National Highlight Reel: Scot Davis retires with record 984 wrestling wins

Scot Davis of Owatonna (Minn.) retired recently as the No. 1 winner in high school wrestling history.

In 34 years at four high schools, Davis compiled a spectacular 984-149-4 record. No other coach has notched 800 wins. He posted an 886-124-1 record in 25 years at Owatonna and won state titles in Minnesota's largest classification during 1998 and 2005.

And the former president and publicity director of the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association can write, too. He received the distinguished Bob Dellinger Award from Amateur Wrestling News for being the "nation's outstanding writer of wrestling" in 1986.

The 60-year-old coach told MaxPreps that he built his program on numbers. His feeder youth program, for example, peaked with 250 members. He had great high school turnouts each year and scheduled as many matches as possible to get maximum exposure.

Davis once got 51 different wrestlers (14 weight classes) into varsity meets during a single season. Along the way, the Huskies set national records for most takedowns in dual meets in one season (1,465) and in one meet (97); most team victories in one season (60-1 record in 2004-05); and most wrestlers used in varsity meets in one season (51 in 2000).

Davis' individual accomplishments were equally impressive:

* USA team coach to Australia/Hawaii for Down Under Sports, 2010, 2011.
* Wrestling USA "Master of Wrestling" Award by Wrestling USA Magazine, 2009 (Dan Gable won the award this past season).
* USA Dream Team coach for 13th annual "Dream Team Classic," 2009.
* National Wrestling Coach of the Year by Wrestling USA Magazine, 2007.
* National High School Wrestling Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association, 1998.

Also among his proudest achievements was beating perennial national powerhouse Apple Valley (Minn.) three consecutive times in 2004 and 2005. One of those wins was the most watched and attended meet in Minnesota history - a 27-24 verdict before a crowd of 10,000 in the state semifinals.

The former Augsburg College All-American and team captain said humbly, "I am extremely proud of the great people that have helped build our wrestling program here at Owatonna. Several being nationally recognized demonstrates their great value to not only our program but wrestling in general. I have been truly blessed to be associated with these great people."

BASEBALL: BUNDY WINS NATIONAL HONORS
Owasso (Okla.) senior pitcher Dylan Bundy has been named Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder compiled an 11-0 record this year with a microscopic 0.20 ERA. He had 158 strikeouts and a meager five walks in 71 innings while leading the Rams to a 37-2 record. He also batted .467 with 11 home runs, 50 runs and 54 RBIs. The University of Texas signee had a 3.72 GPA, and was drafted fourth overall on Monday by the Baltimore Orioles.

* Isaac Smith of Madison Central (Richmond, Ky.) shocked everyone in the park when he stole home with two outs and two strikes on the batter in the fifth inning to provide the winning run during a 2-1 victory over Woodford County (Versailles, Ky.).  Madison Central coach Steve Roof told Mike Fields of the Lexington Herald-Leader, "When he took off my heart was fluttering and you could hear the crowd gasp." Smith, who is headed for Bradley University, said his daring feat best compared "to getting a shot of adrenaline at the hospital."

* Alex Fernandez, son of former major league pitcher Alex Fernandez, sparked Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) to its second consecutive Class 4A state title. In the 4-1 finale against Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.), he hammered a three-run homer and was the winning pitcher. The University of Miami recruit posted a 10-0 mound record this year and batted .470.

* Still active after 40 years, Jefferson (Tampa, Fla.) coach Pop Cuesta was honored recently for his many years of service. Among the players he has produced were Fred McGriff (whom he cut as a sophomore because he was too small), Tino Martinez and Luis Gonzalez. Between them they have earned six World Series championship rings.

* Junior Kayden Porter helped Spanish Fork (Utah) win the Class 4A state title by belting three home runs during a 12-7 victory over Snow Canyon (St. George, Utah). His team then blanked Snow Canyon, 9-0, in the final game. Already committed to the University of North Carolina, he finished the year with a .570 batting average and 9-1 pitching record.

* Sean Keselica fired a two-hitter with 16 strikeouts as Voorhees (Glen Gardner, N.J.) nipped Somerville (N.J.), 1-0.

* David Lira threw an amazing 141 pitches as San Fernando (Calif.) edged El Camino Real (Woodland Hills, Calif.), 2-1, in 10 innings. He scattered three hits and struck out 10. Jose Reyes, who doubled in the winning run, later pitched the Tigers to an 8-6 victory over perennial power Chatsworth (Calif.) at Dodger Stadium to win their first City Section Division I crown since 1991. Reyes, who also had two hits, was named MVP.

* Parker Snare notched his 500th coaching victory when North Hunterdon (Annandale, N.J.) defeated Montgomery (Skillman, N.J.), 11-9.

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