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Articles by Mike Finn
Colbert Bidding To Become Army's First Heavyweight All-American Original
Army West Point heavyweight Brady Colbert has surged up to #13 in the national rankings and has his eyes on a podium spot at the NCAA Championships. Feb 18, 2026 by Mike Finn When Brady Colbert, now a sophomore heavyweight wrestler for Army West Point, announced at age 12 that he wanted to wrestle, it was like music to the ears of his parents Chris, a former high school wrestler, and Cinnamon, a former Junior Olympic martial artist.
Jared Simma Finding Faith And Family At Northern Iowa Original
Jared Simma woke up the college wrestling world on March 21, 2024. That was the day the Northern Iowa wrestler — then a third-year freshman — earned a chance to compete in the NCAA Division I Championships in Kansas City as an at-large selection and a #28 seed, upset two higher seeds and was within one victory of earning All-American honors at 174 pounds.
Hofstra's Conlon 'Chipping Away' On His Ascent As A College Wrestler Original
Among other things, Hofstra wrestler Will Conlon also likes to read and lists “Catcher in the Rye” as his favorite book. “I read that for my 12th-grade AP literature class,” said the 197-pound redshirt college sophomore from Hoover, Ala. Conlon doesn’t compare himself to the 16-year-old main character, created in the 1951 classic novel by J.D. Salinger, who dealt with the reality of adulthood in a much grimier era in New York City.
Little Rock's Jaivon Jones Hopes Long Wrestling Journey Leads Back Home
Of the 330 athletes who qualify for the 2026 NCAA Division I Championships in Cleveland in March, there will be several wrestlers from this northern Ohio community, which has been a hotbed for elite wrestling in this country. Charese Robinson, the mother of Little Rock’s 157-pound Jaivon Jones, is praying her son will be one of those Clevelanders competing March 19-21 in Rocket Arena.
Army's Positive-Minded Filipowicz Gunning For NCAA Podium Spot
The first name of Army wrestler Gunner Filipowicz is not a nickname, nor was it intended to fit someone who attends West Point. But its origin is definitely something the 22-year-old junior and native of Alpharetta, Ga., has been asked many times. “It’s my actual first name,” said the second of two sons of Dave and Laura Filipowicz.
Davidson Hoping To See Peake's Peak During Postseason
According to the Davidson College wrestling schedule, Tanner Peake has about a dozen more competitions in his Wildcat wrestling career. And with a little bit of luck — to go along with the hard work this native of Flemington, N.J., has already shown — the 157-pound senior could become Davidson’s first national qualifier since 2015. While Peake has compiled a healthy 52-32 career record as of Jan. 4, the Wildcat certainly has not enjoyed much luck when it’s come to the postseason.
Cruse Aarhus Implementing 'Immortal' Philosophy In Cedar Falls
At age 36, Cruse Aarhus knows he’s a long way from talking about his legacy. But the former University of Northern Iowa wrestler wants young wrestlers to think about their future, which is why Aarhus named his youth practice facility Immortal Athletics Wrestling Club. “I want people to buy into the fact that you leave something behind; the idea that you create something that spreads and the impact lasts forever,” said Aarhus, who started the club in 2016.
Drexel's Luke Nichter Putting Perspective in Perseverance
Luke Nichter would love to be one of 33 young men in his weight class to at least qualify in March for the 2026 NCAA Division I Championships in Cleveland. That is especially true for the 157-pound redshirt senior from Drexel University. The native of Chambersburg, Pa., is completing his sixth and final year, thanks in large part to entering the Dragon program as Covid-19 interrupted this nation, providing wrestlers like him with an extra year of eligibility.
Persistent Ryder Downey Continuing Podium Chase For Northern Iowa Wrestling
Jarid Downey said his family loves to snowboard in Colorado and likes to tell the story of how he introduced the winter activity to his boys — Ryder and Bowen Downey — who both currently wrestle for the University of Northern Iowa. “They started to learn how to snowboard, which is difficult,” recalled Jarid. “Growing up, Ryder was not as good of an athlete as his brother. Bowen picked it up right out of the gates. Ryder watched his brother go up and down and Ryder couldn’t figure it out.
Little Chasing Big Goals In Push To Make Little Rock History
Stephen Little is more than a man with a mustache. For if whiskers above one’s lips makes a man mysterious or flamboyant — an image once projected by movies and myth — that is not this 197-pound junior All-American wrestler from Little Rock. “Steve is pretty simple,” Little Rock coach Neil Erisman said. “Things don’t get too complicated for him. He is very straight forward. He is honest and has a lot of grit and toughness about everything in his life.
'Action Guy' Jasiah Queen Rising In National Rankings For Drexel Wrestling
Many college wrestlers and coaches agree there is a fine line between having fun and displaying ferocity in order to be successful on the NCAA Division-I level. Count Drexel’s Jasian Queen among those who put most of his focus on fun.
‘Fallen Star’ (2025) - Eve Ronin #6 by Lee Goldberg
A fifty-five-gallon drum washes up in the Malibu Lagoon stuffed with the corpse of Gene Dent, the key player in a bribery scandal that ensnared several local politicians. LASD detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone know the case—and all the likely suspects—well. Just as they begin their investigation, the sheriff publicly reveals evidence linking the crime to LA’s mayor.
Freshman Cody Kirk Making Early Impact For Davidson Wrestling
Cody Kirk is well aware that Davidson College has only featured 11 Southern Conference champions and sent only seven wrestlers to the NCAA Championships in the 87-year history of Wildcat wrestling.
Nickerson Is Ready To Build Back Home In New York
Troy Nickerson has heard many times that he hasn’t changed a lot since his heralded days as a prep star wrestler at Chenango Forks, N.Y., or from his national championship/All-American moments at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., 15 years ago.
Northern Iowa's Bulked Up Voelker In Search Of Bigger Game At Heavyweight
Wyatt Voelker has been a hunter most of his life. But last spring, he got a chance to go bear hunting for the first time, thanks to an invitation from Dylan Carew, his former club coach of the appropriately-named Big Game Wrestling Club. “I killed a really big bear,” recalled this 22-year-old on his adventure in Canada.
Castilla y León, décima CCAA en calidad de vida y a siete puestos de distancia del objetivo de Mañueco
Ni está entre las tres primeras, ni se acerca. Castilla y León se mantiene en el décimo lugar autonómico en calidad de vida, con un indicador 101,52 puntos en el año 2024. El pasado lunes, el presidente de la Junta presentaba un vídeo con el objetivo que pretende alcanzar si vuelve a presidir la Comunidad en 2026, situarla entre “las tres primeras”, cuando está a siete puestos.
Matty Bianchi Adding To Family Foundation For LIttle Rock Wrestling
Matty Bianchi still remembers the multiple times Little Rock coach Neil Erisman showed up at his family’s home in Two Rivers, Wisc., to first recruit his older brother Joey and later himself to wrestle for Arkansas school, beginning shortly before the Trojans held their first NCAA Division I varsity campaign in 2019-20.
WIN's Volume 31 Issue 12 is out NOW! - WIN Magazine
WIN’s Volume 31 Issue 12 is out now! Click here or call 641-792-4436 to subscribe to WIN Magazine. Buy a Digital or Combo Subscription to get immediate digital access to the current Issue, or a Print Subscription to get WIN mailed to you. Inside this issue, you will find World Championships coverage for Team USA representatives in the men’s and women’s freestyle divisions, including feature stories, highlights, notes, quotes and photos.
WIN's Volume 31 Issue 11 is out NOW! - WIN Magazine
WIN’s Volume 31 Issue 11 is out now! Click here or call 641-792-4436 to subscribe to WIN Magazine. Buy a Digital or Combo Subscription to get immediate digital access to the current Issue, or a Print Subscription to get WIN mailed to you. Inside this issue, you will find the first NCAA Division I Tournament Power Index (TPI) and Preseason NCAA Division I Individual Rankings for the 2025-26 collegiate season.
Rum’s Evolution Behind The Bar –
Rum has long had an association with overly sweet cocktails, which is not a total surprise considering it’s a sugarcane-based spirit. But Mike Finn, a bartender at Sparrow in Chicago, also attributes this reputation to how rum was predominantly used behind the bar in the past.
WIN's Volume 31 Issue 10, the Fargo Commemorative Edition, is out NOW! - WIN Magazine
WIN’s Volume 31 Issue 10, the Fargo Commemorative Edition, is out now! Click here or call 641-792-4436 to subscribe to WIN Magazine. Buy a Digital or Combo Subscription to get immediate digital access to the Fargo/Final X Commemorative Issue, or a Print Subscription to get WIN mailed to you (using Discount Code “Fargo”).
#TBT: Repeat Schalles winner Hendrickson is close to winning it all - WIN Magazine
Editor’s Note: This Throwback Thursday feature was originally published in WIN’s Volume 29 Issue 8, which was printed on April 28, 2023. By Mike Finn Wyatt Hendrickson came up short in accomplishing his biggest goal of the 2022-23 college season — winning a national championship in Tulsa on March 17 — when the Air Force heavyweight lost 4-2 in the semifinals to Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet. So how did the No. 2 seed Falcon junior respond to such the loss in the BOK Center?
Oklahoma State picks up commitments from 2026 recruits Forrest, Ross - WIN Magazine
Photo: Jax Forrest (left) courtesy of Aaron Morekin, PA Power Wrestling. Dreshaun Ross (right) courtesy of Sam Janicki. Within the same week, the top-three ranked consensus prospects in the class of 2026 declared their college commitments.
ASICS February 5 Race for the Hodge Trophy Update - WIN Magazine
Home / Featured / ASICS February 5 Race for the Hodge Trophy Update Updated: February 5, 2025 This March, WIN Magazine, Culture House and ASICS will announce the winner of the prestigious 2025 Dan Hodge Trophy that will be presented to the nation’s top NCAA Division I wrestler, following the March 20-22 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia.
Nation's top 2026 recruit Bo Bassett commits to Iowa - WIN Magazine Original
Home / Featured / Nation’s top 2026 recruit Bo Bassett commits to Iowa Updated: February 4, 2025 Photo: Bo Bassett declared his commitment to Iowa on Tuesday evening. Photo by Sam Janicki.
Bo Bassett to announce college decision tonight - WIN Magazine
Photo: Ranked No. 1 nationally at 144 pounds, Johnstown, Pa. native Bo Bassett is the consensus top recruit in the class of 2026. Photo by Sam Janicki. Bo Bassett will declare his long-awaited college decision on Tuesday evening, Feb. 4, live on FloWrestling just after Bishop McCort completes its dual meet against the winner of Corry/McGuffey in the PIAA AA State Team Championship round of 16 matchup.
Two Top-10 Big Ten dual meets highlight upcoming weekend slate - WIN Magazine
Home / Featured / Two Top-10 Big Ten dual meets highlight upcoming weekend slate Updated: February 3, 2025 Photo: Undefeated Minnesota freshman Max McEnelly (back) and the seventh-ranked Gophers will travel to Columbus this weekend for a dual against the No. 4 Buckeyes on Friday evening. Photo by Claudia Staut.
The Triumph of Talent: Recap of the 6th Annual Wonder Women Wrestling Tournament, Wonder Women VI - WIN Magazine
Photo by Lamont Photography: Wonder Women VI, Team Champions, Broken Arrow High School OK & runner-up Bixby High School OK. From the Mat to Scholarships, How a High School Tournament Founder Transformed a vision into empowering Futures Greetings, I am Mike Wakim Jr, the proud founder of The Wonder Women Girl’s Wrestling Tournament, established in 2018 during the inaugural season of sanctioned girls’ wrestling by the Missouri State High School Activities Association.
January 29 Race for the Hodge Trophy Update - WIN Magazine
Home / Featured / January 29 Race for the Hodge Trophy Update Updated: January 29, 2025 This March, WIN Magazine, Culture House and ASICS will announce the winner of the 2025 Dan Hodge Trophy that will be presented to the nation’s top NCAA Division I wrestler, following the March 20-22 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia.
Showdown between nation’s top teams looms as Hawkeyes head to Happy Valley - WIN Magazine
Home / Featured / Showdown between nation’s top teams looms as Hawkeyes head to Happy Valley Updated: January 27, 2025 Photo: Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) will square off in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle with Iowa’s Michael Caliendo at 165 pounds. NEWTON, Iowa — A showdown between undefeated No. 1 Penn State and No. 2 Iowa slated for Friday, Jan. 31 in State College, Pa. boasts 18 wrestlers ranked in WIN Magazine’s Jan. 27 rankings, presented by Cliff Keen Athletic.
Finn: Wrestling made me the journalist I wanted to be - WIN Magazine
Photo: WIN editor Mike Finn (right) started covering wrestling in 1988 when he was fortunate to have his late father, Martin, listen to one of many interviews. Mike is officially retiring on Feb. 7 from his position with WIN, which he took on in 2003. By Mike Finn As a journalist for the past 47 years, I have covered many sports, especially wrestling since 1988, including the past 21 years as WIN editor.
The month of January is especially important to wrestling in that it is when some of the most high-profile dual meets take place … and that is what happened at the NWCA Multi-Division National Duals that took place at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. WIN Magazine was there to capture the biggest moments where Northern Iowa (Div. I), St. Cloud State (Div. II), Augsburg (Div. III) and Grand View (NAIA) won championships; as did Iowa (NCAA) and Life (NAIA) in women’s wrestling.
Upcoming Okie St.-UNI dual features 20 wrestlers ranked in WIN’s Jan. 20 ratings - WIN Magazine
Home / Featured / Upcoming Okie St.-UNI dual features 20 wrestlers ranked in WIN’s Jan. 20 ratings Updated: January 20, 2025 Photo: Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen (right), who beat Oklahoma State’s Dustin Plott (left) in last year’s NCAA final are expected to meet this Friday in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in a dual meet between the Big 12 schools.
Iowan Pilcher is among prep stars giving girls wrestling a shot - WIN Magazine
Photo: Katie Pilcher of Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, an all-state catcher and college signee in softball, took up wrestling as a senior this winter. (Pilcher family photos) By Mike Finn Katie Pilcher knows something about hitting home runs in softball. In fact, the senior from Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, became just the second girl in Iowa high school softball history last season to hit two homers in one inning.
Redden preaches patience to help first-time wrestlers at Virginia HS - WIN Magazine
Photo: Greg Redden (right) speaks to his Bishop Ireton High School wrestling team in Alexandria, Va., where over half are new to the sport this season. (Katie Finn photo) By Mike Finn Greg Redden has coached at the highest level in the state of Virginia and understands what it takes for a high school wrestler to reach the highest level. “I’ve had national prep finalists and multiple state champs,” said Redden, referring to when he coached at Woodside High School in Newport News, Va., in the 1990s.
Some wrestlers wait until high school to start - WIN Magazine
Home / Featured / Some wrestlers wait until high school to start Some wrestlers wait until high school to start Updated: January 15, 2025 High school wrestling has been growing on both the boys’ and girls’ sides in the last few years and WIN Magazine created a couple stories in its last issue about how many of these prep wrestlers don’t event start until they reach high school. Click below to read those stories.
Northern Iowa, St. Cloud State, Augsburg, Grand View, Life and Iowa women excel at NWCA National Duals - WIN Magazine
Photo: Northern Iowa’s defending national champion Parker Keckeisen scored this takedown on the edge of the mat to defeat South Dakota State’s Bennett Berge in their 184-pound bout in the championship dual between NCAA Division I school at the 2025 NWCA National Duals, Jan. 10-11, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Panthers only lost four individual matches in beating four teams in this year’s event that featured Div. I teams for the first time since 2017.
2025 NWCA Multi-Division National Duals - Friday Highlights - WIN Magazine
The following breaks down all the results and highlights from Day 1 of the 2025 NWCA Multi-Division National Duals that are being held at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The first day featured first-round and quarterfinal matches of six different tournaments between men’s and women’s schools in the NCAA and NAIA.
Return of Div. I schools highlights 2025 NWCA National Duals - WIN Magazine
Photo: Men’s and women’s wrestlers from 102 college programs — on nearly every level of the NCAA and NAIA — will compete in the 2025 NWCA National Duals, this Friday and Saturday at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. NCAA Division I wrestling programs, which once were the only schools that competed the first 13 National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals, will return to 2025 NWCA Multi-Division National Duals this Friday and Saturday at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Kings & Queens of Kong United Wrestling - WIN Magazine
By Mike Finn Anthony Ciolino, the founder and head coach of Team Kong United, the club based out of Long Island, N.Y., but features young wrestlers from all over the country, is also a father of three daughters. None of them wrestled; perhaps because there were fewer options for girls when they were little or because they simply grew up to excel in lacrosse and soccer … while Ciolino coached Team Kong United to multiple national dual championships, including six NHSCA Nationals. That was then.
Northern Iowa makes big jump in WIN's Jan. 6 rankings - WIN Magazine
Home / Featured / Northern Iowa makes big jump in WIN’s Jan. 6 rankings Updated: January 6, 2025 Photo: 125-pound Trever Anderson, who upset Nebraska’s Caleb Smith last weekend, is now among 10 Northern Iowa wrestlers who are ranked in WIN Magazine’s Jan. 6 National Rankings, presented by Cliff Keen Athletic.
By John Klessinger Recently, I read something really profound. Fifty years on earth and I’ve never heard it explained this way. It was one of those “aha” moments like, “How have I not known this or seen this before?” What is fear? Why do we experience it? Most importantly, how do we deal with it? Every negative emotion we have comes from fear. Take anger. We are angry when we feel disrespected or unheard. Anger fuels us when we feel wronged. Go a little deeper. The anger comes from fear.
UNWAVERING BRAVERY: Pennsylvania youth relearned to crawl, walk and swallow before reaching the state tournament podium in first-ever season - WIN Magazine
Photos: Left: Nicholas Scattolino spent five days in a medically-induced coma in June of 2020. Right: In March of 2023, in his first season of wrestling, he placed eighth at the state tournament. By Tristan Warner As the old proverb goes, “You must learn to crawl before you can walk.” The expression represents the notion that one must build basic, fundamental skills in a particular discipline before advancing to more complicated steps.
Penn State is dominant No. 1 before Christmas in WIN’s Dec. 23 Rankings - WIN Magazine
Home / Featured / Penn State is dominant No. 1 before Christmas in WIN’s Dec. 23 Rankings Updated: December 23, 2024 Photo: Penn State sophomore Tyler Kasak (top), who defeated Missouri’s James Conway on Sunday in their 157-pound match at the Journeyman Collegiate Duals in Nashville, Tenn., is one of three Nittany Lions ranked No. 1 in WIN’s Dec. 23 Rankings. Penn State, 6-0, this season, has now won a school-record 61-straight dual meets.
WIN’S SPECIAL HOLIDAY ISSUE IS NOW AVAILABLE - WIN Magazine
Happiest of holidays from WIN Magazine to you … and we welcome you to read our latest issue that was printed on Dec. 18 and is already available in digital form. Click here or call 888-305-0606 to subscribe … WIN’s “Holiday Issue” is perfect for this time of year.
WIN Magazine’s Dec. 16 NCAA Division I Rankings, presented by Cliff Keen Athletic - WIN Magazine
Home / Featured / WIN Magazine’s Dec. 16 NCAA Division I Rankings, presented by Cliff Keen Athletic Updated: December 16, 2024 Photo: Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole (left) and Penn State’s Levi Haines have both won NCAA titles at lighter weights in the past. This year, they are ranked No. 1 and 2 at 174 pounds by WIN Magazine and could meet this weekend at the Collegiate Duals in Nashville, Tenn.
Exhibition or not, wrestlers toe the line the same way - WIN Magazine
Photo: In a meeting between NCAA champs from 2024, Penn State’s Carter Starocci (top) defeated Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen in an “exhibition” match at the NWCA All-Star Classic in November. (Sam Janicki photo) By Tristan Warner No, I was never invited to compete in the NWCA All-Star Classic, or any high-level exhibition event while competing at Old Dominion from 2010-15.
Dispelling the myths about Lincoln’s wrestling days - WIN Magazine
Photo: Mike Chapman published his book, “The Sport of Lincoln” in 2003. By Mike Chapman Well, it’s happened again. I recently read a story online that claims Abe Lincoln wrestled 300 matches and lost just once. As a huge fan of Honest Abe, I was disappointed that such a ridiculous claim keeps popping up from time to time. One can also read some places that Lincoln not only won hundreds of matches but was a state and regional wrestling champion. But none of that is true.
OSU moves to No. 2, Purdue’s Ramos new No. 1 at 125 in WIN rankings - WIN Magazine
Home / Featured / OSU moves to No. 2, Purdue’s Ramos new No. 1 at 125 in WIN rankings Updated: December 9, 2024 Photo: Oklahoma State nearly broke its record for points at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational where all 10 Cowboys placed in the Top 5 of their weight class … and have moved up to No. 2 in WIN’s Tournament Power Index. (Tony Rotundo photo) Dec.
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