Reno TOC preview; Blasingame honored with Pioneer Award
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by Ryan Teubner RTOC
Reno, Nev. - The 20th Anniversary of the Reno Tournament of champions will take place on Dec. 19-21 inside the Reno Events Center. The high school tournament will take place on the first two days with the collegiate and open tournament taking place on the final day.
This year, the high school tournament is highlighted by defending tournament champion Poway (CA) and Crook County (OR). Easton (PA), Pomona (CO) and a slew of other teams will look to knock Poway off and earn a tournament title.
Throughout the illustrious tournament, Easton has won the most tournaments with seven but haven't won a team title since 2010. In the 19 years the Red Rovers have been coming they have only placed outside the Top 10 once.
For the past few years, the college division has been an open tournament and this year is no different. When the tournament started 20 years ago, the college division was a dual-team tournament. At that first tournament, John Smith's Cowboys lost a nail biter to Nebraska. Since that time, the tournament evolved into a traditional individual tournament with team scores.
Much like the NCAA tournament, the Cowboys of Oklahoma State have won more tournament titles than any other university combined. This year, Coach Smith will look to bring his young squad out West to capture another tournament title.
OSU's in-state rival Oklahoma is making its debut at the tournament. Coach Mark Cody's Sooners will look to compete for the top spot this year. Their starting lineup may be one of the youngest in the nation with eight starters that are freshmen and sophomores.
Wyoming brings its talented team to Reno and will look to capture it's second tournament title in the last four years. Last year, then-true freshmen Ben Stroh won the 184-pound title, making him one of only a few true freshmen to ever win an individual title. He will look to lead the Cowboys to a team title this year.
With OSU as the favorites don't forget about the other OSU, as Jim Zalesky's Oregon State Beavers are currently ranked in the top 20 and will look to bring home a tournament title.
Fans can follow the tournament on Flo Wrestling each day by logging onto www.flowrestling.com and clicking on the 'Arena' link on the toolbar. The schedule of events is on www.rtoc.net and wrestling is slated to start at 9 a.m. each day.
DON BLASINGAME RECEIVES FIRST RTOC PIONEER AWARD
When people first hear the word 'pioneer' and think about what it means to them, they may think of a number of things but the vast majority of us would think about the early settlers. Those pioneers who were the first to settle on a region.
The term Pioneer can be used in a number of different ways, but most notably it is used to describe a person 'that leads the way' for a group of people.
As we enter this year's 20th Anniversary of the Reno Tournament of Champions, we celebrate the pioneers that helped create the tournament. One of these pioneers for our tournament is Don Blasingame.
Blasingame has been a staple at the Reno Tournament of Champions for the past 20 years as one of the announcers.
"I first met Don in 1994 at my very first OSU vs Iowa wrestling dual," Tournament President Ross Aguiar said. "It was one for the ages, too; John smith vs Dan Gable. I heard his voice and knew I had to have him at our event.
"I told him about my dream," Aguiar said. "He listened intently and said he was in. And from that moment on the event belongs to Don Blassingame when the tournament starts, and has been for 20 years. He made this event a huge step above all other events."
Throughout the tournament, you will hear his booming voice giving a play-by-play, assigning mats to the wrestlers, and bringing an overall excitement to the tournament. During the finals you will have a chance to hear his excitement bring you to the edge of your seat. You will never hear him pull for one wrestler over another, rather you will hear him be excited for each wrestler as they battle to win an individual tournament title.
Dependability. We will depend on others at some point in our lives. Throughout the tournament, we depend on the announcers to assign mats, to let others know what is going on with the schedule as well as a bringing an excitement level to the tournament each and every day.
"(While) he is best known at announcing wrestling matches at Oklahoma State, Midwest City High School and the International stage all over the world," Oklahoma State Wrestling Head Coach John Smith, said. "The one thing I appreciated from Don is when he announced it was all about the event, the wrestlers, the dual meet and it was never really was about him, but he always got the people excited.
"That to me is what makes a great announcer when you don't know who is on the microphone, but yet feeding information that keeps you on the edge of your seat," coach Smith said. " I know he learned from several people but he may have taken it to a new level."
With Don and Lori (May) announcing the tournament, we do not have to worry if something is going to get done or not.
Coach Smith said he could always count on Don. When a coach is preparing for the dual meet season there are a number of things he has to worry about and with Don on the mic at OSU, he never had to worry about the announcing of the duals.
As the tournament director, there are many things that I have to worry about in order for the tournament to run smoothly. The announcing is not one of them. Each morning when I see Don and Lori, I give them their microphones and know they will bring an excitement level to the tournament that not many others can do.
For the past 20 years, the tournament has evolved from a dual team tournament for the college division to what it is today. Throughout that time, Blasingame has been behind the mic for every tournament.
When you talk to Don you can hear his passion and love for the sport. He can tell you about all the great matches, duals and tournaments that he has announced. He can tell you about the time he took off work for several weeks (this is pre-retirement) to announce the Olympics.
When he talks about these stories, you can tell he absolutely loves being involved in the sport of wrestling and watching young athletes grow up to accomplish their goals of being an NCAA Champion or Olympic Champion.
He won't even tear up.
But, when he talks about his family and closest of friends, especially his wife (Francis), that's when you will really grasp the true character and integrity of Don Blasingame. His love for family goes way beyond his love for wrestling or even golf.
This year's tournament is also special because it is the last event Don will ever announce. The voice that brings excitement to matches has already retired from announcing at duals for John Smith's Cowboys, but came back for one last ride for the 20th RTOC.
As an honoree for the inaugural Reno Tournament of Champions Pioneer Award, we celebrate and honor the vision of Don Blasingame as he helped create 'The Toughest Tournament in the U.S.A.'
This year, the high school tournament is highlighted by defending tournament champion Poway (CA) and Crook County (OR). Easton (PA), Pomona (CO) and a slew of other teams will look to knock Poway off and earn a tournament title.
Throughout the illustrious tournament, Easton has won the most tournaments with seven but haven't won a team title since 2010. In the 19 years the Red Rovers have been coming they have only placed outside the Top 10 once.
For the past few years, the college division has been an open tournament and this year is no different. When the tournament started 20 years ago, the college division was a dual-team tournament. At that first tournament, John Smith's Cowboys lost a nail biter to Nebraska. Since that time, the tournament evolved into a traditional individual tournament with team scores.
Much like the NCAA tournament, the Cowboys of Oklahoma State have won more tournament titles than any other university combined. This year, Coach Smith will look to bring his young squad out West to capture another tournament title.
OSU's in-state rival Oklahoma is making its debut at the tournament. Coach Mark Cody's Sooners will look to compete for the top spot this year. Their starting lineup may be one of the youngest in the nation with eight starters that are freshmen and sophomores.
Wyoming brings its talented team to Reno and will look to capture it's second tournament title in the last four years. Last year, then-true freshmen Ben Stroh won the 184-pound title, making him one of only a few true freshmen to ever win an individual title. He will look to lead the Cowboys to a team title this year.
With OSU as the favorites don't forget about the other OSU, as Jim Zalesky's Oregon State Beavers are currently ranked in the top 20 and will look to bring home a tournament title.
Fans can follow the tournament on Flo Wrestling each day by logging onto www.flowrestling.com and clicking on the 'Arena' link on the toolbar. The schedule of events is on www.rtoc.net and wrestling is slated to start at 9 a.m. each day.
DON BLASINGAME RECEIVES FIRST RTOC PIONEER AWARD
When people first hear the word 'pioneer' and think about what it means to them, they may think of a number of things but the vast majority of us would think about the early settlers. Those pioneers who were the first to settle on a region.
The term Pioneer can be used in a number of different ways, but most notably it is used to describe a person 'that leads the way' for a group of people.
As we enter this year's 20th Anniversary of the Reno Tournament of Champions, we celebrate the pioneers that helped create the tournament. One of these pioneers for our tournament is Don Blasingame.
Blasingame has been a staple at the Reno Tournament of Champions for the past 20 years as one of the announcers.
"I first met Don in 1994 at my very first OSU vs Iowa wrestling dual," Tournament President Ross Aguiar said. "It was one for the ages, too; John smith vs Dan Gable. I heard his voice and knew I had to have him at our event.
"I told him about my dream," Aguiar said. "He listened intently and said he was in. And from that moment on the event belongs to Don Blassingame when the tournament starts, and has been for 20 years. He made this event a huge step above all other events."
Throughout the tournament, you will hear his booming voice giving a play-by-play, assigning mats to the wrestlers, and bringing an overall excitement to the tournament. During the finals you will have a chance to hear his excitement bring you to the edge of your seat. You will never hear him pull for one wrestler over another, rather you will hear him be excited for each wrestler as they battle to win an individual tournament title.
Dependability. We will depend on others at some point in our lives. Throughout the tournament, we depend on the announcers to assign mats, to let others know what is going on with the schedule as well as a bringing an excitement level to the tournament each and every day.
"(While) he is best known at announcing wrestling matches at Oklahoma State, Midwest City High School and the International stage all over the world," Oklahoma State Wrestling Head Coach John Smith, said. "The one thing I appreciated from Don is when he announced it was all about the event, the wrestlers, the dual meet and it was never really was about him, but he always got the people excited.
"That to me is what makes a great announcer when you don't know who is on the microphone, but yet feeding information that keeps you on the edge of your seat," coach Smith said. " I know he learned from several people but he may have taken it to a new level."
With Don and Lori (May) announcing the tournament, we do not have to worry if something is going to get done or not.
Coach Smith said he could always count on Don. When a coach is preparing for the dual meet season there are a number of things he has to worry about and with Don on the mic at OSU, he never had to worry about the announcing of the duals.
As the tournament director, there are many things that I have to worry about in order for the tournament to run smoothly. The announcing is not one of them. Each morning when I see Don and Lori, I give them their microphones and know they will bring an excitement level to the tournament that not many others can do.
For the past 20 years, the tournament has evolved from a dual team tournament for the college division to what it is today. Throughout that time, Blasingame has been behind the mic for every tournament.
When you talk to Don you can hear his passion and love for the sport. He can tell you about all the great matches, duals and tournaments that he has announced. He can tell you about the time he took off work for several weeks (this is pre-retirement) to announce the Olympics.
When he talks about these stories, you can tell he absolutely loves being involved in the sport of wrestling and watching young athletes grow up to accomplish their goals of being an NCAA Champion or Olympic Champion.
He won't even tear up.
But, when he talks about his family and closest of friends, especially his wife (Francis), that's when you will really grasp the true character and integrity of Don Blasingame. His love for family goes way beyond his love for wrestling or even golf.
This year's tournament is also special because it is the last event Don will ever announce. The voice that brings excitement to matches has already retired from announcing at duals for John Smith's Cowboys, but came back for one last ride for the 20th RTOC.
As an honoree for the inaugural Reno Tournament of Champions Pioneer Award, we celebrate and honor the vision of Don Blasingame as he helped create 'The Toughest Tournament in the U.S.A.'
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