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

Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Euphoria Coffee website: https://www.drinkeuphoriacoffee2go.com/

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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

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.

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

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 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

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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/

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.

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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/

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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.

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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.

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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.

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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

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

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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!

Let's Talk Wrestling website: https://letstalkwrestlingpodcast.my.canva.site/

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 or two this year! Anyway, please sit back, relax and enjoy, Dane Pape!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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/

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/

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

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

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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!

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!

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!