Blades vs Mir set for Final X on Sept 25
USA Wrestling put Kennedy Blades opposite Isabella Mir in a best-of-three at Final X on Sept 25 in Hilliard, Ohio. Also Tuesday: a $50,000 donation landed on Benji Mower's fundraiser, and Cliff Fretwell told GlobalWrestOrder to stop watermarking Elite 8 Duals video.
Big news
USA Wrestling sets Blades vs Mir best-of-three at Final X
USA Wrestling announced Tuesday that 2024 Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades and two-time age-group World Team member Isabella Mir will meet in a best-of-three series at 2026 Final X. The series is scheduled for September 25 in Hilliard, Ohio. USA Wrestling's post did not list a weight class. Blades was already on the U23 World entry with the Final X result pending, so the opponent and date are the new pieces.
2024 Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades and two-time age-group World Team member Isabella Mir are set to square off at 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management.
Why it matters: This is the last gate on a senior women's freestyle World team spot, and Mir gets two swings at an Olympic silver medalist to take it.
- September 25 in Hilliard, Ohio, best-of-three
Basch hosts Oklahoma State's Benji Mower, Sonnen boosts fundraiser
Basch hosted Mower on Baschamania to discuss what he called Mower's "positive perspective through a recent cancer diagnosis," and linked a way to support Mower and his family. Sonnen amplified the same link with "Stud. He needs help. We are here." Basch then reposted the link with a two-word caption, "Love to see it." No source gives a dollar figure for what has been raised.
Grateful to have Oklahoma State's Benji Mower on @baschamania tonight as we discuss his positive perspective through a recent cancer diagnosis.
Stud. He needs help. We are here.
Love to see it.
Why it matters: Mower is an Oklahoma State wrestler, and both the wrestling and MMA sides of the internet have pushed his family's support link.
Drama
Fretwell calls out GlobalWrestOrder over Elite 8 Duals video
GlobalWrestOrder's post took aim at unnamed people in wrestling media who, in his words, stop caring about growing the sport once money is involved. Fretwell replied telling him to tag him directly, saying he had asked GWO not to post Elite 8 Duals video with a GWO watermark on it. Fretwell said he backs the media people who travel to events on their own dime.
I politely asked you to not post @elite8duals vids and watermark them like they are your original content. I support the media guys that come to the event on their dime trying to make a living.
Quit being slimy and quit acting like hoes.
Why it matters: Event footage rights are the whole business model for the independent crews covering the fall high school circuit, and this is the second public fight involving GlobalWrestOrder in a week.
- Whether GWO pulls the watermarked Elite 8 Duals clips or responds by name
Quick hits
Dean Anderson climbs to No. 9 pound-for-pound in MatScouts update
MatScouts pushed out updated national high school rankings with major movement after Elite 8. Basch notes Dean Anderson is now No. 9 pound-for-pound, giving UNI two commits in the P4P top 10 alongside Schwab.
Cameron Amine named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week
USA Wrestling gave Athlete of the Week to Cameron Amine for his silver at the Stepan Sargsyan Cup. The federation called it his first career international medal.
Southeast RTC rebrands as Tech Wrestling Club
The Southeast RTC is now officially the Tech Wrestling Club, with a new website built by Basch Solutions. Basch says there is more coming out of Blacksburg.
Southern Virginia hires Pete Hansen as head coach
D3 Southern Virginia named Pete Hansen '14 its new men's wrestling head coach. Jason Bryant carried it in Mat Talk Daily alongside more Division I schedule releases.