How did wrestling change your life? That’s exactly the question Ryan Warner wants to know and that’s exactly the theme of his podcast, Wrestling Changed My Life. Warner, an Illinois native, started up the podcast a couple years ago and has been prolific with his interviews and his conversational style of podcast. Digging into greats, documentary series on his own and with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Wrestling Changed My Life has been a fan favorite and it’s only getting better. 

Check it out at wrestlinghcangedmylife.com.

LEADING OFF
There is wrestling. This is more than likely a test of how much of a wrestling fan you’re going to make yourself. There is limited action around the country, but the men and women in the NAIA are competing. The NAIA released its first Women’s Coaches Poll of the season on Monday and Wayland Baptist comes in No. 1, ahead of Campbellsville, Grand View, Menlo and Life. Wayland just recently lost its head coach as Aaron Meister left to go back to his native Kansas to start the men’s and women’s program at Friends University in Wichita. 

Speaking of Life, coach Ashley Sword’s team was in action over the weekend and topped Indiana Tech and the University of the Cumberlands. Indiana Tech was wrestling its first ever women’s dual matches in school history. Life won 39-5 while the University of the Cumberlands edged Indiana tech 25-23. 

Life beat Brewton-Parker 42-4 on Monday night as well. 

On the men’s side of things, third-ranked Reinhardt opened up 2-0 after a trip to Florida, beating Keiser 55-0 and fifth-ranked Southeastern 24-19. Southeastern beat Keiser 49-6.

Coleman Bryant of Southeastern knocked off Cole Tenety 3-1 in sudden victory at 174 pounds in a matchup of returning All-Americans. Former Indiana Hooser Blake Rypel has resurfaced on the college mats, he’s at Southeastern. He won his debut by fall at 184 for the Fire. Reinhardt did pick up powerful bonus victories from returning All-Americans Trent Leon, Nolan Saxton and Antonio Stewart to power coach Jeff Bedard’s Eagles.

In other action on Monday, Brewton-Parker College beat Central Baptist (Ark.) 53-3, while St. Andrews beat the Central Baptist 42-15. No official score from St. Andrews and Brewton-Parker, but I’m told it was 43-9 in favor of Brewton-Parker. Not the first time I’ve had to chase down the opposing team looking for a score from a wrestling event held at BPC, but I digress.

Here’s what went down since the last time I gave a scoreboard update:
Jamestown (N.D.) beat Northwestern (Iowa) 24-22. 
Arizona Christian beat Hastings 28-15
No. 7 Indiana Tech beat Thomas More 26-21
No. 4 Lindsey Wilson got a pair of big W’s, shutting out Missouri Baptist 55-0 and beating Williams Baptist 46-3. Williams Baptist beat Missouri Baptist 42-12 in the other dual there.

Earlier in the week, Benedictine (Kan.) beat Central Methodist 27-18, while Ottawa (Kan.) beat Oklahoma Wesleyan 43-12.

New coaching alert in Division II where Ohio State alum Colt Sponseller is now the new head coach at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. Josh Hutchens stepped down back in September. … while NCAA qualifier Michael Blockhus will land at Minnesota after announcing he was leaving Northern Iowa a few days ago.