The Brute adidas studios of Takedown Wrestling Radio will once again play host to our annual 3-hour Black History Month Special.
In keeping with the goals of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, OK and that of the NCAA, our topic this year is Celebrating Diversity in the Sport of Wrestling.
This year's special is sponsored and presented by 2008 Greco Roman Olympian TC Danztler and his company -- TC logiQ Inc. of Colorado Springs, CO. The company provides quality Employment Business Services and resources to clients in both non-profit and for-profit industries. The services and resources offered help clients to protect themselves, their organizations and their customers from harm, fraud, and theft.
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TC Danztler- Dantzler never won a high school or NCAA championship, but he's worked to become a regular on the U.S. national team. He first competed in the U.S. Nationals in 1996, finishing 5th, and 10 years later finally won his first national title.
In between, he placed third six times and runner-up three times. He defended his title in 2007 and 2008. Dantzler has been the U.S.’s 74kg representative at the world championships every year since 2002 (except 2004; Worlds are not held in Olympic years), with his best finish being 5th in 2006. He won bronze at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Dantzler is the founder, President and CEO of TC logiQ, a background screening company, which specializes in employee/volunteer background checks for its clients. TC is also founder and CEO of Amazing Technologies, LLC, a firm specializing in software development specializing in mobile applications for iPhones and Blackberry devices. His hometown is Harvey, Illinois, where he attended Thornwood High School and was a runner-up in the 1988 state wrestling tournament. TC is a Harvey Twisters life member!
Bobby Douglas (In Studio)- The Iowa State wrestling program entered a new era when legendary Cyclone head coach Bobby Douglas turned the page in his extraordinary career of achievement, assuming assistant athletics director duties after 14 years as Iowa State’s fifth head coach.
Douglas was succeeded by his legendary pupil, Cael Sanderson now Head Coach at Penn State. Douglas continues to command a presence in the wrestling room and as an ambassador for Iowa State and the sport of wrestling. A U.S. coach at several Olympic Games, one of four collegiate coaches to win more than 400 dual meets, Douglas won an NCAA team title at Arizona State. In short, the numbers are astounding: 13 NCAA champions, 110 All-America performances and 68 conference titles.
Born into poverty, Douglas rose to the top of the wrestling world. He became the first black Ohio high school state titlist when he captured the 112-pound weight class crown at Bridgeport High School. He wrestled for West Liberty (W.V.) State University and won the NAIA title and was runner-up at the NCAA Championship. After transferring to Oklahoma State, Douglas won the Big Eight Conference 147-pound crown. The Cowboys never lost a dual meet with Douglas in the lineup and captured a pair of conference championships and the 1964 NCAA team title.
Mike Allen (In Studio)- Allen grew up in Waterloo, Iowa, and attended East High School where he competed in football and wrestling. He also competed in both sports at Ellsworth Community College (IA) and the University of Northern Iowa. Allen is best known for his 35-year career as a wrestling official. He has officiated national wrestling tournaments in all five divisions, including 23 NCAA Division I tournaments.
Dell Marion (In Studio)- Father of 2 sons including University of Iowa 141 lb wrestler Montell Marion. Montell was the first African American to reach the Iowa HS State Finals four consecutive years. Del was a high school wrestler and a graduate of Eastern Illinois University. Del is married to Karen and has lived in West Des Moines, Iowa for 20 years. Del brings a unique perspective on diversity from a parent's point of view.
We welcome our guests:
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James Tanniehill- Founder of Tanniehill Wrestling Academy and its Takedown Crime initiative in Indianapolis, Indiana. Through wrestling, Tanniehill teaches kids how to be good citizens, keeps them off the streets and encourages them to do well in the classroom. James Tanniehill is changing lives through wrestling. Coach has an amazing track record in the sport of wrestling. He has been active in wrestling for over 47 years now and has achieved the following accolades: 12x National Champion, 4x USA Masters Champion, 9x Military Inter-Service Champion, Member of 4 World Teams, Alternate on 3 Olympic Team, Member of 5 Hall of Fames
Bubba Jenkins- Jenkins, a former NCAA finalist for Penn State with one year of eligibility remaining in his career. A Native or Virginia Beach, Virginia earned an 81-22 record while competing for Penn State. Jenkins has decided to complete his year of academics at PSU and has asked for and received his release from the team. Where will Jenkins wrestle his senior year? Some are betting AZ State. Maybe he'll tell us of his plans for the future.
Leigh Jaynes- USA Women's World Team member at 55 kg/121 lbs. Jaynes, who competes for the New York Athletic Club, is a hopeful for the 2012 Olympic Team, an officer in the U.S. Army Reserves with a graduate college degree and an inspiring story of hope. Leigh Jaynes had to deal with major family crisis from the day she was born. Her father, Clayton Jaynes, was a Vietnam veteran who suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and drug issues. Her mother, Karen Williams, tried to help Clayton, but could not get him the help necessary. Right after Leigh was born, Karen left Clayton to provide her children with a healthier environment. Joining wrestling changed her life and opened a new world of opportunity. However, perhaps the most important thing it did for her was expose her to the wrestling family.
Jordan Burrooughs- The 157-pound senior for the University of Nebraska from Sicklerville, N.J. Burroughs' move from 149 to 157 pounds paid off with dramatic results as he went 36-0 last season and became Nebraska's first undefeated national champion in school history. Coached by Mark Manning, Burrows has applied for a medical redshirt year to recuperate from season-ending injuries. Burroughs is a Sociology Major at University of Nebraska.
Tyron Woodley- The 11th of 13 children raised mostly by a single mother, Woodley entered the world to an immediate struggle to survive. His father was out of the picture by the time he was 10, leaving his mother to work double and triple shifts in order to keep the family afloat. Woodley oftentimes had to fend for himself. Needs sometimes went unmet. But he became the University of Missouri's first Big 12 conference champion and earned two All-American honors. Woodley now has is now a top up-and-comer in MMA and remains active coaching wrestling.
Dr. Wayne Watson- President of Chicago State University, Chicago, Illinois. As past Chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago, Wayne D. Watson, PhD was profiled as an Agent of Change. Appointed Chancellor in 1998, he immediately began instituting the changes to achieve the excellence in education he so passionately wanted to bring to Chicago's diverse community. Prior to his appointment, he served as president of Kennedy-King College and Harold Washington College among others. Dr. Watson was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame / Illinois Chapter and honored as the 2005 Outstanding American at a Honors Banquet held April 3 in Darien, Illinois. Dr. Watson excelled at wrestling as a student at Chicago's Mt. Carmel High School. Following his graduation in 1964 he was invited to try out for the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team. Continuing his education at Joliet Junior College, Dr. Watson went on to win a National Junior College Wrestling Championship.
Mo Lawal- The Man who would be "King." Lawal joins a growing trend of championship-level college wrestlers turning to MMA in order to continue the pursuit of greatness in athletics. The shift from wrestling to MMA came for Lawal after he won the 2008 US Open. Lawal competed for the Cowboys of Oklahoma State in 2003 and finished 3rd at the Nationals that year. Lawal began training at Dan Henderson’s Team Quest in Temecula, Calif.
Phil Davis- Mr. Wonderful? Not to his opponents. After his recent UFC debut the 25-year-old now owns a 5-0 professional record as a light-heavyweight in MMA competition. Before his MMA career, Davis was a four-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler at Penn State -- only the fourth in the school's 100+ years of intercollegiate wrestling. The native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, finished his collegiate career with a 116-20 record, two Big Ten titles (in 2006 and 2008), and a national title at 197 pounds in 2008.
More about The National Wrestling Hall of Fame
More about The NCAA
More about Takedowncrime.com initiative
More about the Harvey Twisters
