U.S., Russia and Iran work to save Olympic wrestling

Saba Khubezhyty, second from right, of Russia shakes hands with Jordan Burroughs of Lincoln, Neb., right, after their 74 kilogram class weigh-in during a news conference Tuesday at U.N. headquarters, announcing the "Rumble on the Rails" wrestling exhibition between the teams from Iran, Russi…

U.S., Russia and Iran work to save Olympic wrestling

UNITED NATIONS | In Iran, Olympic wrestling champion Jordan Burroughs felt like Justin Bieber, LeBron James and Tom Brady all rolled into one.

REGION COLLEGIANS: Lew Wallace’s Gardner earns GLVC top male honors in track

Lew Wallace grad Robert Gardner was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference’s men’s Track Athlete of the Year after he guided the University of Indianapolis to its fourth straight conference title.

Young gay athletes set tone for NBA coming out

CHICAGO | You've probably never heard of Holly Peterson or Jonathan Jean-Pierre. One came out as a lesbian at age 15, when she was playing high school basketball. The other, a college rower, told his teammates last year that he's gay.

OFFBEAT: Singer Nelly first act for stage relaunch of Hammond Civic Center

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

US, Iran find common ground: Olympic wrestling

U.S. National freestyle wrestling coach Zeke Jones, right, and his team members arrive at the Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran, Iran, early Tuesday morning to attend World Cup tournament. USA Wrestling has formalized plans for a committee charged with restoring Olympic wrestling.

US, Iran find common ground: Olympic wrestling

TEHRAN, Iran | The caretakers of the Olympics may have inadvertently accomplished what has eluded diplomats: Galvanizing Iran and the U.S. on a common goal.

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Grant Park's Devin Mahnke flips teammate Kevin McNally. Mahnke attends Beecher High School, which co-ops with Grant Park.

Hobart seniors' MMA training offers advantage

HOBART | It's often said that a wrestling background is the best foundation for a mixed martial artist.

Crown Point's Trevor Burlison, Valpo's Ricardo Rosario

Crown Point's Trevor Burlison, top, downed Valparaiso's Ricardo Rosario 4-1 in the 132-pound finals the Crown Point Regional on Saturday.

Crown Point's Josh Fuqua; Valparaiso's Max Buckley

Crown Point's Josh Fuqua, bottom, defeated Valparaiso's Max Buckley 7-0 in the 126-pound final at the Crown Point Regional on Saturday.

Chris Katsafaros, Chesterton; Mitch Roadruck, Lowell

Chesterton's Chris Katsafaros, left, pinned Lowell's Mitch Roadruck in the 145-pound finals at the Crown Point Regional on Saturday.

Crown Point's Darden Schurg; Valpo's Mack Neal

Crown Point's Darden Schurg, top, won 10-6 over Valparaiso's Mack Neal in the 138-pound finals at the Crown Point Regional on Saturday.

Tyler Schwartz, Valparaiso

Valparaiso's Tyler Schwartz, left, lost 10-2 to New Prairie's Chris Trent in the 106-pound finals at the Crown Point Regional on Saturday.

Chesterton's Chris Katsafaros, Lowell's Mitch Roadruck

Chesterton's Chris Katsafaros, right, maneuvers for a score against Lowell's Mitch Roadruck in the 145-pound final at the Crown Point Regional on Saturday.

Stevan Micic, Hanover Central

Hanover Central's Stevan Micic, top, pinned John Glenn's Austin Coach in the 113-pound final at the Crown Point Regional on Saturday.

Lowell's Drew Hughes; Crown Point's Brett Ervin

Lowell's Drew Hughes, left, works for control against Crown Point's Brett Ervin in the 120-pound championship at the Crown Point Regional on Saturday. Hughes won by pin in 1:34.

T.F. South's Austin Berryhill

T.F. South's Austin Berryhill pins Richards' Laquez Rucker Saturday during the 160-pound championship match of the South Suburban Conference championships at T.F. South.

012813-spt-WRE_SSC, Prep wrestling South Suburban Conference championships.

T.F. South's wrestling coach Mike Tisza, middle, with his sons Blake, left and Jake who have been coached by their dad since they began wrestling. This is the only year all three are together at T.F. South as Blake graduates this year.