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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Appalachian State head coach JohnMark Bentley joins Hatch on the Full Tilt Podcast to pull back the curtain on one of the most overachieving programs in Division I wrestling. From running one of the largest team camps in the country to funding staff and facilities through camp revenue, Bentley explains how a “small” program competes with the big boys year after year.

He shares his unconventional start in wrestling as a sixth-grade workout partner, his days battling at North Carolina and Oklahoma State, and the hard lessons that shaped his coaching philosophy. Bentley also talks about recruiting under-the-radar kids, navigating NIL and the transfer portal as a mid-major, rebuilding after Hurricane Helene, and the emotional challenge of coaching his own son.

If you care about wrestling culture, blue-collar development, and doing more with less, this is a masterclass in building and sustaining a winning program.

Timed highlights:
0:00 Intro and Custom Community read
2:00 How App State built one of the largest wrestling team camps in the country
7:40 Using camp revenue to fund assistants, travel, facilities, and program growth
14:05 Structure, organization, and why coaches keep coming back every summer
19:30 Relationship-building with high school coaches and why it matters in recruiting and camps
25:10 JohnMark’s unlikely start in wrestling as a sixth-grade workout partner
33:00 Growing up in rural North Carolina and becoming a four-time undefeated state champ
42:15 First trips to national events, Fargo, and the legendary Iowa intensive camp
51:20 Wrestling at North Carolina, Midlands stories, and the influence of T.J. Jaworski
1:01:00 Transfer to Oklahoma State, injuries, and the gap between expectations and reality
1:10:25 Early coaching at Davidson and the grind of making it work financially
1:16:40 Building App State: Blevins, Trotman, and finally getting over the All-American hump
1:27:30 Recruiting “non-traditional” states and finding tough, under-the-radar kids
1:36:00 Culture, core beliefs, and why delayed gratification drives the program
1:44:30 The transfer portal, NIL, and how a mid-major survives in the new era
1:53:20 Scheduling bigger programs and the problem with top teams ducking big matchups
2:01:40 Building a rabid fan base and grassroots youth efforts in Boone
2:09:00 Hurricane Helene, flooding, losing the wrestling room and locker room, and rebuilding
2:17:40 Coaching his son Luke: the 20-minute rule, dad vs coach, and long-term perspective
2:27:10 Legacy, what JohnMark wants people to say about him, and golf with recruits

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Two-time NCAA champion and wrestling innovator Carl Adams joins the Full Tilt Podcast to share his journey from tough Long Island roots to Iowa State legend, world-level freestyle contender, and pioneering equipment designer. Carl breaks down how work ethic, family, and fearless competition shaped his career, what it was really like wrestling Dan Gable, and how the Adam machine changed wrestling rooms across the country.

Timed Highlights:
0:00 Cold open: Hatch and Custom Community intro
0:49 Meet Carl Adams: Innovator and retired coach who never left the sport
3:01 Discovering wrestling after a trip to Madison Square Garden
5:22 Dominating junior high and high school, New York state champion
6:41 High school rivalries, packed duals, and the influence of Coach Campo
9:22 Hard work at home: potatoes, landscaping, and learning toughness
12:41 The dream that became the Adam machine
15:21 Iowa State, Nichols Wrestling Products, and early innovation
18:01 Why takedowns and repetition drove the Adam concept
21:06 Constantly improving the Adam machine and going worldwide
23:06 Coach Campo’s impact and arriving at Iowa State “already there”
35:25 Inside the old Big Eight: brutal conference, national titles, and the “Big 8 jinx”
41:11 First time wrestling Dan Gable and learning what true toughness is
48:52 How Gable changed the entire world of wrestling
52:47 Wrestling for Harold Nichols and the power of recruiting
54:58 Winning NCAA titles and beating Stan Dziedzic in the finals
1:03:24 Bobby Douglas as mentor and how he reshaped Carl’s takedown game
1:04:31 Building camps, writing books, and teaching 20,000 wrestlers
1:12:18 Beating Wade Schalles five times and the importance of speed
1:18:25 Gable as the most influential figure in Carl’s wrestling life
1:20:50 How Carl Adams stacks up against today’s stars
1:23:52 Mental toughness of Dake, Burroughs, Taylor, Snyder and the new generation

If you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite story, and tell us which wrestling legend you want to hear from next! www.thefulltiltpodcast.com

If you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite story, and tell us which wrestling legend you want to hear from next!

www.thefulltiltpodcast.com

Produced by: ItsYourShow.co

Olympic champion Ben Peterson sits down with Full Tilt to unpack a lifetime on the mat: from a Wisconsin dairy farm to Iowa State’s glory years, brutal training sessions with Dan Gable, winning Olympic gold during the Cold War, and how faith and family shaped every step of his journey.

Ben shares vivid stories of surviving “meat-grinder” rooms at Iowa State, outworking the world with Gable and his brother John, his rivalry and later friendship with Russ Hellickson, the heartbreak and perspective of the 1980 Olympic boycott, and the truth behind the famous Peterson roll. He also opens up about a life-changing injury at 12 years old and how it forged his faith.

Perfect for wrestlers, coaches, and anyone who wants a masterclass in work ethic, resilience, and purpose.

Timed highlights:
0:49 Meet Ben Peterson and the Gable connection
1:50 Childhood on the farm and learning to work
4:45 Meeting Carl Adams and redefining “hard work”
7:19 Becoming co-captains at Iowa State during a turbulent era
10:18 Learning to handle 425-pound Chris Taylor
12:26 How the Peterson brothers found wrestling
14:11 Inside Iowa State’s golden era and coaching staff
22:20 Practice-room culture: getting broken without being belittled
30:40 What it was like wrestling Dan Gable multiple times a week
34:43 Transitioning to freestyle and chasing the Olympics
38:12 Beating Russ Hellickson and making the 1972 Olympic team
48:05 Battling Levan Tediashvili and building respect with Soviet greats
52:34 Ben’s perspective on the 1980 boycott and the fall of the USSR
1:02:41 The accident, the broken leg, and how it deepened his faith
1:16:20 The state finals loss that taught him about position and family
1:27:40 Why he calls his medals “Cold War medals”
1:35:32 Backyard boxing rings, homemade fields, and a basement weight room
1:50:46 Who was the toughest wrestler he ever faced?
1:54:16 The Peterson roll origin story
2:03:45 Why he still loves being around kids at tournaments like Fargo

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Produced by:
ItsYourShow.co

Chael Sonnen sits down with Hatch for a nonstop tour through American wrestling history and culture. From overlooked legends like Oscar Wood and Sean Hage to the mythology of John Smith, Kenny Monday, and the Brands brothers, this episode is wall-to-wall stories, rivalries, technique talk, and behind-the-scenes moments you’ve never heard before. They dive into Fargo, the Iowa room in the 90s, real pro wrestling leagues, RAF, and why some of the greatest careers were built on heartbreak instead of gold medals.

Timed Highlights:
00:00:00 Hatch Custom Community intro and Full Tilt setup
00:01:10 Alan Freed, Oscar Wood, and forgotten high school greatness
00:03:14 Oscar Wood’s Olympic run, head pinch, and making the team “without training”
00:06:45 Kerry Colat, stolen medals, and the lawsuit that never was
00:10:41 Brands vs Colat, Ironside wars, and life inside the Iowa room
00:15:04 Why Fargo is still the real national championship
00:18:38 The case for Sean Hage as the greatest high school wrestler ever
00:22:26 Antonio McKee’s legendary room stories and the “did he beat John Smith?” question
00:29:48 Is John Smith the greatest American wrestler of all time?
00:31:26 How Smith innovated technique and changed wrestling forever
00:39:45 Dave Schultz, lost golds, and the “this is for the Olympic title” story
00:43:26 Tom and Terry Brands: villains from afar, heroes up close
00:50:30 Kale Sanderson vs the field: dominance, D1 resumes, and the 2009 comeback
01:07:19 Les Gutches, the toughest guy Chael ever felt
01:16:58 High school and college coaches as culture builders and fundraisers
01:36:40 Chael’s unconventional par terre defense and demo in the Iowa room
01:42:53 Inside RAF: big production, big matchups, and building a real pro league
01:50:01 Bo Bassett, Jax Forrest, and the future of American wrestling
01:56:22 Closing: why wrestling needs big stories, big leaders, and big stages

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Produced by: ItsYourShow.co

Wrestling legend Cary Kolat sits down with Hatch to unpack a lifetime on the mat—from Western PA youth phenom and world medalist to program builder at Campbell and the U.S. Naval Academy. Kolat goes deep on mindset, training, the 2000 Olympic controversy, building Kolat.com, and what it really takes to develop champions today.

Timed Highlights:
0:00 Opening: Hatch & Custom Community spot; setting the tone for Full Tilt
0:50 The “hate era” of 90s wrestling and how social media might’ve changed everything
3:00 Western PA roots, early beatdowns, AAU title, and discovering Dan Gable
5:25 Carl Adams books, takedown machine, and building skill without video
8:45 Pennsylvania wrestling culture, PJWs, Hershey, and pressure from age 8
13:40 Work ethic, coal country toughness, and learning to love hard training
19:20 Freestyle summers, TOSS club, Soviets, and why he skipped Fargo for Foxcatcher
25:45 Midlands as a high-schooler: petitions, JUCO hammers, and battling back for third
31:10 College choices: Clarion, Minnesota, and why he ultimately picked Penn State
36:50 Training with Jamil Kelly, Alan Freed, Chris Bono, and what those rivals exposed
46:30 Best domestic opponents, learning from John Fisher, and solving difficult styles
51:00 First Worlds, style shock, and the infamous Iranian shoelace final in 1997
1:03:00 1998–1999 Worlds: bad calls, protests, separated shoulder, and still forcing his way into the finals
1:11:20 Terry Brands’ injuries, missed weight, and the reality behind those world teams
1:17:40 Sydney 2000: feeling at his absolute peak, clinch rules, and living with the outcome
1:25:40 The two performances he’s proudest of and what they taught him about grit
1:31:00 Building Colat.com: from DVD headaches to a thousand-technique online library
1:37:00 Strength training then vs now, and why he thinks max lifting is wrecking wrestlers’ bodies
1:41:30 Training with Lincoln McIlravy and John Smith: pace, pressure, and brutal honesty
1:55:40 Taking over Campbell: tiny budget, no tradition, and building belief from an hour a day
2:03:40 Campbell’s rise, the hotbox duals, and turning a “nowhere” program into a national story
2:08:15 Why Navy: debunking Academy myths and explaining the 70/30 lifestyle
2:18:00 Day-in-the-life of a Navy wrestler: training windows, academics, and built-in support
2:23:30 Honor, accountability, and why Naval Academy grads don’t job hunt like everyone else
2:35:00 Wild international stories from Cuba, Krasnoyarsk, Macedonia, and Iran’s wrestling-crazy fans

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Produced by: ItsYourShow.co

Brent Metcalf joins the Full Tilt Podcast for a deep dive into one of wrestling’s most respected minds. He walks through the legendary Davidson, Michigan room with Roy Hall, his undefeated high school career and Fargo dominance, the Virginia Tech-to-Iowa transfer storm, Carver-Hawkeye showdowns, wild overseas trips to Russia, Dagestan, and Iran, and why he believes in “chasing losing” to become the best. Metcalf also breaks down his relationship with Jordan Burroughs, what he’s learned from Kevin Dresser, coaching David Carr, and his vision for turning Iowa State into a world-level factory.

Timed Highlights:
00:49 New Cyclone head coach Brent Metcalf joins the show
02:12 How a public school in Michigan built three NCAA champs
06:37 Seventh grader in high school practice and free open rooms
09:11 Six Fargo titles, chasing tough brackets, and never protecting a record
15:24 Big Ten battles with Dustin Schlater
16:04 Following Tom Brands, Virginia Tech days, and transfer controversy
19:12 Losing a year, going overseas, and realizing he could beat world champs
22:31 Why getting beat can be the best thing for young wrestlers
27:25 Culture and accountability inside the Iowa room
33:18 Training with Borschel, Morningstar, Montell and others
35:34 Carver-Hawkeye roar vs World Cup in Iran
47:20 The reality of his international career: big wins, no medals
53:15 Beating Sidakov, wrestling Yaminitsu, and getting schooled by Gadzalov
58:06 The Iran World Cup: 15,000 fans, drums, and staying through intermission
1:09:03 Sketchy trips to Dagestan and early overseas experiences
1:16:18 Turning down other college jobs to support his wife’s PhD
1:19:26 The call from Kevin Dresser that brought him to Ames
1:27:03 What Metcalf learned from Dresser about building programs and fanbases
1:30:57 His vision for Cyclone Wrestling and putting guys on the world wall
1:38:30 Coaching David Carr and “failing forward” at the senior level
1:40:48 Roy Hall, his parents, and the legacy he wants his wrestlers to build

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Produced by: ItsYourShow.co