Ian Jones of Apprentice Named to First Team Virginia SID All-State Squad

Apprentice School junior heavyweight Ian Jones was named on Wednesday to the first team All-State Wrestling squad by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association. Jones earned the honor for the third consecutive year. This marks the sixth year in a row that the Builders have had a first-team All-State selection. The wrestling team is the only team done by VaSID that combines the university division (NCAA Division I) and the college division schools. Jones, a junior heavy metal Read More

The Real Diehl

LYNCHBURG, Va. - Ryan Diehl made a name for himself in Berkeley Springs as he helped lead the Indians to two top-three finishes in at the state tournament in 2010 and 2011, but since he left the Panhandle, more good things have come his way on the mat. Diehl recently won the National Collegiate Wrestling Association championship in the 133-pound weight class after a 34-0 freshman season at Liberty University. "It felt great," Diehl said. " Read More

2014 NCWA Championship Experience

Allen, TX. - By: The Open Mat - When is the last time you attended a national championship and got to watch Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Middle Tennessee State, MIT, Yale, Texas, and numerous other teams? Well that’s what I did this past weekend in Allen, Texas at the NCWA championships. Most fans who follow DI College wrestling probably do not know much about the NCWA. The National Collegiate Wrestling Association started in 1997 with only 13 Read More

Rainier Grad Is Two-Time Champ

If one recalls, Katy Dawson, a 2011 Rainier High School graduate, never placed at Mat Classic. But then the wrestler placed first last year in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association 121-pound bracket. And now, for an encore, she did it again. Dawson, in her third year at Southwest Oregon Community College, won the 130-pound bracket at the 17th annual NCWA two weeks ago in Allen, Texas. Dawson pinned all three opponents in the first round. In the championship match, she beat Jasmine Cothran (Middle Tennessee State University) in 1 minute, 12 seconds. Dawson placed fifth two years ago at 130. “Pretty cool stuff!” said Chris Holterman, who coached Dawson at Rainier Read More

Grand Canyon University Wins NCWA DI Wrestling Title

Allen, TX. - Top-ranked Grand Canyon lived up to its National Collegiate Wrestling Association billing and won the NCWA Championships in Allen, Tex., Saturday. Grand Canyon is ineligible due to the four-year transitioning period from moving from Division II to Division I to compete in NCAA Championships. The NCWA provides post season opportunities to programs in similar situations and those colleges and universities that do not have programs at the NCAA level. The Antelopes dominated the three-day NCWA tournament with a team score of 254.5. Liberty was the closest with 171.5. Shorter, an NAIA program transitioning to Division II, had 162.5. "We appreciate the NCWA organization and are very grateful for Read More

Florida Gulf Coast University Wins NCWA DII National Wrestling Championships

Fort Myers, FL. - “You can be the best coach in the world, but if your athletes are not willing to make the necessary commitments, demonstrate the required discipline, endure the suffering, make the tough sacrifices, function as a team, and practice everyday like they want to be champions, then it does not matter who the coach is.” Coach Milkovich. - - Just over two and a half years ago, then FGCU wrestling Read More