Jim Ravannak looks back on a life shaped by wrestling—from leading USA Wrestling and helping preserve the sport’s Olympic place to building the Gator Wrestling Club and supporting athletes like Daniel Cormier. He shares stories from Olympic and international team trips, recalls the people and moments that stayed with him, and reflects on why creating opportunities for athletes matters as much as winning medals.

Timed highlights:
00:00 – The call that set the effort to preserve Olympic wrestling in motion
01:50 – Building a wrestling family and recognizing Daniel Cormier’s talent
11:04 – Growing Superior Energy while taking on wrestling leadership
14:20 – Why coaching and creating opportunities for young athletes mattered
18:14 – Early team-leader experiences and traveling during uncertain times
23:07 – What a team leader does to support athletes and coaches
26:03 – The campaign to keep wrestling in the Olympic Games
32:44 – The Gator Wrestling Club’s athletes, legacy, and eventual transition
37:16 – Opening training camps to help build the strongest possible team
42:00 – A memorable trip to Iran and the connections made through wrestling
48:33 – Olympic memories and a friendship with Bruce Baumgartner
51:06 – Ravannak’s bond with Daniel Cormier and stories from their years together
57:51 – Giving back and helping athletes find a clear path forward

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Newly elected Iowa Wrestling Hall of Famer Matt McDonough joins Full Tilt at Mission Athletics in Cedar Rapids for a wide-ranging conversation about the people and experiences that shaped his career. Matt looks back on growing up around wrestling, learning from coaches and training partners who pushed him, winning two NCAA titles, and facing the setbacks of his senior season. He also reflects on Anthony Robles, the lessons he’s carried into coaching, and how Mission Athletics came together.

Timed highlights:
00:30 Matt reacts to being inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame
02:22 The mindset behind his success—and why he never thought of himself as an especially talented wrestler
03:16 His father’s influence and the family’s wrestling history
05:07 How young wrestlers learn techniques from social media
07:04 Matt’s early years in wrestling and finding his “wrestling bug” 10:37 The impact of coach Pablo Bassa
15:29 Seeking out training partners and challenges who push you
17:00 The Mark Ironside practice that changed how Matt viewed tough training
20:46 Moving to 125 pounds and learning not to cut weight just for the sake of it
23:43 Winning his first NCAA title after an early-season loss 26:54 Wrestling Anthony Robles and the story behind their famous championship match
35:16 Recovering from the Robles loss and returning to win another national title
43:47 Matt’s injury, weight-cutting challenges, and tough senior season 50:19 How Matt became involved with Mission Athletics
54:52 A look inside Mission Athletics and its training and recovery facilities

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At the Fargo wrestling tournament, host Hatch talks with wrestling legend Bruce Baumgartner about his path from an unheralded high school wrestler to an NCAA champion and one of America’s most decorated wrestlers. Baumgartner reflects on Olympic and world-level competition, the training habits that kept him improving, memorable matches overseas, and carrying the U.S. flag at the 1996 Olympics. He also shares how USA Wrestling can support athletes and help the sport grow.

Timestamps:
00:00–05:00 — Fargo, Baumgartner’s New Jersey upbringing, and how he got started in wrestling.
05:00–10:00 — His development in college, NCAA finishes, and early international experience.
10:00–14:00 — A long career built “one year at a time,” with steady, incremental training goals.
14:00–19:00 — Conditioning routines, including AirDyne workouts, hill sprints, and learning to perform when tired.
19:00–27:00 — International competition and adapting his technique to wrestle larger opponents.
27:00–32:00 — The 1984 Olympics, the boycott, and the demanding Tbilisi tournament.
32:00–35:00 — Baumgartner’s experience carrying the U.S. flag at the 1996 Olympics.
35:00–39:00 — His 1992 Olympic gold, best performances, and toughest opponents.
39:00–42:00 — USA Wrestling’s goals, supporting athletes, and growing participation in the sport.

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Cadet World Champion and Virginia Tech Hokie Bo Bassett breaks down the “nothing changes” mindset that powers his legendary work ethic, comeback wins, and faith-driven life.

Bo shares how a heartbreaking loss at age seven changed everything, why burnout is a myth if you truly love wrestling, and how 5 a.m. “mental warfare” workouts, family, and faith shaped his path from Young Guns to world titles and Virginia Tech.

Great listen for wrestlers, parents, coaches, and anyone obsessed with elite mindset and purpose-driven success.

Timed Highlights:

0:00 Nothing changes: Bo’s core mindset for being up or down in a match
3:00 Building a platform: faith, family, and using influence to glorify God
6:30 Wrestling campers for hours and trying to create life-changing moments for kids
10:00 Young Guns origin story, the Stripmatter brothers, and a room that raises everyone
13:30 Role models becoming peers: Spencer Lee, James Green, and full-circle opportunities
17:00 5 a.m. workouts, “mental warfare,” and the Iran reminder at 4:55 a.m.
21:00 Early years: pre-school workouts, sleep, and confidence from consistent extra work
24:30 The seven-year-old heartbreak: missing Pennsylvania states and going “all in”
28:00 Burnout myths, loving the sport, and why passion beats predictions
31:30 World and national stages: U17 world title in Budapest and chasing more gold
35:00 Learning from losses: changing diet, attacks, and adding new layers to his game
38:00 Falling in love with freestyle, learning Greco, and training with overseas-level guys
41:00 Choosing Virginia Tech, the Hokie room, and being part of a young, hungry roster
44:00 Backyard grind: monkey bars, sleds, and the crazy workouts that built his toughness

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Sponsor: Syntag Body Wash (faith-based charity supporter)

Edited by: https://redrumcreative.com/

Joe Russell, Manager of Freestyle Programs at USA Wrestling, sits down with Hatch for an honest, funny, and powerful conversation about surviving a catastrophic motorcycle accident, relearning how to walk, and eventually coaching world and Olympic champions. Joe shares wild rehab stories, life lessons from Jay Robinson and Dan Gable’s coaching trees, what separates elite college wrestlers from world-level medalists, and how USA Wrestling is quietly using data and AI to stay ahead of the world.

Timed Highlights:
0:00 Intro ad – Hatch, Custom Community, and Full Tilt Podcast setup
0:40 Meet Joe Russell – “I just do what Bill Zadick and J’den Cox tell me”
3:05 Growing up on the mat in Oregon and early ties to the Zadick family
7:10 USA Oregon Club: 3–4 hour practices, six days a week, year-round
10:25 High school “magical year”: junior nationals, age-group worlds, senior-level success as a teen
14:20 Pavel Katsen, Greco influence, and “real men wrestle Greco”
18:05 The 1985 motorcycle accident that nearly killed him
22:10 Brain surgery, “you’ll never walk or talk again,” and proving doctors wrong
25:35 Waking up hungry, refusing to “forget how to swallow,” and sneaking in a Big Mac
29:15 Brutal rehab: kids’ wheelchair with a flat tire and learning everything from scratch
33:10 First trip out in public – staples in his head, people staring, and a lesson in empathy
37:45 Redshirting high school, getting beat by guys he used to dominate
41:00 Why Minnesota and Jay Robinson still believed in him
44:20 Being the worst guy on the team… and getting voted captain anyway
48:15 The real J Rob: Vietnam, world teams, secret generosity, and his camp legacy
53:10 Classic Minnesota–Iowa stories: Shelton Benjamin’s pin and Carver-Hawkeye atmospheres
57:30 2001 NCAA title run: 10 All-Americans, 0 champs, and winning in Carver
1:01:40 Leaving Minnesota to rebuild George Mason and life at a have-not D1 program
1:06:10 Getting the call from Bill Zadick and jumping to USA Wrestling
1:09:00 2017 Worlds: going from losing at George Mason to coaching a world team title
1:12:00 What really separates college All-Americans from world and Olympic medalists
1:15:05 Film study, tendencies, and how AI is starting to creep into wrestling game plans
1:19:00 Multiple trips to Russia: Dagestan, Ossetia, Yakutsk, and insane wrestling environments
1:23:20 Yakutsk story: diamond mines, permafrost, and haircut from an Olympic champ’s son
1:27:00 Why Joe calls the accident “more blessing than curse” and what it taught him as a coach

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USA Women’s National Team Coach Terry Steiner sits down with Hatch live at USA Wrestling’s new national office to talk about work ethic, Dan Gable, Randy Lewis, the birth of women’s wrestling in America, and what it will take for Team USA to finally dominate the world. From grinding in Bismarck, ND, to winning an NCAA title at Iowa, to leading a once‑unpopular women’s program into Olympic glory, Terry shares raw stories, coaching philosophy, and what “significance” really means at this stage of his life.

Timed Highlights:
0:00 Intro, sponsor read (Custom Community) and Full Tilt open
2:10 Inside USA Wrestling’s new national office and why the environment matters
8:30 Bismarck roots, twin life with Troy, and the family work ethic
18:00 Coach Milo Trusty and falling in love with wrestling
26:30 From North Dakota to Iowa: Randy Lewis, Gable, and getting recruited
37:45 First months in the Iowa room: getting beat up and learning you belong
50:30 Big Ten loss, sports psych breakthrough, and the run to an NCAA title
1:04:15 Leaving men’s college coaching and saying yes to USA Women’s National Team
1:18:40 Early backlash to women’s wrestling and changing minds in the sport
1:32:10 Helen Maroulis, Adeline Gray, and the rise of Team USA’s women
1:45:00 Three phases of life: survival, success, and significance

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USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach and World Champion Bill Zadick sits down with Hatch for a long-form, deep dive into wrestling, coaching, and what it really takes to chase a world title for a decade.

From Montana living-room “world title” matches and legendary camps in Oregon, to the crucible of the Iowa wrestling room under Dan Gable, Bill unpacks the culture, mentors, and moments that shaped him. He shares stories about John Smith, Daniel Cormier, the explosion of RTCs, and why grassroots state leaders and kids who go 0–2 at Fargo still matter to the future of USA Wrestling.

Perfect for wrestlers, coaches, and anyone who geeks out on the hidden architecture behind world‑level success.

Timed Highlights:

00:00 – Custom Community intro and Jim welcomes USA Wrestling’s Bill Zadick to Full Tilt
04:30 – Montana roots: long drives, competitive brothers, and early wrestling culture out West
11:45 – Campbell family, “Junkyard Dogs,” and the birth of Zadick Fanatics camp
19:10 – USA Oregon / Cobra days: spandex singlets, Nike plugs, and “Making of a Champion” binders
27:40 – Mental training, Zig Ziglar tapes, and how youth camps shaped national champs
34:05 – Choosing Iowa: following Gable’s dynasty, John Smith’s influence, and new‑school vs old‑school
42:00 – First days in the Iowa room: getting humbled, 10 All‑Americans, and the power of environment
50:15 – Dan Gable stories: mystery bar graphs, “one more of these,” and Russian sauna days
58:30 – Heavyweights and legends: Gerhard Himmel, John Osendorf, and watching Gable rule the room
1:06:20 – Daniel Cormier as wrestler, coach, and ambassador; why DC still shows up for kids’ events
1:14:10 – Grinding for a decade: how Bill went from NCAA champ to 2006 World Champion at 66 kg
1:23:45 – Bad rules, clinch balls, and why today’s freestyle is so much better to watch
1:30:00 – Transition to coaching: developmental roles, RTCs, and building a sustainable pipeline
1:38:20 – State leaders, Fargo, and why 0–2 kids are still a huge win for USA Wrestling
1:46:00 – Responsibility, legacy, and using wrestling to change kids’ lives beyond medals
1:52:30 – Growing up with Mike Zadick, uncle Mike stories, and the future of Zadick Brothers Camps
1:58:40 – Closing: Full Tilt, storytelling in wrestling, and what’s next for USA Wrestling and Bill

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Associate head coach Derek St. John and Iowa State’s inaugural women’s head coach Alli St. John sit down on the Full Tilt Podcast to talk about building a D1 wrestling powerhouse on both the men’s and women’s sides.

They dive into Alli’s journey from three-sport Illinois athlete to world silver medalist and trailblazing college coach, Derek’s path from Iowa state champ to NCAA champion and top-tier D1 coach, and how the Iowa State Regional Training Center is developing future world and Olympic medalists.

From the explosion of girls’ wrestling at Fargo, to recruiting entire wrestling families, to the lasting impact of legends like Terry Steiner, Nate Carr, and the late Mark Ryland, this episode is a deep look at where wrestling is right now—and where it’s going.

Timed highlights:
00:00 – Opening ad read: Hatch and Custom Community, Full Tilt intro, and setting up the “power couple” episode
03:10 – Alli and Derek’s roles at Iowa State and Derek’s recent Glen Brand Hall of Fame induction
08:20 – How the Iowa State women’s wrestling program came to life after gymnastics was dropped
12:45 – Women’s wrestling boom at Fargo and how the depth and level have exploded
18:05 – Alli’s path: three-sport athlete in Carbondale, IL, wrestling mostly boys, and qualifying for boys’ state
24:30 – Choosing King University over Oklahoma City, building a powerhouse team with future world and Olympic medalists
30:40 – WCWA explained and how the women’s college landscape has evolved into NAIA and NCAA divisions
36:00 – What it felt like wrestling in boys’ brackets with future stars like Tony Ramos, Ellis Coleman, and Zain Richards
43:10 – Transitioning to freestyle and the importance of getting girls international experience early
48:20 – Inside Japanese women’s wrestling: militant training, technical perfection, and why they dominate
55:00 – Alli’s Team USA years, training under Terry Steiner, and learning to coach every type of athlete
01:02:15 – How Alli and Derek met during COVID, long-distance while she was at HWC/Sunkist, and moving to Ames
01:08:40 – Building Iowa State women’s wrestling: fundraising, donor relations, and being “director of event management”
01:15:00 – Adding women’s wrestling vs. women’s flag football, and what it means for the sport in Iowa
01:21:30 – Recruiting, culture, and stealing staff from William Penn; why they’re excited about athletes like Piper Fowler
01:28:10 – RTC vision: men and women training together, building a unified CRTC to chase world and Olympic medals
01:35:00 – Brother–sister recruiting, families getting “one stop shop,” and how that changes the sales pitch
01:40:30 – The Carr legacy: Nate’s mentality, David’s selflessness in the room, and their impact on Iowa State
01:47:25 – Derek’s high school days at Iowa City West, powerhouse teams, and rivalry with Waverly-Shell Rock and City High
01:53:40 – Remembering coach Mark Ryland and the Ryland family’s impact on Derek’s life and career
01:58:30 – Walking into the Iowa room as a freshman: getting thrown to the wolves and learning from guys like Metcalf and Borschel
02:05:00 – Toughest college opponents: breaking down what made Kyle Dake and David Taylor so hard to wrestle
02:11:20 – How Tom Brands nudged Derek into coaching, early success at North Dakota State, and then Virginia Tech
02:18:00 – The wild transition when Dresser left for Iowa State mid-season and why Derek chose to follow later
02:24:15 – Growing the crowd in Ames, dual meet atmosphere, and why Iowa State is built for big-time wrestling
02:29:30 – Final reflections on growth of women’s wrestling, saving men’s programs, and what’s next for Iowa State

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