Successful at virtually every level of his storied career, Brandon Paulson is recognized for his wrestling prowess and coaching expertise by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a 2019 Distinguished Member.
Continue readingHall of Fame Legends Podcast: 2019 Distinguished Member Brandon Paulson
Bobby Steveson came into the University of Minnesota from nearby Apple Valley High School as the top-ranked 195-pounder in the country. A champion at the USA Wrestling Junior Nationals, Steveson looked to be one of the anchors for the upper weights for the Gophers.
A trip to Totino-Grace High School in Fridley had one goal in mind, profile the private Catholic school and its accomplished wrestling program. What happened was what makes sports great – kids doing great things to create great results. Totino-Grace wouldn’t hoist the Section 5AA trophy on Saturday, it’d be a group of kids from Orono who came into the sectional tournament with a 6-12 dual record.
Continue readingThe Guillotine Grapevine: A tale of two stories in Section 5AA
Out in Barnesville, Minnesota, there’s a large group of youth wrestlers. Coach Dan Cox is looking to try to solve the problem in getting kids quality mat time, while creating an enjoyable experience to keep the wrestlers in the system and prepare them for the high school program.
On Episode 592 of the Short Time Wrestling Podcast, Cox talks bout how he developed the Northwoods Wrestling League and how it solves an issue with children who want to compete with their friends to get them on the mat and keep them on the mat. Rules involve modified dual meet scoring, allowed moves and disallowed moves that encourage learning.
Competing for quality mat time is the key, as this is geared for the recreational wrestler, not the family who wants to jump right in and chase Tulsa titles.
Check out the breakdown of how the NWL works in written form at TheGuillone.com forum.
The snow couldn’t prevent Augsburg from winning the first women’s dual in school history on Sunday, January 19 at Si Melby Hall. Originally scheduled for Saturday night, Augsburg beat UW-Stevens Point 30-12 in the lone home dual of the year. The win ushered in a new era of women’s wrestling in the midwest and in Minnesota.
Episode 65 of The Guillotine Grapevine talks with Augsburg women’s head wrestling coach Max Mejia and Athletic Director Jeff Swenson on their reaction on the outcome and how the future of women’s wrestling is here before us today.
The 18th Clash National High School Wrestling Duals got going on January 3 at Rochester Community & Technical College’s Regional Sports Center. Today on The Guillotine Grapevine, we get an insight into the relevance of the tournament, its impact on Minnesota and the Rochester area as well as get insight from sponsors, visiting coaches and locals familiar with the event.
Continue readingGuillotine Grapevine Podcast: The relevance and importance of The Clash
Leading the Fish House Parade in Aitkin is coach Larry Liljenquist and his Aitkin Gobblers.
This episode of The Guillotine Grapevine stumbles across the Aitkin Fish House Parade the day after Thanksgiving. The Grand Marshal for this year’s parade, that ran right through the center of town and right down U.S. 169 was the Aitkin wrestling program.
Part 2 in a series about the discontinuation of St. Olaf wrestling.
The fitting representation of the Axe of St. Olaf
What’s the most notable sports story that’s involved St. Olaf in the past 18 months outside of its announcement to drop wrestling?
The answer, known to the entire sporting world, is the school’s place in the fight to kick out Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference juggernaut St. Thomas out of the conference.
The story wasn’t just prominent in the Star Tribune here in Minnesota, but it made the AP and even ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt noted the boot. If you scratch the surface of the St. Thomas story, you find St. Olaf. So when wrestling gets cut, what are the optics?