Wrestling official Mike Allen stopped by the office Thursday and told me he’s decided to hang up his officiating whistle.

He is the second highly-respected official from Waterloo to retire from officiating in recent years. Chuck Yagla retired two years ago.

Allen, who began officiating wrestling part-time in 1976 while still in college at Ellsworth College, officiated fulltime for 35 years. During that span, he officiated 23 NCAA Division I tournaments, 12 Division II, six Division III, four NAIA, three Junior College, 13 Big Ten and 11 Pac-10 championships.

“It was time,” Allen said. “I had a great run. I’m going to get to see what a Saturday is finally like. I’m still going to be involved, hopefully as a mentor to other officials.

“I’m going to San Antonio and Houston in December to give clinics to wrestling officials. I’m going to be the second head official, nothing on the mat, at the National Duals in January.”

Allen, 59, said he wanted to retire in 2007 when Yagla stepped away, but he was inducted into the National Hall of Fame that season and felt he still had some years left.

What finally convinced him to step aside was his 5-year old granddaughter Anishia, who started kindergarten at Price Lab this fall.

“I dropped her off at school one day and it was great,” Allen said. “When I went away for tournaments she was always asking me where I was going, if she could come with and when I’d be back. She didn’t like me leaving, so now, it’s time for me to live, be with my family.

“I’m looking forward to doing just that, spending time with my family.”

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It’s been a rumor for a while, but according to a couple of different sources I’ve learned Cedar Falls has been named Will Kelly it’s new head wrestling coach.

The former Wartburg national champion has been running the Tigers’ kids club the past few seasons.

He won an NCAA title for the Knights in 2003 at 141 pounds and was third in 2002.

Other interesting news is that the recruiting process for Cedar Valley state champions Michael Kelly of Cedar Falls and Kyven Gadson of Waterloo East has been heating up. Both were rumored to have received in-home visits from new Iowa State head coach Kevin Jackson recently.

Division I head coaches were allowed to begin contacting potential recruits on July 1.

Other top area recruits who have been receiving strong recognition are Denver-Tripoli standouts Levi Wolfensperger and Blake Sorensen.

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Unfortunate news came out of Cedar Falls today as wrestling coach Jay Llewellyn was told by the school they wanted to go in a new direction.

Llewellyn just finished his ninth season as the Tigers’ coach, helping Michael Kelly win the 145-pound state title this past February.

He was a good guy and easy to work with on a professional level.

Switching gears – As far as the head coaching position at Iowa State I’m still hearing a lot of different rumors. The Terry Brands contact I got was solid, but it looks like, according to my source, Brands told the Cyclones he wasn’t interested.

Other names I’m still hearing frequently are Kevin Jackson, Greg Randall, Jim Gibbons and Chris Bono. I heard athletics director Jamie Pollard took a jet somewhere yesterday …. don’t know where.

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There are serious rumors that Iowa State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson is going to take the head coaching job at Penn State.

At least one source close to the Courier has confirmed this information, and according to the CentreDaily News in State College, Pa., Sanderson interviewed for the job Thursday.

It also has been reported on WHO TV in Des Moines and in the Des Moines Register that Sanderson has interviewed twice for the job.

My source is telling me the Nittany Lions are offering Sanderson in the range of $250,000. His base salary at Iowa State is in a little more than 130,000 according to Iowa Public Records.

Sanderson just finished his third season at Iowa State, leading the Cyclones to a third place finish at the NCAA championships in St. Louis in March. Sanderson replaced Bobby Douglas in 2006.

For the story go to centredaily.com.

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125 Paul Donahoe of Edinboro vs. Troy Nickerson of Cornell

We’re under way. No scoring first period. A wild scramble to start second. Nickerson started down. The action is starting to pick up now. Nickerson out at 1:40. Donahoe goes down to start third, 1-0 Nickerson. Donahoe out in eight seconds. (more…)

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Good morning

ISU’s Nick Gallick is working on a nice victory over Alex Krom of Maryland to advance into a third-place match. He’s leading 4-1 in the second period.

Gallick still leading 4-1, has riding time as closing seconds tick off. He wins 5-1. Will face Zach Tanelli of Wisconsin in the third-place match. (more…)

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Semifinals are 11 minutes away. I’ve been running into former Wartburg three-time national champion Dustin Hinschberger left and right. But now I know why, his seats are right behind press row. I just throught it was  a bunch of strange coincidences.

Iowa’s Charlie Falck up early on Minnesota’s Zach Sanders in a 125 wrestle back, 2-0. It’s 2-1 now. Iowa needs to win all five of these round of 12 matches to have a chance to repeat as team champs. (more…)

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Sorry I abandon you all last night, but it got a little crazy late so I had to cut the blogging short.

We’re 10 minutes away from action here. I hope to have an update on injured Northern Iowa wrestler Trent Washington sometime soon. I waiting to talk to the Panthers’ athletic trainer.

I do know Washington was released from the hospital last night about 2 a.m. (more…)

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We’re 20 minutes away from action.

Team standings through the first session are Iowa State 25, Iowa 22. Ohio State 17.5, Boise State and Nebraska 14, 14. Northern Iowa 10. (more…)

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National anthem is over, let’s wrassle.

First pin of tournament goes to Brad Pataky of Penn State as he flattens Ian Moser of Bloomsburg in a 125-pound pigtail match. Official first round won’t start until all 10 pigtails are finished.

Iowa’s Charlie Falck up now on Mat 7. He us up 2-1 quickly on Derek Reber of Bucknell. (more…)

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