Coming home, and giving back

Two NCAA champions help train next wave of AV wrestlers

Apple Valley wrestling coach Josh Barlage knew it would be difficult to keep the attention of children, some of whom were younger than 10, through a day-long camp. So he called for help.

Highly qualified help, at that. On one of three mats at Saturday’s Camp of Champions at Apple Valley High School, an NCAA champion watched intently as two students grappled. On the next mat, another NCAA champion helped two more wrestlers sort out what to do in the referee’s position.

If anybody thought about goofing off – well, camp instructor Mark Hall wasn’t having it.

“We’ve been losing a little focus,” said the only six-time individual state high school champion in Minnesota history. “We’re going to take a water break and when we come back I’m going to need your full attention. Continue reading at www.hometownsource.com

J Robinson to go ‘On the Mat’ this week

The Wednesday, August 2nd edition of ‘On the Mat’ radio show will feature 1972 Greco-Roman Olympian and iconic former Minnesota head wrestling coach J Robinson.

‘On the Mat’ is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at 1650thefan.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday at 5 p.m. Central on AM 1650, The Fan.

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Mark Hall and Jim Jackson added to Augsburg Technique Camp lineup

MINNEAPOLIS — Two names well known in Minnesota wrestling circles, Mark Hall and Jim Jackson, have been added to the stout lineup of instructors for this year’s Augsburg College Wrestling Technique Camp, which begins on Sunday (6/11).

Hall, Minnesota’s first-ever six-time state champion and a 2017 NCAA Division I national champion at Penn State, and Jackson, one of the top high school wrestling coaches in the nation, will join Augsburg’s coaching staff, student-athletes and several other well-known coaches during the Augsburg Technique Camp, which runs from Sunday to Thursday (6/11-15) on the Augsburg campus.

Hall and Jackson join an already strong lineup of instructors at the Augsburg Wrestling Camps this year. Augsburg head coach Jim Moulsoff, associate head coach Tony Valek and former head coach and current athletic director Jeff Swenson headline the lineup, which is joined by recent Minnesota state team championship coaches Matt Ryan (Kenyon-Wanamingo, Class A, 2016), Jamie Heidt (Kasson-Mantorville, Class AA, 2016 and 2017) and Dalen Wasmund (Apple Valley, Class AAA, 2013-17), along with U.S. Greco-Roman coaching legend Dan Chandler.

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JROB Journeys: Cael Carlson

Cael Carlson, a sophomore from Willmar, Minnesota, attended J Robinson Iowa Intensive Camp in 2015 and has since gone on to place 5th and 2nd at the 2016 and 2017 Minnesota State Tournaments, respectively. Watch the video follow-up with Cael to learn more about his wrestling ambitions and his life on the family dairy farm.

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