Athletor Podcast with Mike Mal

In this episode of the Athletor Podcast, Hall of Fame writer, broadcaster, announcer, and podcaster Jason Bryant joins Mike Malinconico to discuss key issues surrounding the sport of wrestling. Jason shares his insights on marketing wrestling and the struggles the sport faces with fan retention, citing historical challenges and the slow adoption of women’s wrestling. He also dives into the need fo...

In episode 103 of the Athletor Podcast, we sit down with Coleman Scott, a key figure in the wrestling world and a passionate advocate for the sport's future. Currently, Coleman is focused on building "The Farm," an ambitious wrestling training facility that promises to revolutionize the development of young athletes. In this episode, Coleman talks about the journey behind the project...

In episode 102, Cyler Sanderson gives us a unique look into growing up in the legendary Sanderson household, where the focus was always on effort, growth, and sportsmanship rather than just winning. He reflects on his father’s influence, their positive wrestling culture, and how it shaped his approach to coaching at the Sanderson Wrestling Academy. We also explore the challenges facing wrestling a...

In Episode 101 of the Athletor Podcast, we sit down with U23 World Champion Sage Mortimer to discuss her journey to the top of the wrestling world. Sage dives into her mindset during her stunning comeback at the U23 World Championships, her approach to overcoming mental and technical barriers, and the philosophy that helped her turn challenges into growth opportunities. From her unique origin stor...

In Episode 100 of the Athletor Podcast, Ohio State Head Coach Tom Ryan joins us to dive into the evolving landscape of college wrestling. From the challenges of NIL and roster caps to the importance of trust, leadership, and values, Tom provides a unique perspective on what it takes to build a successful program. He also shares his thoughts on the Big Ten’s new commissioner, the critical need for...

In Episode 099 of the Athletor Podcast, Olympic silver medalist and co-owner of Pinnacle Wrestling Club, Brandon Paulson, shares his philosophy on coaching and building a successful wrestling program. From the origins of Pinnacle’s slogan, “Love the Fight,” to balancing basic techniques with non-conventional strategies, Paulson offers insights into how his approach helps athletes thrive both on an...

In this episode, we sit down with Patrick Brucki, Assistant Coach at Stanford and 2x NCAA All-American. Patrick shares his journey from the south side of Chicago to Princeton, navigating the challenges of balancing an Ivy League education and collegiate wrestling, and eventually finishing his career at Michigan. He opens up about the hard lessons he learned about overtraining, his transition into...

In episode 097 of the Athletor Podcast, Mike Mal sits down with Rich Bender, Executive Director of USA Wrestling, to explore the past, present, and future of the sport. Rich shares insights from his journey, starting as an intern in 1988 to becoming one of the most influential figures in wrestling. From infrastructure improvements to the role of RTCs and NIL’s impact, Rich breaks down the dynamics...

In episode 096 of the Athletor Podcast, Luka Wick, standout wrestler at Cal Poly, joins the show to share his journey from initially disliking the sport to becoming one of wrestling’s top competitors. Luka opens up about his early struggles, the pivotal moments that sparked his passion in middle school, and the lessons learned from wrestling alongside his brothers, Zander and Evan. He reflects on...

In this episode of the Athletor Podcast, Hayden Hidlay, 5x NCAA All-American and Assistant Coach at Stanford, shares his journey from growing up in a sports-loving family in central Pennsylvania to becoming one of wrestling's top competitors. Hayden reflects on the pivotal role of his youth coach Ian, the fundamentals that shaped his style, and how a mat in the basement transformed his family into...

In episode 94 of the Athletor Podcast , we sit down with Erin Sparrold, a sports nutritionist with over a decade of experience working with wrestlers, and Lori Ayres, a trailblazer in women’s wrestling as co-founder of DI Women’s Wrestling and Executive Director of the California RTC. Together, they dive into the unique nutritional needs and challenges female wrestlers face, from managing energy a...

In Episode 093 of the Athletor Podcast, we sit down with Cary Kolat, Head Coach at the United States Naval Academy, to explore the unique challenges and opportunities of coaching at a service academy compared to a traditional college program. Kolat shares his insights on recruiting high-caliber student-athletes who excel in academics, athletics, and leadership, while navigating the realities of mo...

In this episode of the Athletor Podcast , we sit down with Alex Marinelli, head coach at Hawkeye Wrestling Academy and 4x All-American. Alex shares his journey from competing at the senior level to coaching the next generation, discussing the unique challenges and joys of working with youth wrestlers. He talks about transitioning from the competitive environment of Iowa to building a sustainable a...

In this episode of the Athletor Podcast , we sit down with Steve Garland, head coach of the University of Virginia wrestling program, as he shares his journey from athlete to coach and reflects on the evolving challenges in college athletics. Steve opens up about how wrestling shaped his life, teaching him discipline and purpose, and how he aims to instill those same values in his athletes at UVA....

In this episode of the Athletor Podcast , we talk with Sean Gray, assistant coach at Stanford University and former assistant coach at Princeton, about the exciting momentum behind Stanford Wrestling. Sean dives into the team’s mission to compete for a national championship, navigating a major transition from the East Coast to the Bay Area, and the unique talent mix in Stanford’s wrestling room. W...

In this episode of the Athletor Podcast , we sit down with Frank Popolizio, founder and head coach at Journeymen Wrestling. Frank shares the origin story of the Journeymen events, from his early inspirations under John and Pat Smith at Oklahoma State to building one of the most influential wrestling event series in the U.S. We dive into how he grew from knowing little about recruiting and competit...

In episode 088 of the Athletor Podcast, Ty Walz, Assistant Coach at Brown University, shares his experiences transitioning from coaching at a large university to a smaller one like Brown. He discusses the unique challenges and opportunities that come with coaching in the Ivy League, including the pros and cons of recruiting and developing athletes in a highly academic environment. Ty also highligh...

Join us in episode 087 of the Athletor Podcast as we sit down with wrestling influencer Hayden Ancheta, who has built a dedicated following of over 39,000 on Instagram and 10,000 on YouTube while wrestling at San Francisco State University. In this episode, Hayden shares his origin story and what ignited his passion for wrestling. He reflects on the influence of his high school coach, Erik Duus, a...

In this episode of the Athletor Podcast, we welcome Bryan Medlin, Director of Ops at the University of Illinois and Head Coach of the Illinois RTC. Bryan shares his insights on the vibrant wrestling culture in Ossetia. He discusses the common misconceptions surrounding wrestling and the challenges of navigating the current landscape of the sport. Additionally, Bryan provides valuable advice for co...

In episode 085 of the Athletor Podcast, we sit down with Alex Clemsen, head coach of the University of Maryland wrestling program. Coach Clemsen shares insights into the challenges and rewards of running a college wrestling program, including the critical role of fundraising and how he manages his team alongside assistant coach Nick Brascetta. We also discuss the impact of recent scoring rule chan...

Join us for episode 084 of the Athletor Podcast with Michael Kemerer, now Assistant Coach at Minnesota and a 5x NCAA All American. Michael dives into his recent career transition to coaching at Minnesota, reflecting on his coaching experience at Brown University. He dispels common misconceptions about wrestling at Iowa and shares insights from his formative years at Young Guns Wrestling Club under...

In this episode, we sit down with Steve Mocco, Head Coach of Mocco Wrestling Academy, Olympian, 2x NCAA Champion, and 4x NCAA All-American. Steve shares insights into his transition from being a competitive wrestler to becoming a coach and what that journey has taught him. We delve into the origins of the famous “Mocco Footsweep” and how it became a signature move. Steve also discusses the structu...

In this episode, we sit down with Tony Robie, Head Coach of Virginia Tech Wrestling, to explore the ever-changing landscape of college wrestling. Tony provides insight into the recent changes in NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) and how they impact programs like Virginia Tech. He also discusses strategies for mid-major programs to secure their future and avoid the risk of being dropped. We dive into...

In episode 081 of the Athletor Podcast, we sit down with Mike Palazzo, the head coach at Lake Highland Prep and recipient of the 2017 NHSCA Coach of the Year and 2016 Flo Wrestling Coach of the Year awards. Mike shares his insights on freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, discussing how his focus on these styles has evolved in recent years and the reasons behind this shift. We also delve into the i...

In episode 080 of the Athletor Podcast, we feature Zach Even-Esh, the OG strength coach and founder of Underground Strength Gym. Zach shares his origin story, revealing how his passion for sports performance training began and evolved over the years. We dive into the principles of training to build strength and power, discussing the differences between functional training and bodybuilding, and why...