Let's Talk Wrestling
By With Host KELBY BACHMAN
Listen in as we meet with various members of the wrestling community to celebrate their accomplishments, both on and off the mat. Every episode entails a new guest with a different story - each one unique and entertaining.
Let's Talk WrestlingNov 19, 2023
Talking Wrestling with Lee Meirick
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/
Talking Wrestling with Chloe Sanders
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/
Talking Wrestling with Tyler Clark
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/
Talking Olympic Trials with Duane Richardson
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/
Talking Wrestling with Kourtney Hardy
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/
Talking Wrestling with Shannon Scovel
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/
Talking Wrestling with Head Coach Brett Wheelan
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/
Talking Wrestling with Leighton Gaul
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/
Talking Wrestling with Tony Rotundo
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/
Talking Wrestling with Naomi Simon
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/
Talking Wrestling with Tim Ziola
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!
Talking Wrestling with Nate Gallick
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/
Talking Wrestling with Jared Enderton
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/
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Todd Becker
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Dalton Schutjer
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Caleb Smith
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
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Aaron Janssen
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Levi Drueke
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Ryan Phillips
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Christian Olanowski
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Erin Gerlich
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Major Chris Szabolcs
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Brett Yonkovic
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Reese Larramendy
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Mack Reiter
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Rachel Gallardo
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/
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Tiffany South
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Dr. Dale Crozier
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Coach Tony Valek
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with CJ Walrath
Let's Talk Wrestling website: letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Levi Wolfensperger
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Coach Steve Costanzo
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Softball and Volleyball with Madilynn Parson
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Arelys Valles
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Jeremy Boffeli
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
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Adam Tirapelle
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Lenny Pinto
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Phillip Keddy
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Bubba Wilson
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling a third time with Eric Schultz
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/
Talking Wrestling with Tim Johnson
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Paul Fisk
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with James Green
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Brock Hardy
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Jason Bryant
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Blake Sorensen
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Layne Malczewski
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!
Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/
Talking Wrestling with Boone McDermott
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/
Talking Wrestling with Kelli Metzger
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/
Talking Nutrition with Brittani DaSilva
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/