You can check him out on his instagram at jaredenderton where you can find seminars, more information about Invictus Weightlifting and to reach out for weightlifting programs. His instagram handle can be found below. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Jared Enderton!
Jared Enderton instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaredenderton/
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Todd is from Gilbertville, Iowa and wrestled for the Don Bosco Dons. He was a 3x state qualifier and finished as a state champion as a senior. Todd started his college career at Iowa State before transferring to Wartburg, a place he now calls home, and ended up being a national qualifier for the Knights. Todd is now an assistant coach for Wartburg and his team is gearing up to make a run this weekend at DIII nationals in La Crosse, WI. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Todd Becker!
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Dalton is from Charles City and was a 3x state qualifier for the Comets. As a senior, he broke through and finished 3rd at 189 lbs. Dalton was also a beast on the football field, earning 2nd team all-state honors his senior year and receiving an invite to the Shrine Bowl. Dalton attempted to both wrestle and play football at Grand View before transferring to Iowa Central to solely focus on football. After sustaining an injury, Dalton transferred back to Grand View, this time concentrating strictly on wrestling. Unfortunately, his body couldn’t hold up. Dalton is now active duty Army and is stationed in Fayetteville, North Carolina. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Dalton Schutjer!
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Caleb is from High Point, North Carolina and currently wrestles 125 lbs. for Nebraska. Prior to joining the Huskers, Caleb was a 2x NCAA qualifier for App. State. Wrestling in high school for Southwest Guilford, Caleb exploded onto the scene after winning a state title as a senior and placing 3rd at Virginia Beach Nationals. Caleb is also a Chain Wrestling Signature Athlete and you can purchase Caleb Smith gear at chainwrestlng.co. The link can be found in the show notes. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Caleb Smith!
Caleb Smith apparel: https://www.chainwrestling.co/collections/caleb-smith
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Aaron is from Emmetsburg, Iowa and wrestled during the peak years of the Emmetsburg/Armstrong-Ringsted era. From 2000-2006, they won 6 traditional team titles and 2 dual team titles. As for Aaron, he also enjoyed some success. He finished as a 3x placer, finishing 2nd and 4th before winning it all as a senior. Aaron went on to wrestle at the University of Iowa, where he battled some adversity but never gave up. He finished his senior year with the most wins on the team and fell one win shy of becoming an All-American. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Aaron Janssen!
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Levi’s story is one of great adversity and even greater success. He started wrestling like a lot of kids, competing in their local wrestling club. But in 6th grade, Levi was diagnosed with idiopathic transverse myelitis, a rare condition that occurs when there is inflammation of both sides of a section of the spinal cord. This left Levi paralyzed from the waist down. But after several months of physical therapy and countless trips to the chiropractor, Levi regained most of his ability to walk and eventually was able to participate in sports. Throughout all this, Levi’s goals never wavered: He wanted to be a state champion. I’ll let Levi tell you the rest of the story. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Levi Drueke!
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Ryan, or Philly as he’s known to some, was Burlington High School’s first state champion when he finished on top in 2002 at 215 lbs. Ryan took his talents to Wartburg and spent 4 years there before transferring to Upper Iowa where he won a national title. He was subsequently inducted into the Upper Iowa Hall of Fame in 2018. Ryan has had coaching stints at Upper Iowa, Labette Community College, West Burlington-Notre Dame, Cedar Rapids Jefferson and now at Marion High School. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Ryan Phillips!
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Christian is from Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was a 4x state placewinner, winning a state title his senior year. In college, he wrestled for Michigan State and Head Coach Tom Minkel. Nowadays, Christian is the owner and head coach of River City Wrestling, an up-and-coming club located in Richmond, Virginia. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Christian Olanowski!
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Erin is currently an associate director with the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. She is a big reason why Iowa sanctioned girls wrestling. A native of Panora, Iowa, Erin graduated from Iowa State University before earning her masters at Oklahoma State. This is a very insightful episode of all the behind-the-scenes work Erin and her team puts in to make girls wrestling in Iowa as successful at it can be. It also entails where her passion for wrestling (and sports in general) all started. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Erin Gerlich!
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Chris is from Westlake, Ohio and wrestled at St. Edward High School under legendary head coach Greg Urbas. Chris enlisted in the Air Force and wrestled at the United States Air Force Academy, earning team captain as a senior. Chris is now in the Air Force Reserve and flies for UPS. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Major Chris Szabolcs!
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Brett was one of those guys I could never beat growing up. I don’t know how many times we wrestled, but he always found a way to come out on top. Anyway, Brett was a 4x state qualifier for West Delaware and placed 4th as a senior. He went on to wrestle at Wartburg and qualified for the national tournament as a senior. Nowadays, Brett is an assistant coach at Waukee Northwest and a personal trainer at Life Time Athletic. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Brett Yonkovic!
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Reese is from Reno, Nevada, but attended high school at Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania. She won a silver medal at the 15U World Combat Games in Budapest and also won both the 16U and U20 national championships. Reese currently wrestles 143 lbs. for the University of Iowa. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Reese Larramendy!
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Mack is a four-time state champion for Don Bosco, the 13th in Iowa High School state history. For college, Mack went north and attended the University of Minnesota. As a Golden Gopher, he was a 3x All-American at 133 lbs. Between high school and college, Mack won a total of 294 matches. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Mack Reiter!
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Rachel is a registered dietitian as well as an InterMat correspondent who covers the SOCON. She also created her own wrestling apparel called Tough Wrestling and we have a discount code for you in this very episode that will get you 15% off your next purchase! Listen to the episode and you can find Tough Wrestling apparel at toughwrestling.com. Prior to all this, Rachel was a manager with the App State wrestling team. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Rachel Gallardo!
Tough Wrestling website: https://www.toughwrestling.com/
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Tiffany grew up in Cumberland, Iowa and has been around the sport her entire life. She moved to New Mexico and got into coaching. Tiffany started as a youth coach before moving into the club scene. She then became the first female assistant coach in the state of New Mexico. After COVID, Tiffany moved back to southwest Iowa and is now the head coach of the Southwest Area Wrestling Team (or S.W.A.T. for short). So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Tiffany South!
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Dale wrestled at Cedar Rapids Prairie for Coach Ron James. After high school, Dale wrestled at Northwest Missouri State, where he is the all-time wins leader. Dale became a teacher once he graduated and excelled in the educational field. He started in Nebraska before working his way back to Iowa, stopping at Akron-Westfield and Midland before finishing out as superintendent of both MFL MarMac and Eastern Allamakee Community School Districts. In listening to Dale you will find he intertwines a lot of what he learned on the mat with what he does off of it. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Dr. Dale Crozier!
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Tony is the head coach of Augsburg University, a DIII powerhouse in Minneapolis, MN. He started as a grad assistant in 2012 before going the staff full-time in 2015. Tony became the co-head coach in 2019 and assumed solo duties in 2022. He’s helped lead the Auggies to 3 national titles over his time and is hoping to provide similar results this year. Tony is a graduate of Augsburg University and was a 3x All-American himself. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Tony Valek!
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CJ is in his freshman season wrestling 184 at UNI. He’s from Keokuk, IA and wrestled at Notre Dame-West Burlington High School. After a 3rd place finish his sophomore year, CJ won back-to-back state titles at 182 lbs., which included a traditional team title by .5 in 2022. CJ seems to have found his seat on the Panther Train, as he won the Grand View Open’s freshman/sophomore division and placed 2nd at the Daktronics Open. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, CJ Walrath!Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Levi wrestled for the vaunted Cedar Valley Mat Club, one of the toughest clubs back in the day. He went on to become a 4x Iowa High School state finalist and 2x state champion for Denver-Tripoli while also leading them to a state dual and traditional state title in 2010. Levi went on to wrestle at UNI, becoming a 2x NCAA qualifier and made the bloodround in 2013. Unfortunately, injuries took a toll on the rest of his college career. Levi now lives back near Denver and works with his best buddy Blake Sorensen. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Levi Wolfensperger!
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Steve is in his 18th season at the helm of St. Cloud State University. Since taking over the program in 2006, Steve has turned the Huskies into a DII powerhouse, winning 5 national team titles and finishing as runner-up another 4 times. He’s coached over 120 national qualifiers, including over 80 All-Americans and 8 national champions. As a wrestler, Steve was a 3x All-American at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Steve Costanzo!
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Madilynn is from Clinton, IA and graduated from Camanche High School, where she was all-state in 3 sports in high school: volleyball, basketball and softball. She chose to attend Coe College and compete in both volleyball and softball. Madilynn has excelled at both sports, helping both programs reach the postseason. She earned league MVP honors in volleyball and the softball team finished 3rd at the DIII National Championships last spring. Needless to say, Madilynn is one of the best athletes in the state. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Madilynn Parson!
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Arelys is from Clewiston, FL, where she was a 3x state placewinner and 2x state runner-up. Arelys started her college career at Missouri Baptist University before finishing her career at the University of the Cumberlands as a 2x All-American. Aside from competing on the senior level circuit, Arelys has entered the coaching realm. She spent one year at Brewton-Parker College before landing as the Assistant Coach of the Grand View Women’s wrestling team. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Arelys Valles!
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Jeremy is from Cascade, Iowa and wrestled for the Cougars. He went on to wrestle at Loras College just down the road in Dubuque. Jeremy didn’t quite achieve the accolades on the mat that he hoped. However, he didn’t let that hinder his passion for the sport. Jeremy landed as an Assistant Coach at Dubuque Wahlert and helped lead them to a state team title in 2018. His story is a lesson that your wrestling credentials don’t determine how successful of a coach you can be. Jeremy now hosts a podcast called Weighin’ in with Worm, an extension of the Dubuque Area Sports Podcast where he highlights wrestling in the Dubuque area. Jeremy does a phenomenal job and you can find a link to the show in the show notes! With that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Jeremy Boffeli!
Dubuque Area Sports Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5cNLp0sdmCkMRaIq9gZeZf?si=d254cba8d6374dd8
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Adam was a 2x California state champion in high school, competing for both Hiram Johnson High School and Buchanan High School. Adam went on to become an Illini legend. He was a 3x All-American for Head Coach Mark Johnson and was a national champion in 2001 while helping Illinois to a 5th place finish as a team. Adam was inducted into the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020. Now living back in Fresno, CA, Adam coaches at powerhouse Clovis High School with his dad, Stephen. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Adam Tirapelle!
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Lenny is from Stroudsburg, PA and won a state title as a junior. Unfortunately, knee injuries derailed his senior year. Lenny chose to attend the University of Nebraska, where lingering knee issues kept him off the mat his redshirt year. But Lenny thrived last year in his first season in the lineup at 184, finishing 5th at Big Ten’s and qualifying for the NCAA tournament. I think Lenny is someone Husker coaches and fans are really excited about moving forward. I can’t wait to see what his future holds! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Lenny Pinto!
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Phillip is from Vernal, Utah and was a 2x state champion for Uintah High School. Phillip went on to wrestle at the University of Iowa and became a 3x All-American. He was also a part of 3 Big Ten and NCAA team champions. In my opinion, Phillip was the glue of those teams. He was tough, gritty and just someone you could always count on to get the job done. That’s why he was my favorite wrestler during that time. Phillip now lives back in his hometown of Vernal and is the head wrestling coach at his alma mater. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Phillip Keddy!
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Bubba is from Manhattan, Kansas and won a Kansas state title in 2019. Bubba now wrestles 165 for the Huskers and was Redshirt of the Year during the 2019-2020 season after posting a 19-1 record. Heading into his junior year, Bubba has qualified twice for the NCAA tournament and is looking to take the next step this year for the Huskers. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Bubba Wilson!
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I wouldn’t want to start this new and exciting season any other way. Eric was the very first guest on the podcast and I’m happy to continue sharing his story. Since graduating from the University of Nebraska, Eric has turned his attention to the Senior Level and currently competes at the NWRTC. He won both the Bill Farrell Open and the Henri Deglane to go along with a 4th place finish at the US Open. Eric also recently celebrated his wedding with his wife, Clare. Clare is a talented photographer and actually now is a great time to sign up and grab some fall family photos. If you or someone you know is in the market for a photographer, send them Clare’s way! You can check out her website at clareellerbeephotography.com or find her on instagram at clare.ellerbee.photo. Both links can be found below for your convenience. With all that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Eric Schultz!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Clare's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clare.ellerbee.photo/
Clare's website: https://www.clareellerbeephotography.com/
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Tim graduated from Morning Sun High School and went to Coe College. Tim just signed on for his 17th season with the Big Ten Network and will be his 38th season of broadcasting overall, which started back in 1986 with Iowa Public Television. Tim is also a big advocate for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a community working to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. A lot of positive energy and just an overall great conversation lies within this episode. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Tim Johnson!
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Paul was the first wrestler I really looked up to at MFL MarMac. He was intense, a hard worker and one hell of a competitor. Paul was Chet’s first 4x Upper Iowa Conference Champion. He qualified for state 3 times and placed 8th as a senior. Paul also wrestled on the same team as his brothers Phil, Peter and Pat, which was a pretty special moment for the Fisk family. Paul now lives in Cresco and helps run the family business called Fisk Farm and Home in Decorah. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Paul Fisk!
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As most everyone probably knows, James recently announced he’ll be returning to the mat once again. James was the man at 70kg for 6 years, capturing World silver and bronze along the way. Along with his return to competing, James is also an Assistant Coach on the Nebraska staff, where James himself was a 4x All-American. While James has all these accomplishments on the mat, we touch more on who James is as a person. It was a pleasure to peel back the layers and find out a little more about who James Green is. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, James Green!
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Brock is heading into his sophomore season at the University of Nebraska after a successful freshman year that ended in a 6th place finish at NCAA’s. Before he gets his college season underway, Brock will be traveling to Albania to compete in the U23 World Championships at 65kg. Competition gets underway October 23, with Brock’s first match coming at 3:30am ET on Tuesday the 24th. Best of luck to Brock and all of Team USA as they look to bring home some hardware. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Brock Hardy!
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Jason has been announcing or covering wrestling in some capacity since his high school days at Poquoson High School in Virginia. Jason’s accomplishments are too long to list, a testament to just how successful his career has been to this point. Even after everything he has achieved thus far, Jason still has a chip on his shoulder and strives to continuously improve his craft, something I think we all can admire. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Jason Bryant!
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Blake was pretty much a stud from the get-go, winning 5 AAU state titles. During that time, he wrestled at one of the toughest clubs around, the Cedar Valley Mat Club. His success followed him into his high school days, as he became a 4x state placewinner for Denver-Tripoli. Blake chose to attend Upper Iowa University and was a national runner-up as a sophomore. Unfortunately, Blake battled knee injuries for most of his wrestling career, making his accolades that much more impressive. Blake now owns an acreage in Denver with his wife and two kids, who I bet are just as rowdy as he was. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Blake Sorensen!
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Layne enters his 6th and final year at Michigan State. He’s from Macomb, MI and wrestled at Dakota High School. He was a 4x state placer, winning it all as a senior. As he prepares for one last ride as a Spartan, Layne has qualified every year for NCAA’s. He’s fallen short of All-American status each time and is no doubt looking to finish on the podium. He won’t be the only Michigan State wrestler looking to find the podium, as this Spartan team is looking to make some noise this year. You better get on the hype train now. Otherwise, you’re going to be left at the station! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Layne Malczewski!
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Boone is from Dubuque, IA and wrestled for Dubuque Wahlert. After having success on the youth circuit, Boone actually quit wrestling briefly during middle school. He went back out in high school and finished 3rd as a junior and 1st as a senior. Out of high school, Boone went to Iowa Central Community College and proceeded to dominate his way to a JUCO national title. Boone transferred to Rutgers University and quickly became a fan favorite. Heading into his final year of eligibility, Boone made the decision to transfer to Oregon State University and compete for the Beavers. No doubt he’ll become a fan favorite there, too! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Boone McDermott!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
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Kelli grew up wrestling for Blue Earth Area High School in Minnesota, where she was the first varsity female wrestler. She was a Cadet/Junior Women’s national champion in 2003 and a runner-up in 2004. At one point, Kelli was the No. 2 ranked female high school wrestler. She went on to wrestle at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada, where she was a 2x All-Conference honoree. Kelli finished her college career at Winona State University that included 2 national titles and a runner-up finish. Kelli is now the Head Girls Wrestling Coach at Hopkins High School in Minnesota. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Kelli Metzger!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
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Brittani is a registered dietitian and owns her own business called Freedom Nutrition Academy. With Freedom Nutrition Academy, you can get 1-on-1 coaching and find a plan designed specifically for you to help you hit your goal weight. She also provides advice on how to better your mindset and create healthy, sustaining habits that will give you confidence in your daily life. Brittani also served in the Army and was an intern for the New York Jets. More information about Brittani, Freedom Nutrition Academy and how to get a hold of her can be found in the show notes. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Brittani DaSilva!
Freedom Nutrition: https://www.freedomnutritionacademy.com/
Brittani DaSilva’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutrition_coach_brittani/
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
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Tim was a 3 sport star in high school, playing both baseball and football at a high level along with wrestling. Tim ultimately chose to wrestle at the University of Minnesota and became a 3x All-American, finishing 3rd as a sophomore before winning 2 national titles. He was the first Golden Gopher to win back-to-back national titles in 51 years, a crazy stat when you consider the history of the program. After competing on the senior level, Tim got into coaching, with stints at Minnesota, Iowa and Iowa State. He now currently resides in Stillwater, Minnesota and enjoys time with his 3 kids. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Tim Hartung!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
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AJ is a graduate of Decorah High School, where he was a 2x state placewinner. AJ didn’t travel far for college, as he competed for Luther College. After graduating from Luther College, AJ attended the University of Western States in Portland, Oregon and became a chiropractor. Since then, AJ has helped train elite athletes, including an Ironman World Champion and World and Olympic track athletes. AJ now lives in Flagstaff, Arizona and has his own practice with his brother, Wes. More information about AJ’s practice, StrongStrides, along with all his credentials can be found in the show notes. With that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Dr. AJ Gregg!
StrongStrides: https://www.strongstrides.com/
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
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Sam is entering his 10th season as the head coach of the Air Force wrestling program. And this past year was one of the best in program history. 5 Falcons qualified for the 2023 NCAA tournament and they finished tied for 18th as a team. As great as last year was, Coach Barber and company are looking for even better results this upcoming season. Sam wrestled at Upper Iowa (who was DIII at the time) and for Coach Mike McCready and ended up being a 2x national qualifier. I’ll tell you this right now: Do not be surprised if Air Force has an even better year in 2023-2024. Because Coach Barber and company has that team believing they can climb to new heights. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Sam Barber!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
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Tannor wrestled for Cresco High School and was a 2x state qualifier, finishing as a runner-up his junior year. He went on to UNI, but unfortunately shoulder injuries derailed his college career. Tannor now lives in Cresco and has 4 kids of his own. He also helps out with the Cresco Youth Wrestling Club. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Tannor Burke!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
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Bret’s story is truly one of trials and tribulations. On the mat, Bret was a 3x state qualifier and 2x runner-up for Creston Orient-Macksburg. He was a part of the 2007 team that won both traditional and dual team state tournament. That same team was inducted into the Creston Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2021. But in the summer of 2007, Bret fractured his left leg playing baseball, putting his senior season in serious jeopardy. In Bret-like fashion, he worked his ass off and made a return trip to the state finals. One last thing of note: Tomorrow, September 14th, is Bret and his wife’s 10 year anniversary! A big milestone and I wish them a very happy anniversary. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Bret Kautz!
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Lori is, simply put, a true ambassador of the sport of wrestling. She helped jumpstart the girls wrestling scene in New Jersey and co-founded D1 Women’s Wrestling. If you go to d1womenswrestling.com, you will be able to find all sorts of resources for women’s wrestling, such as how to start a women’s wrestling club, pathways to building a varsity women’s wrestling program, competitions, colleges that currently have a women’s wrestling team or club and more. And all this information has been put together with the help of Lori Ayres and others. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Lori Ayres!
Books: Good For a Girl by Lauren Fleshman Up to Speed by Christine Yu Think Again by Adam Grant Cognitive Dominance by Mark McLaughlin, M.D.
App: https://wild.ai/
D1 Women's Wrestling Website: https://d1womenswrestling.com/
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Erica’s love for the sport developed at a young age. She grew up in Independence, Iowa and, when she got older, started volunteering with the Ames Area High School Wrestling Team. From there, she became head of the Ames Area Wrestling Club and also co-founded the Be Rare Initiative with Cyclone national champion Kyven Gadson. Next thing you know, Erica is the Director of Donor Relations at the Cyclone Regional Training Center. She did this all while raising her boys, Blayke and Marcus. Erica is now the Director of Wrestling Operations at Davidson College. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Erica Andorf!
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Laramie was a 4x state placewinner and 3x finalist for Winterset. After finishing 6th and 2nd, he ended his high school career with back-to-back state titles. Laramie wrestled at Iowa State for 4 years before finishing his wrestling career as an All-American for Augustana University. Nowadays, Laramie coaches the Logan-Magnolia Youth Wrestling Club and also helps out with the high school team. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Laramie Shaffer!
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Mitch was a part of some stacked Glenwood teams back in the mid-2000s. They placed 3rd twice at the state duals and was in the hunt for a team trophy at traditional state every year. As an individual, Mitch was a 4x state placewinner and a 2x runner-up. He was also an All-State soccer player. Mitch spent 3 years at Iowa State before finishing out his college career at UW-La Crosse. Mitch now lives in Denver, Colorado and casually climbs 14,000’ mountains. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Mitch Artist!
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Dru is a contributor for NE Wrestle and does a hell of a job providing content. He does rankings, articles, interviews, pictures, etc. The guy does it all. As far as wrestling, Dru was a 2x Nebraska state champion for Ord High School and he wrestled a couple years for Nebraska-Kearney. Dru is married and has two wonderful daughters. When he’s not putting together wrestling content or hanging with his family, Dru’s on a golf course somewhere. As much as he golfs, I still hear his handicap is a 54. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Dru Kastler!
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Randi is a photographer for IAwrestle and I mean this as sincerely as possible when I say Iowa is extremely lucky to have her taking photos of the wrestlers. Randi is not only passionate about the sport of wrestling, but she also cares deeply about every athlete she photographs. To see some of Randi’s work, purchase photos or get in contact with her about potential photoshoots, head to randiyeager.smugmug.com or you can reach out to her on instagram at randiyeager13. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Randi Yeager!
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Nate is currently the communications, marketing, and scholastic coordinator for the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). Nate’s from Beloit, KS and has just been around the sport of wrestling his whole life. Aside from competing while growing up, he coached wrestling at Lincoln High School in Kansas and was both the Vice President and President of the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association. He’s another guy in our sport who has done so much behind the scenes to help grow wrestling. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Nate Naasz!
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Cody was a 2x state qualifier for MFL MarMac and placed 8th as a senior. Although we’ve chatted about wrestling and I witnessed his journey in real time, this provided me an opportunity to get more in-depth answers and shined a light on things I was oblivious to at the time. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Cody Bachman!
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Mackenzie will be entering her junior year at MFL MarMac and is already a 2x state qualifier. Like so many of us, wrestling has really helped her grow into an outstanding person. I couldn’t be more proud of all she’s accomplished so far in her career and I’m extremely excited to see how her future unfolds. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Mackenzie Bachman!
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Shane is one of the most passionate and genuine people you will ever come across. You’ll never get him to admit it, but he is a big reason why wrestling exposure has gone up. I mean what’s the first thing you think of when you see a big mat return? Or a tough ride to end a period? For me, I think of Shane Sparks. Shane’s from Ripon, Wisconsin and was a state runner-up as a senior for Winnebago Lutheran Academy. This is one you all are going to love. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Shane Sparks!
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Joe went to Shawnee Mission East High School and was a 2x Kansas state champion. He went on to wrestle for the University of Iowa and was a 2x All-American, placing 2nd and 6th. Joe actually started his coaching career as an assistant at Cornell College before joining the Missouri coaching staff in 2008. After 11 seasons with the Tigers, he moved on to the Air Force Academy and is now the Associate Head Coach. Joe has a reputation of being one of the hardest workers around, something he established growing up and now instills in his own athletes. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Joe Johnston!
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The Gotto’s have a rich history of wrestling within their family and Jimmy certainly is no exception. He was a 2x state placewinner for Western Dubuque, finishing 7th and 3rd. Jimmy chose to attend Coe College and became a 2x All-American for the Kohawks, including a run to the finals as an unseeded wrestler his junior year. Jimmy now serves as both the Head Assistant and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for Coe College. But as successful as his wrestling career was, Jimmy battled quite a bit of adversity and I believe it’s turned him into the man and coach he is today. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Jimmy Gotto!
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Nate will be entering his third season as Associate Head Coach at Oregon State and he also works with the Beaver Dam RTC. Prior to this, Nate spent two seasons with Stanford and four seasons with Navy. Nate also served as the personal coach to Adeline Gray at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she won a silver medal. He’s been successful everywhere he’s been and you will see why after listening to him. Nate, himself, was an All-American at Missouri Valley College and a two-time member of the U.S. National Team. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Nate Engel!
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Landon was a 3x state placewinner for Davenport Assumption, including winning a state title as a senior. He chose to continue wrestling for Wartburg, becoming a 3x All-American and 2x national champion for the Knights. Landon coached at Wartburg for one year after graduating before heading south to coach for Holy Cross High School in Louisiana. In his 4 years there, his teams finished third twice, runner-up once, and won the school's first Division 1 State Championship in 30 years. Now, Landon is the Head Assistant Wrestling Coach for his alma mater, Wartburg, a position he’s held since May of 2020. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Landon Williams!
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Derek was a key part of the Iowa City West’s success in the mid-2000’s. He won 2 state titles along with a Fargo national title. Derek went on to become the 18th 4x All-American in Hawkeye history, highlighted by his national title as a junior. Derek started his coaching career with stints at North Dakota State and Virginia Tech before landing at Iowa State. Derek will be entering his 7th season with the Cyclones and they’ll be locked and loaded for a top-10 run at the 2024 NCAA’s. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Derek St. John!
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Brad may very well be the greatest high school coach in Iowa High School Wrestling history. In his 45-year career that took place at both Lisbon and Iowa City, City High, Brad coached 65 individual state champions, which includes 5 four-time state champions. He set records with 704 dual victories and 19 team state titles. But even more impressive than that is all the boys he helped turn into men. Brad retired after this past year and is now an avid pickleball player. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Brad Smith!
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Emma is currently the Head Coach of the NYC RTC women’s wrestling program and Columbia University Women’s Wrestling Club. Prior to this, she served as the head girls coach and program director for Beat the Streets NYC. Emma also was a member of USA Wrestling’s National coaching staff and has coached numerous world teams at all age levels. This is all a fancy way of saying Emma is one of the best and brightest coaches in the sport and I’m honored she allowed me a small glimpse of her thought process. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Emma Randall!
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Heath will be entering his 24th season as the Head Coach of the Upper Iowa Peacocks. During his tenure, the Peacocks have placed in the top-11 nine times and he also guided their transition from DIII to DII. I think it’s also worth mentioning every coach on his staff is a former wrestler of his, a testament to the amount of respect and loyalty his athletes have for him. Heath graduated from Osage High School and went on to become a 2x All-American for Luther College. He was inducted into the Luther College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Heath Grimm!
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Justin was a 2x state champion for West Central, Maynard. He started his college career as an Iowa Hawkeye. However, during his redshirt sophomore year, he stepped away from the program and wrestling altogether. But he just couldn’t stay away. And after 12 years of not competing, Justin found himself back on the mat wearing an Upper Iowa singlet. He spent one year as a Peacock wrestler and, at the ripe age of 33, qualified for the DII national tournament. Oh, and he also has a family farm that milks about 700 cows. This is another person who we are very lucky to have in our sport. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Justin Decker!
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Mitch was a 4x state placewinner, placing 3rd twice for Cedar Rapids Kennedy and placing 1st and 3rd for Iowa City West. He won a Fargo national title as a senior in high school before joining the Iowa State Cyclones. Mitch had a successful college career, finishing as a Big 12 runner-up three times and making the round-of-12 twice at the NCAA’s. Mitch’s birthday was actually July 20th, so Happy Birthday to Mitch! With that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Mitch Mueller!
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Sam is going to be a sophomore at Bishop McCort Catholic High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Sam was a Fargo runner-up in 2021 and he would be there right now. Instead, Sam made the U17 Greco-Roman World Team and will be competing in Istanbul, Turkey from July 31 - August 6. Sam also hosted a podcast called Home Mat Advantage with his friend, Jude Swisher, and won the WIN Magazine Journalist of the Year at just 13 years old. Although he may have become recognized from the Home Mat Advantage Podcast, you’re going to remember him as a wrestler. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Sam Herring!
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Molly is a 2x state champion and won a Fargo national title last year. She’s currently chasing her second Fargo title right now, so best of luck to Miss Molly and all the wrestlers competing at Fargo! Molly will be a junior this upcoming year and is already a great role model in our sport. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Miss Molly Allen.
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Skylar is one of the top women freestyle wrestlers at 76kgs. She won the US Open in 2022 and placed 2nd at the World Team Trials that same year. However, she’s made even bigger gains in her mental game. In this episode, we cover the struggles she went through and how she’s overcome them to get to where she is today. Lastly, Skylar has started her own podcast titled Life as a female wrestler. In it, she goes into even more depth of what she’s endured as a senior level wrestler and how she’s handled it, both in good ways and bad. You can find her podcast on Spotify and I have also posted a link to it in the show notes. With that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Skylar Grote!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Life as a female wrestler: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Qflz0ty9qE0gOXvewXrUn?si=622f1f0842274d5e
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Trent didn’t start wrestling until his freshman year at Creston Orient-Macksburg. He didn’t win his first tournament until halfway through his junior year. But he kept grinding and getting better and Trent finished as a state champion his senior year. His story just goes to show anyone can have success in the sport of wrestling if you put in the work. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Trent Tucker!
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Quen has a rather unique wrestling path. He was a 2x state placewinner for Tift County in Georgia. He started his college career at Brewton-Parker, an NAIA school in Georgia, and placed 6th. He then transferred to NIACC and placed 5th at the NJCAA national tournament. Quen now wrestles for Chadron State College and was a runner-up this past year at the DII National tournament. He was the first finalist for the Eagles since his Head Coach Brett Hunter won it back in 2009. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Quen Campbell!
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This guy really doesn’t need much of an introduction. Jim, or “Milboy” as they call him, was a 2x DII National champion at UNI. He coached the Wartburg Knights to 10 National Titles. Jim is now a motivational speaker and the Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. Jim also collaborated with Kyle Klingman and released a book titled Do It Anyway! If you want to purchase the book, head to coachjimmillerspeaking.com or click on the link in the show notes. Today, July 5th, is also Coach Miller’s 70th birthday, so big happy birthday shout-out to Milboy! Otherwise, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Jim Miller!
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Do It Anyway! book: https://www.coachjimmillerspeaking.com/
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Clayton wrestled for Crete High School in Nebraska before moving on to Buena Vista University. While there, he studied digital media and put it to use right away. Clayton directed and produced the documentary Unsanctioned, a 6-part docuseries following girls wrestling in Iowa, particularly the Ridge View Girls Wrestling team. If you haven’t seen it already, I HIGHLY recommend you do so! Head over to rokfin.com, click on “Watch Content” and search Unsanctioned. You can also find the link in the show notes. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Clayton Van Horn! Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/ Unsanctioned Series: https://www.rokfin.com/post/92840/Unsanctioned-Chapter-1-Passion--Purpose
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Trevor wrestled for two years each at MFL MarMac and Osage High Schools. As a sophomore, Trevor qualified for the district tournament, but was unable to compete after being diagnosed with mono. He moved to Osage the following year and went on to place 7th and 4th. While he was at MFL MarMac, I practiced with him quite a bit and I wouldn’t have been half the wrestler without him. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Trevor Hejhal!
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Troy is originally from Denison, IA and is currently the Head Coach of the Ridge View Girls Wrestling Team. He has given so much to this sport that has, in turn, given him so much. Troy does all that he can to help grow girls wrestling and I cannot tell you how appreciative we all should be to have someone like him helping promote the sport.
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Evan was a 3x state placewinner and 2x state champion for Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton. Evan went on to make history at Grand View Univeristy by winning 4 NAIA National Titles. He’s only the eighth to ever accomplish the feat and the first Grand View wrestler to do so. Evan recently was named the head wrestling coach of the AHSTW Vikings in Avoca, Iowa, so big congrats to him! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Evan Hansen!
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Jake was a 2x state placer for Ames High School, placing 7th and 2nd. He wrestled collegiately for Wartburg, where he claimed All-American honors as a senior after a 5th place finish. Jake joined the Southeast Polk coaching staff in 2018 and became the head coach of the Rams in 2021. At 30 years old, he might be one of the younger coaches, but he has garnered the respect of everyone he meets. Easy to see why he was picked to succeed Coach Christenson. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Jake Agnitsch!
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Chris is a graduate of Oak Park River Forest High School and was a 3x All-American for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. After competing with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, Chris began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at South Dakota State. Chris now is the head coach of Perry High School in Iowa. Chris is actually gearing up to host his Dardanes Trained 1% Better Camp! It runs June 29th through July 1st and they have housing available for those traveling from out of town. Registration is open through June 22nd and you can find the link to register below. With that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Chris Dardanes!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Dardanes Trained 1% Better Camp registration: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/dardanes-trained-2023-summer-camp/barriers/visitor-report?cart=09065daa-df28-4b51-82a2-373ea319659f%21%2156016324
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Jeremy was a 2x state qualifier for MFL MarMac and was the Bulldogs first-ever state champion. Jeremy wrestled for a bit at UNI before focusing on his studies. He was recently inducted into the Bulldog Wrestling Hall of Fame this past January. Jeremy now lives in Anamosa with his wife and has 3 pretty cool daughters.
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Gabe was a 3x state placewinner for the MFL MarMac Bulldogs, finishing 5th, 3rd and 2nd. He’s only the third Bulldog ever to place 3 times at the state tournament and was MFL MarMac’s first state finalist in 15 years. Gabe just finished up his first year at Coe College while competing at 157 pounds. Gabe also just celebrated his 20th birthday last week! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Gabe McGeough!
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Cody qualified all 4 years for the Iowa High School State Tournament while wrestling for Underwood High School. He placed 3 times, which included a runner-up finish as a senior. After spending a year at Nebraska-Kearney, Cody transferred to Iowa Western Community College and became an All-American. He now coaches at Treynor High School and has already led them to new heights, qualifying a school-record 6 wrestlers for the state tournament this past year. The future is bright for this guy! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Cody Kingery!
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Brett wrestled for Union, La Porte City and was an absolute hammer. He won 4 AAU state titles and placed 2nd and 3rd before standing atop the podium as a senior. His team won the state duals over Emmetsburg in 2004. Brett continued his wrestling career at Upper Iowa University. He now has 2 beautiful daughters and lives back in La Porte City, Iowa. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Brett Hakeman!
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Nadine has been a wrestling referee for over 23 years and is one of the best in the business. She’s reffed both the Iowa and Colorado high school state tournaments. She also has been invited to Virginia Beach, which consists of the best refs in the nation. She’s an amazing person, an incredible referee and I’m excited to share her story with you. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Nadine Ihde-Johnston!
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Cody covers wrestling (and other sports) for the Des Moines Register. In my opinion, Cody is one of the best out there at covering the sport of wrestling. He covers all 3 major universities in the state of Iowa along with high school and even international level wrestling. Cody covers the sport at such a high level, I sometimes wonder when he has time to sleep. We are so fortunate to have Cody covering the sport of wrestling. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Cody Goodwin!
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Nick is a graduate of Rutgers University where he wrestled for their club team. He also started broadcasting Rutgers dual meets along with other Rutgers sports. He’s been heavily involved in wrestling ever since, covering both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments. Nick currently works as a Sports Writer for On3. As a wrestling community, we are privileged to have people like Nick covering our sport.Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Kyle was one of the most intimidating wrestlers I watched growing up. He wrestled at Crestwood High School. He placed 3rd as a junior at 215 lbs. and won a state title as a senior at heavyweight. He went on to play football at Iowa State before finding his way back to the mat and wrestling a year for the Cyclones. It was really cool chatting with Kyle and hearing his story. You know, he’s not that intimidating once you get to know him. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Kyle Slifka!
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Zac is currently the President and Head of Coaching at MWC Wrestling Academy in Omaha. His wrestling academy has produced 50 high school state champions and currently has 40 college wrestlers ranging from JUCO to Division I. As a wrestler, Zac was a 3x Nebraska state champ, 2x US Open All-American, placed 3rd at the 04 Olympic Team Trials and 4th in the 05 World Team Trials. There’s a wealth of knowledge in this episode! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Zac Dominguez!
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I would best describe Coach Jennings as fine wine because he just seems to get better with age. Coach Jennings just finished up his 26th season as the head coach of the Osage wrestling program and you might say this was his best year yet. Just this past year alone, Osage won the prestigious Battle of Waterloo and both the state duals and traditional state tournament. He also collected his 500th career dual victory. Coach Jennings won’t admit it, but he’s one of the best coaches in the state. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Brent Jennings!
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March is National Athletic Training Month and Tyler Weeda is the Athletic Trainer for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He’s a very vital piece to the staff. Tyler was a stud wrestler in his own right. He was a 4x state qualifier for Belle Plaine High School and finished 7th as a senior. He briefly competed at Coe College before switching gears and becoming an athletic trainer. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Tyler Weeda!
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Coach Malecek just finished his 17th year as the head wrestling coach of UW-La Crosse. They placed 5th at the DIII national tournament this past year and he crowned his 12th individual national champion. He was recently voted into the Osage High School Hall of Fame. Off the mat, Coach Malecek has four daughters (including triplets that run both track and cross country at the University of Illinois). One last thing: MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! UW-La Crosse will be hosting the 2024 DIII national tournament at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, WI, so be sure to get your tickets! With that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Dave Malecek!
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Chase grew up in Monticello, Iowa and was a 3x state placewinner for the Panthers. He moved on to wrestle for Head Coach Heath Grimm and Upper Iowa University. Chase recently won the 165-pound DII national title. I talked to Chase early on in the season, so this will give you a glimpse into how he got things rolling and what it took to get to this point in his wrestling career. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Chase Luensman!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
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Abby was a 2x IWCOA (Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association) High School Girls State Champion at Glenwood High School in Iowa. She recently became an All-American at Grand View University after placing 3rd at the NAIA national tournament. I want to applaud Abby on her courage for being so vulnerable and sharing such personal information regarding her story. Her journey is powerful and I encourage you to listen. If you are or have been in a dark place, you can find freedom in your story. You can lead a life that is fulfilling and it does not define you. With that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Abby McIntyre! A word of caution: There are topics of rape and attempted suicide that may be triggering for individuals. Listener discretion is advised.
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Jess is a Life Coach who currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Life is hard and challenging. At times, we struggle through it all. This is especially true for a student-athlete. So, get ready to be motivated and find some mental toughness! If you or someone you know might be interested in taking it a step further feel free to reach out to Jess! Her instagram and website are linked in the show notes! A reminder to everyone: It’s ok to ask for help. With that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Jessica Knapp!
Happiness Coaching website: https://www.happinesscoaching.online/
Jessica's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happ.i.ness.jess/
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The NCAA wrestling tournament begins Thursday, so I sat down with my brother, Cody, and went weight-by-weight with him to catch you up on all the potential storylines and to fill you in on the who’s-who. In this episode, we cover weights 165-HWT. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy this NCAA wrestling tournament preview with Cody Bachman.
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The NCAA wrestling tournament begins Thursday, so I sat down with my brother, Cody, and went weight-by-weight with him to catch you up on all the potential storylines and to fill you in on the who’s-who. In this episode, we cover weights 125-157. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy this NCAA wrestling tournament preview with Cody Bachman.
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If you’re looking for someone to root for this week as nationals gets underway, look no further than this guy, Clay Carlson. Clay wrestles 141 pounds for South Dakota State and is the 11 seed going into nationals. He was an All-American in 2021, finishing 8th. Clay is currently a graduate student and also has the unique ability to yodel a tune or two! One of his coaches calls him a “special kid” and there’s no doubt you’ll agree after listening to him. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Clay Carlson!
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Dorothy’s voice might sound familiar to you. That’s because she’s been a public address announcer for wrestling for over 30 years. She’s worked at major events all over the country, ranging from high school, college and even USA wrestling events. She received the Ed Aliverti Golden Microphone Award in 2018, which showcases all the hard work she puts into her profession. Dorothy is a pioneer in the sport and I’m honored to have her on the podcast to showcase her dedication to wrestling! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Dorothy Mayabb!
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This episode is going to be something a little different. The Big Ten wrestling tournament begins tomorrow, so I sat down with my brother, Cody, and went weight-by -weight with him to give you the who’s who. A couple things to note: we used the InterMat rankings and brackets had not been released yet, so we used the pre seeds as a guide. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy this Big Ten wrestling tournament preview with Cody Bachman.
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Victor is the Head Wrestling Coach at Ellsworth Community College and Mirzo and Isaiah are a couple of his wrestlers. Both Mirzo and Isaiah qualified for the NJCAA national tournament being held Friday, March 3rd and Saturday, March 4th in Council Bluffs, Iowa. This episode is really about shedding light on junior colleges and how they can be immensely beneficial to wrestlers who are still developing, so I wanted to get this out prior to the tournament beginning. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Head Coach Victor Coronado and his wrestlers Mirzo Khayitov Isaiah Laguna!
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Sarah has had so much success representing the United States on the international level. She’s a 3x world medalist and won Olympic bronze in Tokyo. Prior to her international career, Sarah had a successful career at King University, where she was a 4x All-American and 2x national champion. Off the mat, she’s such a bubbly and fun person to talk to. She reads a ton and loves to write, so maybe she’ll be a best-selling author in the future! Anyways, please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Sarah Hildebrandt!
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Rock is a wrestling analyst for ESPN and ACC Networks and is a rising star in the industry. He competed collegiately at the University of Virginia and is a former DI official. He gives some great perspective on the sport and also touches on how he got to this point in his career. As fans, we’re lucky to have people like Rock on television, broadcasting duals and promoting the sport of wrestling. I can’t stress enough how important good broadcasting is if you want to grow the sport. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Rock Harrison!
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This is a special episode for me, as Chet was not only my coach, but he also happens to be my uncle. Chet has coached at MFL MarMac since 2000. He’s built a special tradition there, amassing over 400 career dual wins, winning numerous conference team titles and even made an appearance at the state duals. He was named the 1A Coach of the Year in 2021. We also touch on his own wrestling career a little bit. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Chet Bachman!
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Teyon was a 4x undefeated state champion from Edmond North High School in Oklahoma. He traveled 45 minutes south and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was a 4x All-American, 3x finalist and 2x NCAA champion. Teyon is back coaching at his alma-mater as an Assistant Coach and is using his experience to help develop the next national champion at Oklahoma. Hopefully he’s also developing his NBA 2K skills! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Teyon Ware!
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Montorie is a graduate from Altus High School in Oklahoma and was a 3x state champion. Montorie traveled north to compete at the University of Wyoming, where he earned All-American honors as a freshman. His junior year was interrupted by the pandemic and he chose not to take his COVID year, a decision that we touch on. Montorie is now an officer with the Altus Police Department and is also a recent CLEET graduate, which means he is now certified through the State of Oklahoma. Montorie was really candid in this interview and I think you’ll learn a lot from him. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Montorie Bridges!
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Chris is from Coggon, Iowa and wrestled at North Linn High School. He was a 3x state placewinner before moving on to Coe College. He was a 2x Division III national qualifier before battling injuries his final two years. Chris now works for the Illinois State Police and lives in Aledo, Illinois with his wife and two boys. A little note before we get started: I lost my voice just prior to this interview, so forgive me for my raspy voice. Otherwise please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Chris LeClere!
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Before there were the likes of Felicity Taylor, Ella Schmit, and Lilly Luft, there was Paige Storm. Paige has a tremendous amount of accolades. She was a 6x USGWA Iowa state champion. She was Iowa’s first 2x Junior Women’s Freestyle All-American and was a 2x USA National Champion, just to name a few. And she accomplished everything with her father, Dave, in her corner. Dave started the Spencer girls wrestling team back in 2000 and had 26 girls on his team, a team he is currently coaching. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, as Paige has been chosen as the first-ever coach of the Buena Vista Women’s Wrestling team. I am honored to have been able to interview both Dave and Paige together at the same time. There is no doubt in my mind that girls wrestling in Iowa would not be where it is today without these two. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, coaches Dave and Paige Storm!
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Lauren is from Massillon, Ohio and grew up barrel racing and running before she eventually became enamored with wrestling. Lauren wrestled at the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky and was a 4x All-American. She has since gone on to become extremely successful on the World circuit, so much so that it would take me too long to list all her accomplishments. She currently trains at the Askren Wrestling Academy in her pursuit of her Olympic dreams. She’s also available for camps and clinics! You can contact her via Facebook or Instagram or through her website, which you can find in the show notes. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Lauren Louive!
Lauren Louive website: https://llouive03.wixsite.com/website
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Cheyne grew up in La Porte City, Iowa, and wrestled along with his brothers Nick and Brock. He had success early on, placing at Tulsa Nationals and AAU state. He qualified for state as a freshman and placed 8th as a senior. We also chat about the time he went out for basketball. Cheyne now lives in Indianapolis and is the Director of Communications for the Indianapolis Indians. He is also an Assistant Wrestling Coach for Bishop Chatard High School. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Cheyne Reiter!
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Dane was a product of Maquoketa High School. He was a 4x state placewinner, finishing 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 2nd. Dane competed at the University of Iowa and lived out his dream of repping the black and gold singlet. Dane works back in Maquoketa with his mom, dad and brother, Cole. He also has some bird dogs, so hopefully he got a pheasant this year! Anyway, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Dane Pape!
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Michael is a graduate from West Delaware High School, where he placed 5th at 145 lbs. He went on to wrestle at Wartburg for Head Coach Jim Miller and became a 3x All-American. In 1995, Michael took a teaching position at Independence High School and he became head coach of the Independence Mustangs in 1999. Since then, he’s built a consistent winner and his program is well-respected across the state of Iowa. So, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Michael Doyle!--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Leslie is from Tucson, Arizona where she fell in love with the sport of wrestling. She has climbed up the ranks as an official and is a highly regarded referee in the sport. She recently received her Category I, which is the second-highest ranking official and one step away from being eligible to ref at the Olympic Games. She’s officiated some of the biggest tournaments, including the US Open and Junior World Championships. I caught up with Leslie at the UWW World Cup in Iowa CIty and did this interview with her live at the arena, so you might hear a little background noise. A big congratulations to Leslie on her achievement! So, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Leslie Tamayo!--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Kyle is from Hettinger, North Dakota and he is proud to represent his home state. He’s a 5x North Dakota State Champion and also was Valedictorian of his high school class. He began his career at Wisconsin and competed 3 years for the Badgers. This past summer, he transferred to Nebraska in what was supposed to be a smooth transition. However, it has been anything but smooth and Kyle is now in jeopardy of losing a year of eligibility. It’s a tough situation and it’s up to the University of Wisconsin to rectify it. So, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Kyle Burwick.--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Brett is a Rushville, Nebraska native, where was a 4x state placewinner and 2x Nebraska state champion. He went on to wrestle at Division II Chadron State in Chadron, Nebraska, where he became quite possibly the best wrestler to ever don the Cardinal and White. Brett was a 2x national champion, winning it at both 165 and 174 lbs. He is the school’s only repeat national champion and is also has the most wins in Chadron State wrestling history. As only luck would have it, Brett was named the Interim Head Coach at Chadron State for the 2012-2013 season before officially becoming the Head Coach a year later. Let me just say this: If you’re a current wrestler listening to this podcast and you are contacted by Chadron State to potentially wrestle for them, hear 'em out. Because once you get to know Coach Hunter and the program he is building in western Nebraska, you’ll fall in love with the place. With that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Brett Hunter.
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Megan wrestled for Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont and became the first female to place at the Iowa High School State Wrestling tournament. She won gold at the Junior Pan-American Games in 2014. Collegiately, Megan wrestled one year at King University and three years at McKendree, finishing as an All-American each year. She joined the United States Army and trained as part of the Army World Class Athlete Program. She’s represented the United States in the Tour de Spain, Pan American Championships, and World Championships. Megan and her husband, Zach, recently welcomed a daughter, Leighton. Megan is a champion both on and off the mat and I’m excited to share her story with you! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Megan Black-Campion.UWW World Cup Information: https://worldcupiowacity.com/--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Josh is the President and Event Organizer for Think Iowa City. He has been instrumental in the transformation of the Coralville/Iowa City area and has played a major role in putting together the Soldier Salute and also getting the UWW World Cup and girls high school state wrestling tournament to Xtream Arena. This is a great opportunity to get to know someone who is a huge advocate for the sport of wrestling and who is behind all these new and exciting opportunities for the sport of wrestling in the state of Iowa. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Josh Schamberger.
UWW World Cup Information: https://worldcupiowacity.com/
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Becca is the epitome of if you have a passion, don’t ever stop pursuing it. You will be able to hear her passion for the sport of wrestling throughout this interview. Becca grew up in Georgia and, unfortunately, girls wrestling wasn’t sanctioned at the time. But that didn’t stop her from chasing her dream of one day competing on the mat. Finally, in October 2021, she laced up her shoes and toed the line for her first ever wrestling match. We discuss this and much more in this episode that I know you are going to love! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Becca Roper.
Beat the Streets National Information: I have partnered with Gina Perry and Beat the Streets National in hopes to help raise money for their GearUp! campaign. The GearUp! campaign aims to provide youth with a new pair of wrestling shoes, head gear, and workout clothing. We've all been touched by wrestling in some shape or form, so now let us provide the same gift wrestling gave us to those who need it most. You can donate at national.beatthestreets.org/letstalkwrestling or help spread the word about the GearUp! campaign. Thank you so much for your support!
National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum Information: https://nwhof.org/national-wrestling-hall-of-fame-dan-gable-museum
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Tony was gracious enough to invite me to his studio in downtown Des Moines and interview him in-person. We had such a great conversation that I felt it’s necessary to provide all of if to you. So, I’m breaking it down into two parts. This is part two. If you haven’t already, go back and listen to part one of my interview with Tony Hager. In this episode, we talk about Tony’s college career and how he started IAwrestle. Tony wrestled at Simpson College and majored in graphic design. He actually went through a period when he didn’t love wrestling anymore. However, that spark was eventually relit and now he owns IAwrestle. He has expanded into Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Him and his team do a hell of a job covering the sport. And after talking with Tony, I have a whole new level of appreciation for the work him and his team puts in. I know you’ll feel the same. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, part two of Tony Hager.
Beat the Streets National Information: I have partnered with Gina Perry and Beat the Streets National in hopes to help raise money for their GearUp! campaign. The GearUp! campaign aims to provide youth with a new pair of wrestling shoes, head gear, and workout clothing. We've all been touched by wrestling in some shape or form, so now let us provide the same gift wrestling gave us to those who need it most. You can donate at national.beatthestreets.org/letstalkwrestling or help spread the word about the GearUp! campaign. Thank you so much for your support!
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Tony was gracious enough to invite me to his studio in downtown Des Moines and interview him in-person. We had such a great conversation that I felt it’s necessary to provide all of if to you. So, I’m breaking it down into two parts. This is part one. In this episode, we talk about Tony’s high school wrestling career. Tony wrestled at Ogden High School and was a 4x state qualifier and 3x state placewinner. He made the finals twice, but fell short both times. We associate Tony with IAwrestle, and rightfully so. But I think the majority of us either forget or don’t even realize that Tony was a hammer on the mat. On top of that, he can empathize with the ups and downs wrestlers go through because he’s dealt with them himself. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, part one of Tony Hager.
Beat the Streets National Information: I have partnered with Gina Perry and Beat the Streets National in hopes to help raise money for their GearUp! campaign. The GearUp! campaign aims to provide youth with a new pair of wrestling shoes, head gear, and workout clothing. We've all been touched by wrestling in some shape or form, so now let us provide the same gift wrestling gave us to those who need it most. You can donate at national.beatthestreets.org/letstalkwrestling or help spread the word about the GearUp! campaign. Thank you so much for your support!
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Rick’s storied wrestling career started in Knoxville, Iowa, where he was a state qualifier for Knoxville High School. He went on to compete at Buena Vista University and became a 2x All-American for coach Al Baxter. Rick coached at a few high schools before landing as an Assistant Coach at Wartburg under the great Jim Miller in 1988. Rick then took over the Waverly-Shell Rock program in 1999 and led them to unprecedented heights. In 12 years, his teams won 14 state team trophies, including nine state championships (five traditional and four dual). He coached 20 individual state champions and his 2008 Go-Hawks team set the all-time points record with 225 points at the traditional state tournament. Rick has since been inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Buena Vista University Athletics Hall of Fame. After talking with Rick, it’s easy to see why he was able to accomplish all that he has. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Rick Caldwell.
Beat the Streets National Information: I have partnered with Gina Perry and Beat the Streets National in hopes to help raise money for their GearUp! campaign. The GearUp! campaign aims to provide youth with a new pair of wrestling shoes, head gear, and workout clothing. We've all been touched by wrestling in some shape or form, so now let us provide the same gift wrestling gave us to those who need it most. You can donate at national.beatthestreets.org/letstalkwrestling or help spread the word about the GearUp! campaign. Thank you so much for your support!
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lets-talk-wrestling/support
The Happels are one of the most decorated wrestling families in the state of Iowa. Carter hails from Lisbon and comes from a big family, having four brothers and four sisters. He’s the oldest boy and second oldest overall. He became Iowa’s 25th four-time state champion and finished his high school career with a record of 209-1. He went on to wrestle at the University of Iowa, like his father, Dean. Carter is now the Head Assistant Wrestling Coach at Cornell College. If you have a chance, get out and support the Cornell Rams this year! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Carter Happel.
Beat the Streets National Information: I have partnered with Gina Perry and Beat the Streets National in hopes to help raise money for their GearUp! campaign. The GearUp! campaign aims to provide youth with a new pair of wrestling shoes, head gear, and workout clothing. We've all been touched by wrestling in some shape or form, so now let us provide the same gift wrestling gave us to those who need it most. You can donate at national.beatthestreets.org/letstalkwrestling or help spread the word about the GearUp! campaign. Thank you so much for your support!
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/lets-talk-wrestling/support
Eric recently finished up his college career at the University of Nebraska with a 7th place finish at the NCAA tournament, earning his first All-American status. During this episode, we catch up with what he’s up to now, what it meant for him to go out on the podium, his recent engagement, and what his family is up to. I’m so proud of Eric and everything he’s accomplished. Watching him advance and grow over the past year has been really special to me. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Eric Schultz.
Beat the Streets National Information: I have partnered with Gina Perry and Beat the Streets National in hopes to help raise money for their GearUp! campaign. The GearUp! campaign aims to provide youth with a new pair of wrestling shoes, head gear, and workout clothing. We've all been touched by wrestling in some shape or form, so now let us provide the same gift wrestling gave us to those who need it most. You can donate at national.beatthestreets.org/letstalkwrestling or help spread the word about the GearUp! campaign. Thank you so much for your support!
Another exceptional person in the sport of wrestling, Andrew was a 3x placewinner at the Iowa High School State Tournament. He placed 7th as a freshman, 4th as a junior and finally won it all as a senior. Andrew went on to compete at Iowa State University, where he was a 2x NCAA qualifier. Andrew is now the Head Assistant Coach at the University of Nebraska-Kearney with his former college teammate Dalton Jensen. Together, they helped lead the Lopers to a Division II national team title this past year. This was such a great conversation that I wish we had more time. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Andrew Sorenson!
Cody was a 4x Iowa High School state placewinner for Indianola, getting 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd. He went on to compete at Grand View University and was part of their very first ever national championship team. Cody entered the coaching ranks immediately after graduating. He enjoyed a stint at Des Moines North-Hoover and is now the Head Coach at I-35 Truro. The I-35 Mat Club is actually hosting their first annual season kickoff this Saturday, October 22nd. You can enjoy dinner and a social that includes an auction and raffle plus live music. You can find more information about the event on the Interstate Roadrunners Mat Club Facebook page. With that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Cody Swim!
Beat the Streets National Information: I have partnered with Gina Perry and Beat the Streets National in hopes to help raise money for their GearUp! campaign. The GearUp! campaign aims to provide youth with a new pair of wrestling shoes, head gear, and workout clothing. We've all been touched by wrestling in some shape or form, so now let us provide the same gift wrestling gave us to those who need it most. You can donate at national.beatthestreets.org/letstalkwrestling or help spread the word about the GearUp! campaign. Thank you so much for your support!
John was a 2x state placewinner for North Fayette, placing 6th as a junior and 2nd as a senior. John went on to wrestle at Wartburg, where he became entrenched as one of the best wrestlers in Wartburg history. He was a 3x AA, placing 3rd, 2nd and winning it all as a senior. He was inducted into the Wartburg Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments along with his college teammate, Byron Tate, this past Saturday, October 15th. John even competed at the storied Midlands Championships twice, placing 5th both times. With all these accolades, his walk-out song is fitting since he really was (and still is) Big Bad John. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, John Helgerson!
Beat the Streets National Information: I have partnered with Gina Perry and Beat the Streets National in hopes to help raise money for their GearUp! campaign. The GearUp! campaign aims to provide youth with a new pair of wrestling shoes, head gear, and workout clothing. We've all been touched by wrestling in some shape or form, so now let us provide the same gift wrestling gave us to those who need it most. You can donate at national.beatthestreets.org/letstalkwrestling or help spread the word about the GearUp! campaign. Thank you so much for your support!
I'm not hoggin around...we'll have a swine of a good time in this newly released episode of the Let's Talk Wrestling podcast featuring Dimitri Boyer!
Dimitri was a 4x Iowa High School state placewinner and 2x state champ for Eddyville-Blakesburg. He went on to wrestle at Coe College and was a DIII national runner-up his senior year at 157 lbs. He even did a little MMA. So, safe to say, Dimitri is one bad dude. He’s now teaching at his alma mater Eddyville-Blakesburg and is going into his first year as head wrestling coach. Dimitri shows pigs on the side and currently has some merch! If you want to buy some Dimitri Boyer Show Pigs merchandise, you can find the link in the show notes or check out his Facebook page at D Boyer Show Pigs.
Lastly, don’t forget to consider donating to the GearUp! campaign by visiting their website at national.beatthestreets.org/letstalkwrestling. Remember, I will personally pledge $20 each week if a person also donates any dollar amount on a #WrestlingWednesday. Thank you so much for your support!
Beat the Streets National Information: I have partnered with Gina Perry and Beat the Streets National in hopes to help raise money for their GearUp! campaign. The GearUp! campaign aims to provide youth with a new pair of wrestling shoes, head gear, and workout clothing. We've all been touched by wrestling in some shape or form, so now let us provide the same gift wrestling gave us to those who need it most. You can donate at national.beatthestreets.org/letstalkwrestling or help spread the word about the GearUp! campaign. You can find the link and more information about the campaign in the show notes. Thank you so much for your support! Now, let’s talk some wrestling.
D Boyer Show Pigs merch website: https://dboyershowpigs2022.itemorder.com/shop/home/?fbclid=IwAR1VVcGCTQpeYkrzwXugLTt0Ix0crOugw2fMjcxon0zWw9R3CfqadPgsWU4
As many accolades as Moza has, I think it’s important to first acknowledge how good of a person he is. Because who you are as a person is more important than what you accomplish on the mat or in life. And Moza is a perfect reflection of that. On the mat, Moza was a 2x Iowa High School State Champion for Anamosa High School. He went on to become a 2x All-American for the University of Northern Iowa. Moza also trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado and joined the Army World Class Athlete Program. We cover a lot in this episode, so let’s get going! Please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Moza Fay!
Beat the Streets National Information: I have partnered with Gina Perry and Beat the Streets National in hopes to help raise money for their GearUp! campaign. The GearUp! campaign aims to provide youth with a new pair of wrestling shoes, head gear, and workout clothing. We've all been touched by wrestling in some shape or form, so now let us provide the same gift wrestling gave us to those who need it most. You can donate at national.beatthestreets.org/letstalkwrestling or help spread the word about the GearUp! campaign. Thank you so much for your support!
Matt wrestled at Apple Valley High School, where he was a 3x Minnesota High School state champion. He stayed in-state and wrestled for the University of Minnesota. Matt finished his college career wrestling one semester at Minnesota State, where he placed 3rd at the DII National Championships. He’s now the head coach at SOARR wrestling located in Minnetonka, MN. I loved chatting with Matt and listening to his story. There were several times when Matt faced adversity and, instead of giving up, he chose to battle through and it paid off for him. He’s a great example of why I started doing this and what this podcast is all about. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Matt Mincey!
Beat the Streets National Information: I have partnered with Gina Perry and Beat the Streets National in hopes to help raise money for their GearUp! campaign. The GearUp! campaign aims to provide youth with a new pair of wrestling shoes, head gear, and workout clothing. We've all been touched by wrestling in some shape or form, so now let us provide the same gift wrestling gave us to those who need it most. You can donate at national.beatthestreets.org/letstalkwrestling or help spread the word about the GearUp! campaign. Thank you so much for your support!
Eric wrestled at Waverly-Shell Rock, where he was a 2x Iowa High School state champion. He also was a Fargo national champion in freestyle in 2008. He was rated the nations top heavyweight recruit by InterMat coming out of high school. Eric started his college career at Iowa State University before transferring to Grand View University, where he went on to win 3 NAIA national titles and was named the NAIA Wrestler of the Year in 2012. He took 5th place at the 2016 Olympic trials while competing at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. Eric is now an assistant coach at Arizona State. He’s been around some of the best wrestlers in the nation and has a wealth of wrestling knowledge. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Eric Thompson!
Cody wrestled at Sergeant Bluff-Luton, where he was a 4x Iowa High School state qualifier and 2x placewinner on his way to 196 career wins. He went on to wrestle for the Naval Academy. Cody then went on to join the U.S. Marine Corps. But Cody’s biggest impact on the sport has arguably come after his wrestling days. He helped sanction wrestling in the state of Mississippi. He’s the treasurer of Beat the Streets St. Louis and the head coach at wreSTL. He also is a major advocate for the Wrestlers in Business Network, which serves as a platform to connect wrestlers to job opportunities across the county. Check out the link in the show notes to find a chapter near you! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Cody Solari!
https://www.wrestlersinbusiness.org/
Ben was one of the most electric 215-pounders I saw when I was growing up. The pace he wrestled with was unlike anything we had seen from bigger guys back then and he was just absolutely fearless! Ben went to Independence High School and didn’t start wrestling until he was a freshman. Two short years later, he would win a state title at 215 pounds. He finished runner-up at state to wrap up his high school career. Ben now lives on a beautiful piece of land outside Hanover, Illinois. He manages a seedstock operation with around 400 cows and is also on the Illinois Beef Association. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Ben Lehman!
Cody was a 3x state champion for Waverly-Shell Rock and was part of the 2008 team that set the all-time point record with 225 points. He went on to wrestle at Northern Iowa, where he qualified for nationals his sophomore year. He’s now the Assistant Coach at South Dakota State. Cody and his wife just welcomed their first baby, Colt William. Welcome to the wrestling family! So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Cody Caldwell!
When it comes to high school wrestling in Iowa, the Reiter’s are one of the most successful families. Bart Reiter was Iowa’s 18th 4x high school state champion and the second in his family to accomplish the feat, with the other being Mack, one of his brothers. Bart went on to wrestle at the University of Minnesota before finishing out his career at UNI. He’s now the co-owner of Reiter Construction with Eddie, another one of his brothers. You can find out more information about Reiter Construction by checking out their Facebook page. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Bart Reiter!
Remember last week when I told you to remember this name? Well I was lucky enough to sit down with Blake Rasing! Blake is from New Hampton, Iowa, where he won a state title at heavyweight his senior year against last week’s guest, Brian Rodas. He went on to wrestle for the Iowa Hawkeyes, where he is the last Hawkeye wrestler to win a Big Ten title. He now resides in Chicago and loves doing taxes. So please, sit back, relax and enjoy, Blake Rasing!
I'm also happy to announce you can find the Let's Talk Wrestling podcast is now available on Amazon Music and Audible! Be sure to check it out on those platforms!
I’ve been blessed to have grown up around some hammers on the mat, and Brian Rodas was certainly one of them. Brian wrestled at MFL MarMac High School, where he was consistently one of the top guys in the state at 215 and heavyweight. However, his road to state always seemed to go through kids who ended up either at or near the top of the podium at the state tournament. Brian finally qualified for state his senior year, where he finished runner-up to Blake Rasing of New Hampton. Remember that name. Brian also starred on the football field and went on to both wrestle and play football at Southwest Minnesota State University. He now is an assistant coach at Minneota High School, one of the top Class A programs in Minnesota. So sit back, relax and enjoy, Brian Rodas!
Alex grew up in Neola, Iowa and attended Underwood High School. He was a 4x Iowa high school state champion, compiling a record of 190-1. He’s going into his junior season at the University of Nebraska and I’m really expecting big things from him this year. We talk about a lot of different things in this episode, from fishing to wrestling to Jersey Shore. It was blast to get to know Alex. So sit back, relax and enjoy, Alex Thomsen!
For Alex Thomsen signature apparel, head to https://chainwrestling.co/.
Doug grew up in the small town of Arlington, Iowa, but has gone on to do big things in the wrestling community. He was a 2x Iowa high school state champion for Starmont before becoming an All-American at the University of Iowa. He became the head wrestling coach of the Linn-Mar Lions in 1997 and has built them into one of the most well-respected programs in the state. His wealth of wrestling knowledge is great and it’s easy to understand why he’s been able to sustain so much success. So sit back, relax and enjoy, Coach Doug Streicher!
This isn’t a story about failed college expectations. This is a story about overcoming adversity, perseverance and really finding the best fit for you. Destin paved his own path that was right for him as opposed to following the path that others thought he should take. I’m super humble that Destin came on and allowed me to help tell his story. This is one episode you won’t want to miss. So sit back, relax and enjoy, Destin McCauley!
Another beast on the mat, Tanner wrestled for the Ballard Bombers in Huxley, Iowa. In high school, he was a 4x time state finalist and 3x state champ, one more than his older brother, Trent. So, as Tanner would say, "The numbers don’t lie!" Tanner went on to wrestle at Iowa State University, where he qualified for the national tournament all 4 years and was a round of 12 guy 3 times. He never could quite reach All-American status, but that doesn’t make his wrestling journey any less impressive. So, sit back, relax and enjoy, Tanner Weatherman!
Kyven was one of those kids that had all the talent in the world. He was a 3x Iowa high school state finalist and 2x state champ. He went on to wrestle at Iowa State University, where he overcame a devastating shoulder injury his freshman year to become a 3x All-American as well as a national champion his senior year. He’s been successful on the international circuit thus far and has paired with Constant Pressure Sports and released his own apparel. You can find the link in the show notes if you want to buy some Kyven Gadson merchandise. He created the Be Rare Initiative in 2020 and is also one of the founding members of the Black Wrestling Association. The dude is always grinding. So, sit back, relax and enjoy, Kyven Gadson!
https://www.cp.clothing/
Courtney is as passionate about wrestling as anyone I’ve come across. She was the first woman to wrestle varsity all 4 years at her high school. She’s now an InterMat correspondent covering specifically the MAC and has written incredible articles showcasing some great wrestling stories. You can find a couple of her stories in the show notes to see for yourself. With that being said, please sit back, relax and enjoy Courtney Woods!
https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24952
https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/24748
Steve Crozier is a MAJOR deal. Not only is Steve a Major in the United States Air Force, but he was also a major deal on the mat. He could be labeled a late bloomer, finishing 3rd at the Iowa high school state wrestling tournament his senior year. But he went on to compete for the Air Force Academy, qualified for nationals his junior year and even won a match. He’s now currently a pilot for the United States Air Force. And I’m lucky enough to have him as a brother-in-law. Steve has always been a hard worker, both on and off the mat, and I’m honored to showcase his story on my podcast. So sit back, relax and enjoy Major Stephen Crozier!
When I first decided to start this podcast, one of the first wrestlers that came to mind was Trent Weatherman. He was one of the biggest names I remember hearing about growing up. He was a 5x AAU state champion. He followed that up by being a 4x Iowa high school state finalist and 2x state champion while wrestling for Ballard Huxley. I remember my dad always saying he looked like a man amongst boys out there. He went on to compete for the Iowa State Cyclones where, unfortunately, injuries cut his career short. He’s now grown himself into a very successful businessman. So please sit back, relax and enjoy, Trent Weatherman!
I’ve known Andrew since we were kids. We grew up together, traveling to little kids tournaments before competing on the same high school team, the MFL MarMac Bulldogs. Andrew was a 3x Iowa high school state qualifier, placing 5th as a junior and 3rd as a senior. He was also a real competitor on the gridiron. After high school, he went on to both wrestle and play football at division II Southwest Minnesota State. I don’t care what level it is, if you play two sports in college, you’re a pretty special talent. I can’t say enough nice things about Andrew, both as a person and an athlete. He works hard and has always gone about his business the right way. So please sit back, relax and enjoy, Andrew Rodas!
Cole Welter was a 3x state champ and 4x state placewinner while competing for one of the best prep programs Iowa has to offer, the Don Bosco Dons. He then went on to wrestle for one of the best Division III programs in the country, the Wartburg Knights, where he was a 3x national qualifier and a national champion his senior year. And believe it or not, his teams...never...lost. While in high school, Cole’s wrestling team won both traditional and dual team state titles every year. And while in college at Wartburg, Cole’s wrestling team won both the national duals and team title every year. Coincidence? I think not! Needless to say, this dude is a winner. So sit back, relax and enjoy, Cole Welter!
Trevor Franklin was a force at the DII level. He was a 2x national champ for Upper Iowa University, winning it at both 125 and 133 while also being named the 2011-2012 NCAA Division II Wrestler of the Year. Franklin is from South New Berlin, New York, where he won a state title competing for Unadilla Valley High School. Another great story from another great person. So sit back, relax and enjoy, Trevor Franklin!
Willie is a flat-out stud! He competed at powerhouse programs Ballard Huxley and Southeast Polk in Iowa. He's a 4x state finalist and 2x state champ. He then went on to excel at the University of Missouri before finishing his college career back in the great state of Iowa at Iowa State University. He's a 4x All-American, placing at both 184 and 197 lbs. He’s currently an Assistant Coach at Michigan State University. I had a lot of fun talking with Willie. Despite all the accolades, the guy is as humble as they come and just a great person. With that being said, sit back, relax and enjoy Willie Miklus!
Jacob was actually a classmate and high school teammate of mine at Monticello high school in Iowa. I’m excited to feature Jacob on the podcast because he embodies the journey of the common wrestler. He qualified for state his senior year, but was never the top guy on the team. He came into practice, worked hard every day and continued to get better. He eventually joined the Marines and even wrestled in a couple tournaments while stationed in Japan. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy Jacob Hartwig!
Brandyn wrestles 184 pounds for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and is from Mapleton, Utah. I’m excited to feature Brandyn on the podcast because his story is rather unique. After high school, Brandyn took time off to go on a 2 year mission trip before returning to the sport of wrestling. In this episode, we dive into his mission trip, how he stayed in shape while he was away plus much more! So sit back, relax and enjoy, Brandyn Van Tassell!
This is a very special BONUS episode as Genesis is a gymnast for the Nebraska Cornhuskers from Prosper, TX. I’m excited to feature Genesis on the podcast as there are many similarities between the sport of wrestling and the sport of gymnastics. I also found her journey to be very similar to that of a wrestler or one that any individual competing athlete might encounter. In this episode, we dive in about her injuries, finding her way back from those injuries, and making the Ecuador National Team. Enjoy!
Jagger wrestles 165lbs. for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and hails from Northampton, PA. In this episode, we touch on a note he wrote to his dad when he was younger, his path to the University of Nebraska and more. Enjoy!
Christian is the heavyweight for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In this episode, we touch on how he handles the pressure when the dual is on the line, the impact of Tervel Dlagnev and more. Enjoy!
Kevon wrestles 149lbs. for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In this episode, we touch on what it was like to be the first 4x African-American state champ in Michigan history, what he did for Thanksgiving and more. Enjoy!
Liam is the 125 pounder for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In this episode, we touch on topics such as food, marriage and of course wrestling. Enjoy!
Eric is the 197 pounder for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In this episode, we touch on topics such as family, food, and of course even a little bit of wrestling. Enjoy!