HESKETT NAMED WRESTLING COACHFormer Ohio State Assistant, Four-Time All-American Joins Black Knights
 
WEST POINT, N.Y.  – Joe Heskett, a four-time All-American, national champion and former U.S. World Team member who spent the past four years as an assistant at Ohio State University, has been named the head wrestling coach at Army Athletics Director Kevin Anderson announced.Heskett, a 2001 graduate of Iowa State University, replaces Chuck Barbee who resigned following his 10th season to pursue other interests.
 
“I am very excited to have one of the young talents in collegiate wrestling as our head coach,” said Anderson. “Joe comes highly recommended from Athletic Director of the Year Gene Smith of Ohio State has unmatched credentials on the mat and his passion and dedication to the sport should pay immediate dividends. He has continued to advance his career and we are confident he can lead us to wins over Navy, EIWA Championships and national qualifiers.”
 
Heskett, who won the 165-pound national championship in 2002, is the ninth head coach in program history.
 
"Life will often surprise us with outstanding opportunities,” said Heskett. “I am humbled and honored to be able to lead and represent the Army wrestling program. I am inspired by what West Point represents and I graciously accept the challenge to mentor and motivate the cadet-athletes, improve their technical and tactical skills on the mat and to beat Navy. I would like to thank my family, Kevin Anderson, the West Point search committee, specifically Associate Athletic Director Gene McIntyre for his time and energy and the entire USMA athletic department."
 
Heskett, the eighth four-time All-American at Iowa State, graduated with a degree in speech communications and a career record of 143-9.
 
He was a three-time national finalist, winning one championship and finishing second and third. Heskett captured three Big 12 Championships, won the prestigious Midlands event on three occasions and graduated third on Iowa State’s all-time wins list.
 
Following his decorated collegiate career, Heskett earned a spot on the 2007 U.S. World Team after winning the U.S. Nationals and U.S. World Team Trials. He represented the United States at the ’07 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan with a fifth-place finish. He dropped a tough, three-period battle with a two-time world champion from Russia in the semifinals before wrestling back to finish fifth and was one of five wrestlers to qualify at his weight for the Olympics. Earlier that summer, he won a silver medal at 163 pounds at the 2007 Pan American Games.Less than a week after returning from the World Championships, Heskett was forced to retire from competitive wrestling due to an injury and joined the Ohio State staff.Hired as the volunteer assistant in 2006, Heskett was training for the Olympics while assisting in recruiting, team academic support, cultivating donor and alumni relations and other operational duties. Shortly after his competitive retirement, he was promoted to full-time assistant on Tom Ryan’s staff as the chief recruiter. In addition to his work on the mat, Heskett also assumed responsibility for practice plans, academic progress and community service initiatives.
 
During his tenure at Ohio State, Heskett helped the Buckeyes to four top-10 team finishes at the NCAA Tournament, three NCAA champions and 15 All-Americans. He played a large role in securing the nation’s top recruiting class in 2006 and helped sign a host of top prospects.
 
Heskett began his coaching career at Cal Poly University where he was the head assistant wrestling coach an also earned his master’s degree with honors in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Athletic Administration. He assisted in all facets of the program, including fundraising, and helped the Mustangs to their highest NCAA placement in nearly 20 years.
 
Leadership and leadership training is another passion of Heskett’s. He was Iowa State’s representative at the NCAA Leadership Conference, a board member of the Children’s Body Image, a former member of the Major Ray Mendoza Leadership Fund and an Ambassador and Public Awareness Speaker for the Ohio State Medical Center. He is the founder and Chief Visionary Officer for h Leadership in Columbus, Ohio, a firm with an array of industry expertsA native of Akron, Ohio, Heskett and his wife Tara have two daughters, Olivia and Ava, and are expecting a son in late July. They will reside at West Point.

"The Ultimate Fighter 12" head coach Josh Koscheck has added two more names to his staff of assistant coaches, MMAjunkie.com learned on Thursday.

According to sources close to the fighter, Koscheck has brought on Strikeforce heavyweight Daniel Cormier as a wrestling coach and Teddy Lucio as his boxing coach.

Cormier and Lucio join Bob Cook, Javier Mendez and Dave Camarillo as Koscheck's assistant coaches on the lightweights-only season of the UFC reality show, which debuts Sept. 15 on Spike TV.

UFC President Dana White announced at the conclusion of the latest episode of The Ultimate Fighter that he would compensate for Tito Ortiz‘ late departure as a coach by aligning Rich Franklin with an all-star ensemble of assistant coaches.

Ortiz had been forced out of his coaching spot on the show due to a recently discovered neck injury that scratched him from an anticipated battle with fellow coach and longtime rival Chuck Liddell at the conclusion of the season, and TUF 11 along with it.

According to the UFC’s official website the trio of assistants that have been brought in to help out with coaching duties for the eleventh season of The Ultimate Fighter are none other than Forrest Griffin, Tyson Griffin and Gray Maynard.

So who will be the new coaches who will lead McCray into battle?

Former UFC middleweight champion and TUF2 coach Rich Franklin (who will face Liddell at UFC 115 on June 12th) and assistant coaches Forrest Griffin, Gray Maynard, and Tyson Griffin.

All three fighters reside in the Las Vegas area where they train out of Team Xtreme Couture.

It takes a village to build a fighter, and Georges St-Pierre plans to
bring one for "The Ultimate Fighter 12."

The UFC welterweight champion and "TUF 12" coach recently told
MMAjunkie.com that he has at least five names in
mind to assist him on the reality show.

The assistant coaches include: jiu-jitsu aces John Danaher and Shawn
Williams, Muay Thai specialists Phil Nurse and Jean-Charles Skarbowsky,
and St-Pierre's longtime MMA coach Firas Zahabi.

The forum boards are abuzz this morning with a report that female mixed-martial-artist Kim Couture (2-2), former spouse of UFC legend Randy Couture, was arrested in Las Vegas over the weekend for domestic abuse.

MMANewsLeak.com was the first to report the incident, and has yet to be confirmed by any major news source.

Sources report that Ms. Couture allegedly got into a heated argument with her personal assistant at the home which they share and when police officers arrived at the scene, Ms. Couture was choking her personal assistant and that the personal assistant had visible signs of abuse. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police took Ms. Couture into custody and booked into Clark County Detention Center.

Sources also allege that Ms. Couture and her personal assistant got into a heated argument on Friday at UFC Fan Expo at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Ms. Couture posted bail and has been released from the Clark County Detention Center and is training today at her all-female gym. She is also in the process of opening an all-female MMA gym where female fighters can train and assembling an all-female fight team known as the Vixen Crew.

It has also been rumored that Ms. Couture is in the process of filming a reality show based upon the fighting exploits of the Vixen Crew.

Update: Kim Couture’s arrest has been confirmed with the Office of Public Information with the Las Vegas Police Department.

MMAWeekly.com confirmed the arrest with Barbara Morgan from the Office of Public Information with the Las Vegas Police Department.

“I can confirm that in the evening hours of May 29 we responded to a residence in the South West part of the valley reference a domestic dispute,” said Officer Morgan. “Officers arrived, determined that a battery occurred, and Kim was arrested for Domestic Violence.”

The office said no further reports would be released about her arrest.

Kim Couture, female mixed martial artist and former wife to UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, was recently arrested and charged with domestic violence charges in Las Vegas.

FiveOuncesofPain.com recently received word on the situation from sources close to Couture and MMAnewsleak was the first to report on the incident.

Sources have indicated that the police were alerted to a disturbance occuring at the home Kim Couture and her personal assistant share to find Couture choking the assistant. Sources have further indicated that Couture’s personal assistant displayed visble signs of abuse upon their arrival at the residence.

Couture had been booked into the Clark County Detention Center under domestic violence charges over the weekend for her part in the reported incident.

Couture has since posted bail and been released from the Las Vegas area detention center.

Stay tuned to FiveOuncesofPain.com for any updates onn this story as they become available.

LAS VEGAS - "The Ultimate Fighter 12" coach Josh Koscheck has selected three of his trainers as assistant coaches for the upcoming reality show.

In an interview with MMAjunkie.com at UFC Fan Expo 2010, the top UFC welterweight contender and "TUF 1" cast member confirmed three mainstays from his gym, the famed American Kickboxing Academy.

The list includes former ISKA kickboxing world champ and AKA owner/head trainer Javier Mendez, one-time UFC fighter and AKA's head MMA trainer "Crazy" Bob Cook, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt/AKA trainer Dave Camarillo.

Behind every great man is a great woman.
Easton Area High School wrestling coach Steve Powell
stopped short of calling himself a great man.
But the 55-year-old physical education teacher said
its his great woman who deserves a lot of
the credit for his successes as a coach and a person.
Bobbi Jo Powell, formerly Bobbi Jo Cuvo, is the yin to her
husbands yang, according to Easton assistant coach
JaMarr Billman.
They are perfect for each other, said Billman,
who was previously a star wrestler under Powell at Easton.
I think Bobbi Jo puts things in perspective. They
really balance each other out.
It is Steve Powell who earned The Express-Times Coach
of the Year honors for leading his Red Rovers out of
midseason mediocrity to a District 11 Class AAA team title
and a fourth-place finish at the state tournament.
But it was the longtime coach who quickly spread the credit
out amongst his assistants, his wrestlers, their parents,
the team boosters -- and his wife.
Steve Powell is an outstanding tactician who can be
single-minded, defiant and focused.
Bobbi Jo Powell, a perpetual bubbly personality, serves
numerous important but behind-the-scenes roles with the Red
Rovers wrestling program. The cross country coach at
Easton, she also balances her husband.
Shes a huge part of our success, Steve
Powell conceded.
I love wrestling, said Bobbi Jo Powell, the
sister of former Easton wrestling star Jack Cuvo. I
grew up in a wrestling family and married into a wrestling
family. And now those kids and the coaches, theyre
like my family.
Steve Powell promotes Easton wrestling as one large,
extended family.
He said it is not unusual for wrestlers past or present to
just stop by his home in Moore Township for dinner or just
to hang out. The door, the Powells said, is always open.
I think when you start to coach, Steve Powell
said, youre coaching towards wins. But in 35
years it changes some. Really, the part I love most, is
seeing my kids go on to college, go on to get good jobs, go
on to successful lives.
Beating Phillipsburg and winning District 11 never
gets old. But when the kids who leave for a while come back
to see you to tell you about their lives, thats the
most rewarding part.
This season was particularly rewarding for the coach.
The Red Rovers were struggling mightily at 8-6 after losses
to Lehigh Valley Conference rivals Nazareth, Northampton and
three defeats on the same day to top-ranked opponents at the
NHSCA Final Four.
Easton quickly regrouped to roll past rival Phillipsburg
and regain some momentum entering district duals. There, the
Red Rovers shined. They defeated Liberty, Nazareth and
Parkland in a 30-hour span -- avenging losses to Nazareth
and Parkland -- to claim the team title.
Certainly, Steve Powell has had more talented teams over
his years than this seasons squad. But this one
persevered.
We kept plugging away and kept working hard until we
attained the results we wanted, he said. It was
a tough task, but we believed we could do it.
In 26 seasons at Easton, Steve Powell has compiled a superb
424-98-3 record and is the second-winningest coach in
District 11 history behind former Nazareth legend Ray
Nunamaker. He said he plans to teach one more year and coach
another three, four or five, depending how long I can
keep Barry going.
Barry is top assistant Barry Snyder, whom
Powell and coaches throughout the Lehigh Valley hold in
extremely high regard. Other assistants on Eastons
varsity staff include Billman and Sean Richmond.
Billman has the unique perspective of having wrestled for
Steve Powell and now coaching with him.
He really gives us a lot of freedom to coach and
bring our own personality to the team. He lets you show your
love of the sport and love of the program, said
Billman, a two-time state champion and 1997 Easton graduate.
Coach Powell, as a wrestler, he placed expectations
on us. As a wrestler, you dont appreciate Coach Powell
until after you leave the program. Then you appreciate what
it is he was teaching you.
Wrestling is a difficult sport. And Steve Powell can be a
difficult coach.
But no one can deny the success hes enjoyed over his
26-year stint at Easton. This season included.
Sometimes Steves tough, Bobbi Jo Powell
said with a giggle, and when the kids need a hug, they
know to come to me. But he sets the bar very high for the
wrestling program. And you can see the results are really
impressive.
Michael Blouse can be reached at 800-360-3601 or
mblouse@express-times.com. Talk about sports in the region
at lehighvalleylive.com/forums.

HERSHEY, Pa. | If Liberty High School senior Anthony Marino
had one wish for his final day at the PIAA Class AAA
Wrestling Championships, it was to let it fly.
Marino did that in Saturdays night 119-pound
championship bout, matching Franklin Regional junior Nico
Megaludis point-for-point through the first two periods. It
was almost enough.
Anthony held nothing back, Liberty coach Jody
Karam said. I think he maybe got a little bit tired in
the third period because he went so hard in the first two
periods.
Megaludis took control with five points in the third and
went on to win his second consecutive state championship
with an 8-4 decision.
Marino joined Nazareth junior Zach Horan as the top two
finishers from The Express-Times region. Horan, who fell to
undefeated Bellefonte senior Mitchell Port in the 125 final,
won a state silver medal for the third consecutive year.
Blue Mountain senior Josh Kindig, who earned the 140-pound
title with an 8-3 decision over Pittsburgh Central
Catholics Lorenzo Thomas, was the only District 11
wrestler to win a PIAA Class AAA title for the second year
in a row.
Megaludis scored the first takedown against Marino but the
Hurricane reversed him in the second period and the two went
into the third tied at 3. Then Megaludis, who finished the
season at 36-0, seemed to find another gear.
We let it fly, Marino said. He was the
better wrestler tonight. I knew what he was coming in to
this. Im not going to run from anybody.
Marino ended his career at 128-22 overall a record that
includes a 2009 fifth-place medal at states. A District 11
and Northeast Regional champ this year, hes headed to
Bloomsburg.
I would say he progressed as the years and weeks went
by, Karam said. Thats all you can ask.
Hes a better wrestler than when he came in and
thats a credit to Libertys assistant coaches and
his partners in the room.
Coincidentally, Megaludis was the same wrestler who beat
Horan in overtime in last years 112 state final.
Horan has faced extremely tough competitors in the finals
ever since his freshman year when he ran into a senior
103-pounder, Council Rock Souths Mark Rappo. This
time, Horan took on Bellefonte senior Mitchell Port.
Horan took down Port 42 seconds into the first period but
Port escaped and added a takedown of his own with 10 seconds
left in the period. Port, who improved to 45-0 for the
season, added one last takedown at the edge of the mat with
four seconds remaining for a 6-3 decision.
Its just heartbreaking, Nazareth coach
Dave Crowell said. I just feel so bad for him. He puts
his life into it. But, like I told him, you are not defined
by the score of one wrestling match. Hes defined by
the person hes become.
Hes become a great team man. While we would
like to win every wrestling match, if its me, those
kinds of other things matter more.
In other Class AAA finals action, the Central Mountain
brother duo of Andrew Alton and Dylan Alton finished their
careers with a combined five state titles. Andrew, a
145-pounder, took his second title with a technical fall
over West Alleghenys Aaron McKinney. Dylan won his
third consecutive state gold medal with an 11-4 decision
over La Salles Shane Springer at 152.
Eleven other wrestlers from the Express-Times region earned
medals in Class AAA.
In the consolation rounds, Eastons Mark Hartenstine
and Northamptons Austin Sommer both closed their
careers with their best state finishes. Hartenstine, who
placed eighth last year, defeated Garnet Valleys
Joseph Marino 5-0 for the bronze medal at 140. Sommer, a
seventh-place finisher in 2009, beat Kiski Areas Zack
Shannon 5-2 for third at 152.
Nazareth 145-pounder Ryan Krecker won a fourth-place medal
for the second year in a row. Northampton senior Jordan
Glykas won his first state medal, a fourth at 125.
Easton sophomore Mitch Minotti, who decisioned Pleasant
Valleys Jordan Toledo in both the District 11 and
Northeast Regional finals, earned a 4-0 win over Toledo for
fifth at 130. Liberty junior Anthony Cabera beat
Eastons Evan DiSora 3-0 in the fifth-place match at
103; Cabrera defeated DiSora by that same score in both the
district and regional finals.
Libertys Devon Lotito (seventh at 112),
Parklands Tarik Haddad (eighth at 189) and Wade Rivera
(fifth at 160) and Whitehalls Taray Carey (sixth at
215) also claimed medals in Class AAA.
Beth Hudson can be reached at sports@express-times.com.

The PIAA AAA preliminary round takes place at the Giant Center.

-

(JOE HERMITT, The Patriot-News)

There is little doubt after the preliminary round which Class AA district is tops in the state.
       
It’s District 4 in a landslide.
      
The Sunbury-Williamsport area is home to 25 percent of the field left in the championship bracket, owning 28 of the 112 quarterfinal spots. The quarterfinals are slated to go off at 8 a.m. this morning.
       
Benton seems to be the strongest team in the District 4 field with six wrestlers in the quarterfinals, which is also good enough to take the team championship lead with 20 points. Burrell is second with 16 points.
       
Fellow District 4 running mate Athens put three wrestlers in the finals and is fifth in the team chase with 10 points. Shamokin is tied for sixth with three wrestlers in the quarterfinals and nine points.
       
Where does District 3 rank compared to the rest of the state in Class AA: try second with 18. Schuylkill Valley helped the cause with four in contention for a state title. Juniata is second with three, followed by Boiling Springs with two.

BOO BIRDS
The first boos from the stands ripped through the Giant Center air during a 135-pound tilt between Central Mountain’s Jordan Rich and La Salle’s Joey Mazzi.
       
Mazzi trailed 5-1 in the match before locking in a headlock and taking Rich, a fourth-place finisher a year ago at 125, for an additional three near fall points to grab a 6-5 lead.
       
But before Mazzi could pin Rich, he lost Rich’s arm and the headlock turned illegal, costing Mazzi a point and tying the match at 6-6. Rich (35-2) was then awarded a caution point, first noticed by the assistant, and not the match, referee to make it 7-6. Annoyed, Mazzi decided to let up Rich and go for the takedown in the final 14 seconds.
       
Mazzi failed to get the takedown and stormed off the mat none too happy with the referee.

STATE CHAMP FALLS
Connellsville’s Nate Gaffney, the defending champion at 215, dropped a 6-2 decision to Methacton’s Brandan Clark (35-5) in the first round at the same weight.
       
Gaffney tore a ligament in his right knee earlier, but still managed to finish, much like Selinsgrove’s Spencer Myers did against Gaffney in the finals a year ago.
       
Unfortunately for the Connellsville standout, the injury was so severe that he did not return to tournament action.

MORE TOP WRESTLERS FALL
It wasn’t a good day to be a returning runner-up in Class AAA.
       
Blue Mountain’s Tyler Rauenzahn, Bradford’s Mark Havers and Cedar Cliff’s Clint Morrison, all silver medalists from last season were bounced out of the championship bracket in the first round of competition.
       
Havers, who lost to Central Dauphin’s Marshall Peppelman in the 152-pound final a year ago, was the biggest surprise of the group, dropping an 8-6 decision to Chichester’s Bobby Scheivert at 160.
       
Morrison, a runner-up at 171, was out-muscled by Cathedral Prep’s Jermaine Easter (37-5) 10-8 in an entertaining bout at 171. Easter had a big lead early, 8-2, before Morrison rallied and fell just short.
       
As for Rauenzahn, second at 119 last year, his loss wasn’t terribly surprising; he fell 11-7 to McDowell sophomore Steve Spearman, who boasts a spotless 39-0 mark at 130.
       
Morrison and Rauenzahn managed to win consolations, while Havers took an early two and out exit.

NO COMPLAINTS
This was the first year the PIAA held the state pairings until the Sunday before competition, and the process seemed to work out well.
       
"It's been a non-isuue," PIAA assistant executive director Mark Byers said. "We had one e-mail messaging complaining that one of the weights should have been re-drawn, but that was an anonymous message.  Otherwise, we had no complaints."
       
Byers said it's likely that the PIAA will retain the process.
       
"We'll review it at the wrestling steering committe [next month] and barring any changes, we'll likely proceed with this method in the future," byers said.

MEAT IN THE SEATS
Attendance for Thursday's sessions were 5,775 for Class AA and 6,909 for Class AAA for first-day total of 12,684, a bit off the PIAA's normal first-day numbers.