Athletor Podcast with Mike Mal

Shane Sparks, the voice of Big Ten wrestling, joins Mike for the argument they've been having over drinks for years: should California's 22,000 wrestlers really compete for one state title? Shane's case is participation and community. Mike's case is data: every top recruit since 2020 mapped by state, and the budgets behind the programs that produce them. Two sides, real receipts, a...

NC State All-American Tommy Gantt left wrestling for one amateur fight and never looked back. Now an undefeated UFC lightweight training with Daniel Cormier, he breaks down what actually transfers from the mat to the cage, plus the Pat Popolizio speech that still drives him. Guest: Tommy Gantt, 2016 ACC champion and NCAA All-American at NC State, former Wolfpack assistant coach, undefeated UFC lig...

Navy assistant coach Blaize Cabell breaks down how the Midshipmen train, from SEAL-run summer camps to teaching the "feel" that turns good scramblers into great ones, and why heavyweight All-American Danny Wass is about to surprise people. A former three-time NCAA qualifier at Northern Iowa, Cabell coaches the Naval Academy's upper weights.🔗 Championship Fundraising Challenge - Rais...

Damion Hahn helped pull five programs into a rebuilt Pac-12, and he is rebuilding South Dakota State at the same time. He sits down with Mike Malinconico to get into the conference move, developing wrestlers when you can't just plug in a transfer, and the case for building guys up in weight instead of cutting them down. He has the resume to back it: a worn-down 184-pounder who moved up and won...

Air Force wrestling doesn't buy transfers and doesn't play the NIL game — yet they're keeping pace with the top 5 programs in the country. Head coach Sam Barber sits down with Mike Malinconico to explain how. Guest: Sam Barber, head wrestling coach at the United States Air Force Academy (12th season), former head coach at Upper Iowa and part of three NCAA DIII title teams at Augsburg....

Coach Bryan Snyder, associate head coach at Nebraska and the winningest wrestler in Husker history, joins Mike to go deep on the numbers behind Nebraska's riding game, how they evaluate recruits for top-game potential, and why their transfer portal picks keep turning into All-Americans. Guest: Bryan Snyder, Associate Head Coach, Nebraska Wrestling. 4x All-American, Big 12 Champion, .925 career...

UPenn assistant coach Darian Cruz sits down with Mike to talk about what the data says about Ivy League wrestling at the NCAA tournament, why coaching at Penn means competing with Wall Street for your athletes' attention, and how a post-COVID conversation led him to represent Puerto Rico on the international stage. Guest: Darian Cruz — 2017 NCAA Champion (Lehigh), 2024 Paris Olympian (Puerto R...

Stanford just had its best NCAA tournament ever — and then half the lineup walked into the transfer portal. Coach Chris Ayres breaks down how he kept his team together, what the data actually says about transfer performance, and why a Stanford degree might be the best NIL weapon in wrestling. Guest: Chris Ayres, Head Wrestling Coach at Stanford University (formerly 17 years at Princeton)Topics: NC...

Mike Macchiavello just took his second US Open title at 92kg and punched his ticket to Final X — but the 2018 NCAA champ says pressure on the mat is "purely fabricated." In this one, Mock breaks down the mental game that most wrestlers don't figure out until it's too late: what an "honest 100%" really looks like, why getting teched in practice might be the best thing fo...

Iowa State's new head coach Brent Metcalf joins the show just four days into the job. He lays out his vision for building the Cyclone program the right way — no shortcuts, no one-year portal rentals — and reflects on what nine years alongside Kevin Dresser taught him about running a program that lasts. Guest: Brent Metcalf, Head Coach – Iowa State Wrestling. Two-time NCAA champion, four-time U...

Iowa's Gabe Arnold made All-American at 197 — a weight class two above his natural size — after stepping up when a teammate went down. Now he's going back to 174 with one goal: a national championship. He breaks down the text he sent Tom Brands, what the AthletorIQ data says about winning at 174, and the scoring target he's building his offseason around. Guest : Gabe Arnold, 197-pound...

Rider head coach John Hangey on building a program with zero NIL money that still sends wrestlers to the podium. He breaks down the transfer portal strategy of taking "broken" Power 4 athletes, the tiered development system that produced six All-Americans, and why the David-and-Goliath identity inherited from Coach Gary Taylor is Rider's greatest recruiting tool. Guest: John Hangey,...

National Coach of the Year Donny Pritzlaff on how Columbia cracked the top 20 — without NIL, without a fancy facility, and without recruiting through the transfer portal. He breaks down the Cesar Alvan recruiting story, why he hired an "all iron fist" staff, and the recruiting philosophy that targets development over star power. Guest: Donny Pritzlaff, Head Coach at Columbia Wrestling, 2...

Mike Van Brill went from 0-2 at States to three-time Big Ten medalist at Rutgers — and built one of college wrestling’s biggest brands along the way. He breaks down his upcoming RAF match against Jordan Oliver in Philly, the blood round mindset shift that saved his career, and why the business world is just another wrestling match. Guest: Mike Van Brill, 3x Big Ten medalist, 3x NCAA qualifier (Rut...

On episode #164 of the Athletor Podcast, James Green joins the show to talk about his return to competition, life after injury, and what fuels his decision to keep wrestling at the highest level. As Assistant Coach at Nebraska and an active athlete, James opens up about balancing coaching responsibilities with his own training cycle, how his body has responded after hip surgery, and why he is stil...

In this episode, Ryan LeBlanc shares what it takes to lead and build a program at Binghamton. He breaks down the transition from his previous coaching stops and what stood out when stepping into a new environment. He explains how the university’s academic strength shapes recruiting and why bringing in the right student-athletes impacts culture, development, and long-term success. LeBlanc also spea...

In Episode 162 of the Athletor Podcast, wrestling pundit Brock Hite breaks down how data, probability, and decision-making shape the sport. He explains how concepts like expected value and risk apply to wrestling, and why understanding these factors gives athletes and coaches an edge. The conversation builds on earlier discussions and gives a clear look at how strategy goes beyond effort and insti...

On this week's episode, we sit down with Franklin & Marshall College wrestler James Conway — one of the most compelling upper-weight stories in the country. James opens up about his late start in the sport, getting his footing through a steep learning curve as a freshman, and how a pivotal post-tournament conversation with his coach sparked a total mindset shift that launched him from a .5...

Episode 160 of the Athletor Podcast features Hayden Hidlay, Assistant Coach at Stanford. Hidlay discusses the progress of the Stanford wrestling program and the momentum the team carries into the ACC Championships this season. He breaks down lessons learned from last year’s conference tournament, how preparation and travel adjustments affect performance, and why the ACC tournament brings a unique...

Episode 159 of the Athletor Podcast features Dom Santoli, Head Coach of Bergen Catholic. In this conversation, Dom shares what changed when he moved from assistant coach to head coach and how the role demands far more than match preparation. He explains the daily operational challenges, from managing parents and assistant coaches to handling school issues, recruiting, and the details behind the sc...

In Episode 158 of the Athletor Podcast, we sit down with Jamil Kelly, Assistant Coach at NC State and Olympic silver medalist, to talk about his evolution from elite athlete to program leader. While his competitive résumé speaks for itself, this conversation centers on his growth as a coach and the mindset shift required when you move from controlling your own performance to guiding the developmen...

Episode 157 of the Athletor Podcast features a conversation with Luke Stanich of Lehigh University. Luke shares his journey through college wrestling and what daily life looks like inside a demanding program. He talks about preparation, discipline, and the standards required to compete at a high level. This episode focuses on mindset, consistency, and growth. Luke breaks down lessons learned throu...

Jason Welch joins Episode 156 of the Athletor Podcast to share a clear look at leadership, culture, and the state of college wrestling. As Head Coach at San Francisco State, Welch talks through building programs with limited resources, leading athletes with purpose, and staying committed to development beyond wins and losses. The conversation centers on accountability, opportunity, and what coache...

Episode 155 features Nolan Kistler and the movement behind #KeepCBUWrestling. You hear a clear look at CBU Wrestling during the Division I transition. Nolan explains what the program stands for, why support matters, and how the community plays a role. You get context on funding, visibility, and the work required to sustain a growing program. This conversation speaks to you as a coach, athlete, par...

Episode 154 of the Athletor Podcast features Peyton Hall, a 3x NCAA Division I All-American. You hear how elite performance forms through daily habits, discipline, and mindset. Peyton shares lessons from competing at the highest level and what separates consistent winners from the rest. You gain insight on preparation, pressure, and growth inside and outside competition. Peyton breaks down account...