On The Mat

After 17 years bringing Princeton from the bottom of the Division I ranks to a bonafide place where All-Americans can develop and thrive, Chris Ayres is off to a new adventure. Ayres was announced as Stanford’s next wrestling coach last month. A Lehigh alum and 1999 Division I All-American, Ayres’ drive is both common within the coaching ranks, but his approach is unique at the same time. in Join Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton as they talk about the world of wrestling on the flagship podcast of Trackwrestling.com from FloSports.


Show Segments
0:35 - Andy’s big on flash mobs, but Kyle goes on a rant right away about schedules.
3:42 - The smaller divisions have better names than Division I.
7:25 - The Monday after your career ends in college, you lose relevance.
13:55 - Team USA, men’s freestyle world champions again.
16:20 - Kyle’s quibble with freestyle scoring.
19:45 - The new king of 97kg.
21:52 - The U.S. women were second, with a mixed bag of results.
23:12 - Cliff Keen Athletic
23:51 - Chris Ayres Interview
1:11:20 - Cliff Keen headgear
1:12:15 - Wrapping up the show and digesting the interview
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For over 50 years, Mike Denney was in and around the sport of wrestling, teaching the next generations of wrestlers and coaches. A seven-time national championship winning coach at the Division II level, Denney announced his retirement this past spring after serving the last 12 years at Maryville University in Missouri. Denney won seven titles at Nebraska-Omaha before the program was dropped the night his program won their third straight title for the second time in school history. “That other place” will honor the 2011 NCAA Division II championship team in October during the Omaha-Niagara hockey game. Coach Denney talks about the healing process the current administration at UNO is offering and some interesting stories about how Maryville got Denney’s old mats when they were launching the program. Join Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton as they talk about the world of wrestling on the flagship podcast of Trackwrestling.com from FloSports.

Show Segments
0:30 - Andy is extra lean. He’s been working out.
2:25 - Stopping over at North Central College and Andy doesn’t have the cannon he used to.
3:30 - Kyle’s tempered rant … again.
5:45 - Touching on the Nebraska-Omaha drop from 2011. People are still angry.
9:40 - Who’s #1 recap. 12:45 - Andy’s thoughts on participation numbers at the high school level.
18:15 - Cliff Keen Athletic
18:50 - Mike Denney Interview
1:00:00 - Cliff Keen Athletic
1:01:00 - Show Wrap-Up

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Joining the program today is Jody Strittmatter, a four-time college wrestling All-American and founder of the elite Young Guns Wrestling Club in Pennsylvania. Strittmatter was a two-time Division II national champion at Pitt-Johnstown before transferring to Iowa where he finished second and third at the Division I championships. Join Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton as they talk about the world of wrestling on the flagship podcast of Trackwrestling.com from FloSports.


Show Segments
0:40 - It takes two to tango with Andy Hamilton.
1:00 - Kyle wastes zero time getting back on his automatic soapbox.
2:20 - Andy sets up what Kyle means about two to tango.
8:40 - Andy looks back at comparing covering Iowa wrestling and Iowa football.
11:00 - Investing in people who invest in you when it comes to coverage.
14:30 - Who’s #1 chatter.
16:00 - National Duals potential and what’s happening in Division I.
31:10 - Cliff Keen’s Sergeant Duffel.
32:00 - Jody Strittmatter Interview
1:10:00 - Cliff Keen Athletic
1:11:00 - Wrapping up the show.

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Joining the program today is Poway High School head wrestling coach John Meyers. Meyers took over the California powerhouse wrestling program in the spring of 2018 after the retirement of Hall of Fame coach Wayne Branstetter. Meyers was named the CIF coach of the Year in 2022. Join Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton as they talk about the world of wrestling on the flagship podcast of Trackwrestling.com from FloSports.

Show Segments
0:34 - Andy Hamilton isn’t like The Ramones, he doesn’t want to be sedated.
2:40 - Chuck Long was one of Andy’s early heroes.
5:00 - Back on Kyle’s “Future Olympic Champion” pet peeve.
13:00 - Looking at the U20 World Championships.
16:35 - Different styles of venues for the NCAA Championships.
21:00 - Helen Maroulis makes yet another world team.
23:15 - The Sergeant Duffel from Cliff Keen Athletic
24:15 - John Meyers Interview
1:08:00 - Cliff Keen Athletic
1:09:00 - Show Wrap

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After four days at the NWCA Convention in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Andy Hamilton is back with a report along with a handful of interviews. Some of the topics discussed in Florida were NIL, changing the season, a shift in the recruiting calendar as well as the growth of women’s wrestling. Some of the interviews we’ll break out in this episode are with Ohio State’s Tom Ryan, Iowa’s Clarissa Chun and NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. Join Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton as they talk about the world of wrestling on the flagship podcast of Trackwrestling.com from FloSports.

Show Segments
0:40 - Andy was glazed from all that time in Florida.
0:52 - Kyle’s Olympic Gold Medal rant.
7:25 - Sitting next to the “know it all”
8:41 - Kyle remembering the Missouri-Iowa dual in 2015.
13:13 - Andy’s Hot Topics from the NWCA Convention.
19:09 - The Sergeant Duffel from Cliff Keen.
20:00 - Ohio State head coach Tom Ryan.
31:00 - Three trophies instead of four at the NCAA championships and looking into Iowa’s women’s wrestling program.
40:15 - Iowa women’s head wrestling coach Clarissa Chun.
49:45 - Lots of happenings coming to Iowa in regards to women’s wrestling.
51:00 - Teeing up Mike Moyer.
52:00 - Cliff Keen Athletic
52:30 - NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer.
1:07:00 - Show Wrap from the Convention.

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Eight-time 16U & Junior National Champion Sean Hage of Georgia goes On The Mat

Sean Hage of Georgia is a unicorn in American wrestling. He won two 16U (then Cadet) championships and then won six Junior National Championships to become one of two wrestlers to ever become eight time champions in the event we now know as simply Fargo. Join Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton as they talk about the world of wrestling on the flagship podcast of Trackwrestling.com from FloSports.


Show Segments
0:40 - Green Eggs and Hamilton.
1:24 - Kyle predicted a perfect game, but botched the show himself.
8:22 - Cliff Keen Athletic 9:07 - Sean Hage Interview
54:45 - The Sergeant Duffel from Cliff Keen
55:48 - Kyle brings up Steve Bartman from the Cubs situation in the show wrap.

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Olympian and two-time World silver medalist Kayla Miracle goes On The Mat

Indiana native Kayla Miracle has been a steady competitor for Team USA going back to her days at the age-group levels. A two-time Senior world silver medalist, Miracle has represented the USA Wrestling at 12 (soon to be 13) times. That total includes 11 world championships and the 2020 Olympic Team in Tokyo. A four-time WCWA national champion at Campbellsville University, Miracle will be on her fourth Senior world team this coming September in Belgrade. Join Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton as they talk about the world of wrestling on the flagship podcast of Trackwrestling.com from FloSports.

Show Segments
0:40 - Andy is thin-sliced. Has he been working out?
0:52 - Andy and Kyle go back (rightly) to the cumulative scoring idea.
2:00 - Multi-Divisional National Duals is coming back to Iowa, but Andy and Kyle loved Louisville.
5:20 - Andy looks at going to Fargo.
9:20 - Andy went to some Yankees games. Kyle would have rather been at the library.
12:00 - The Sergeant Duffel from Cliff Keen
12:50 - Kayla Miracle Interview
57:00 - Cliff Keen Athletic
57:35 - Show wrap and Kyle’s clichés.

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Rider University head wrestling coach John Hangey goes On The Mat

Rider University head coach and NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee Chair John Hangey joins the program to discuss some of the recent rule changes coming to college wrestling. He also gives a perspective from a mid-major position on the transfer portal and NIL. Rider University is a Division I program in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and prior to Hangey ascending to the head coaching position, the program was lead by the late Gary Taylor for almost 40 years . Join Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton as they talk about the world of wrestling on the flagship podcast of Trackwrestling.com from FloSports.

Show Segments
0:35 - Andy’s into the Black Forest.
1:00 - Kyle goes into a baseball rant about perfect games.
2:45 - Why would anyone want to officiate?
3:45 - Witnessing the moment with Chance Marsteller over Jordan Burroughs.
7:15 - Naming the 2010 World Team to put Kyle on the spot.
9:50 - It was a good Final X. Breaking down the event.
21:40 - Cliff Keen Athletic.
22:25 - John Hangey Interview
1:04:30 - The Sergeant Duffel from Cliff Keen Athletic
1:05:30 - Show Recap

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W.I.N. Magazine editor Mike Finn goes On The Mat
Longtime wrestling writer and W.I.N. Magazine editor Mike Finn joins Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton in-studio to discuss living arrangements, Final X and general wrestling topics. Join Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton as they talk about the world of wrestling on the flagship podcast of Trackwrestling.com from FloSports.

Show Segments
0:30 - Andy’s gone from butter to honey.
0:45 - Mike and Andy were neighbors for a very long time.
2:35 - Discussing the Final X format.
4:00 - Looking at Greco-Roman issues.
8:30 - What’s cooking with Nittany Lion WC.
9:50 - Men’s Freestyle thoughts.
14:00 - Impact of moving up weights and opportunities to compete.
17:00 - Teenagers in Final X and Women’s Freestyle thoughts.
20:00 - What are we gonna do when the recent greats retire?
24:40 - Cliff Keen Athletic 25:18 - Andy digs on some of his data on the American men’s freestyle wrestling era.
28:00 - Iowa women’s wrestling prospectus and can a women’s wrestler market like Caitlin Clark?
33:50 - Finn’s take on the rule changes (pre-announcement).
35:00 - The future of print journalism and wrestling.
37:00 - The Sergeant Duffel and Closing Thoughts.

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Hall of Fame Medal of Courage recipient and former U.S. National Team Member Richard Perry

Connecticut native Richard Perry has had a trying five years, but before he suffered an accident at Camp Pendleton in California when the U.S. national team was there training, Perry was a member of the national team who had been rapidly improving. A multiple-time NCAA qualifier at Bloomsburg, Perry didn’t start wrestling until he was in his later years in high school and eventually turned into a formidable threat on the senior level. His well-documented recovery from that freak accident and his family’s faith and support have lifted Perry back up. He will receive the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Medal of Courage this coming weekend in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Join Kyle Klingman and Andy Hamilton as they talk about the world of wrestling on the flagship podcast of Trackwrestling.com from FloSports.

Show Segments
0:30 - Andy doesn’t look much like a butterball. Why, Kyle? Why?
1:00 - Previewing what’s coming up with Richard Perry on this episode.
2:40 - Fan engagement as Kyle rubs salt into the Yankees’ wound.
7:45 - Kyle thinks the biggest rivalry in wrestling right now is Virginia Tech vs. NC State.
9:00 - Andy finally comes around to asking about Butterball.
9:35 - Cliff Keen Athletic
10:15 - Richard Perry Interview
54:30 - The Sergeant Duffel from Cliff Keen
55:30 - Interview recap with Andy and Kyle.

Related Story: Olympic hopeful wrestler injured during Camp Pendleton weapon drill gets record $12 million settlement

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