The Second Phase in Identifying California’s Top 100 Wrestlers California has long been recognized as one of the premier wrestling states in the nation, producing generations of athletes who have excelled at the high school, collegiate, national and international levels. Within that larger history, however, is a very small and exclusive group whose accomplishments distinguish…

That seemingly simple question sparked what would become one of the most ambitious wrestling projects I’ve undertaken. Over the past year, I developed a series of articles examining California’s greatest wrestlers, beginning with the inaugural CIF State Wrestling Championships in 1973 and continuing decade by decade through 2026. The series highlighted athletes who made their mark not only…

For Kinzie Williams, wrestling is more than a sport—it is part of her family’s DNA. A Class of 2027 standout at American Falls High School, Williams was raised in a family steeped in Idaho wrestling tradition. Her father was an Idaho State Champion, as were numerous uncles and cousins on both sides of her family.…

There are coaches who measure success by trophies. There are coaches who measure it by wins and losses. And then there are coaches who understand that the scoreboard is only a small part of the story. For Fred Bartlett, wrestling has never simply been about what happens on the mat. It is about relationships. It…

From a four-year-old wrestler inspired by his father to a Division I captain, international coach and architect of Palomar College’s next chapter.  Some wrestling experiences end when the final whistle blows. Others stay with you for a lifetime. For Tim Box, wrestling has never simply been a sport. It has been a way of life—one…

Wrestler. Coach. Author. Historian. Storyteller. Some wrestling stories are measured in championships, medals and records. Others are measured by something harder to quantify—the ability to overcome failure, inspire others and leave the sport better than you found it. Kevin Emily’s story is one of those. In 2026, that lifetime of service was formally recognized when…

In this Q&A, Onondaga Community College assistant coach Angel Gonzalez discusses his wrestling journey from California to New York, his transition from athlete to coach, and the growth of the Onondaga Community College wrestling program. Gonzalez offers insight into the culture being established at Onondaga, the importance of junior college wrestling, and the differences between the NJCAA…

Few experiences have shaped my life more profoundly than the sport of wrestling. Looking back today, it is almost impossible to believe where that journey has taken me. If someone had told me in the late 1970s that I would one day become a nationally recognized wrestling writer, promoter, historian, and podcaster—working alongside many of…

Coach Lonnie Nalls and the Continuing Tradition of Wrestling in Susanville For more than five decades, wrestling at Lassen College in Susanville, California, has represented far more than wins and losses. It has been a program built on opportunity, perseverance and the belief that wrestling can change lives. Since 1969, Lassen has developed state champions,…