Mat Chat with David Mirikitani

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Mat Chat with David Mirikitani, a weekly podcast focused on wrestling rankings and other current events.

USA Wrestling


    • Jan 3, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 47m AVG DURATION
    • 69 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Mat Chat with David Mirikitani

    Mat Chat Episode 163: Joseph Jeter college commitment announcement

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2025 16:09


    David Mirikitani visits with Edmond North (Okla.) junior Joseph Jeter, who makes his college commitment announcement on Mat Chat today. Jeter was fifth in the 2024 U17 World Championships in Greco-Roman for Team USA.

    Mat Chat Episode 162: Clash of Dynasties

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 48:57


    David Mirikitani talks with Ben Hatta, producer of the Clash of Dynasties, St. Edward vs. Walsh Jesuit docuseries; Clint Musser, Roger Chandler, Tadaaki Hatta, John Heffernan, Don Horning also interviewed.

    Mat Chat Episode 161: Matt Valenti

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 60:16


    David Mirikitani talks with Matt Valenti of the University of Pennsylvania about the future of college athletics, in light of the House vs. NCAA decision, as well as wrestling at Penn and more. 

    Mat Chat Episode 160: Mike Powell, BTS Chicago

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 64:02


    David Mirikitani talks with Mike Powell of Beat the Streets Chicago about the great work being done for youth in Chicago, his transition from coaching to non-profit leadership and more

    Mat Chat Episode 158: Joe Dubuque

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 53:51


    David Mirikitani speaks with Princeton head coach Joe Dubuque about the program, NIL, culture in the wrestling room, the upcoming season and more.

    Mat Chat Episode 157: Rob Koll and Tony Ramos

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 57:30


    David Mirikitani speaks with North Carolina coaches Rob Koll and Tony Ramos about the program and more.

    Mat Chat Episode 156: Zack Esposito

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 44:10


    David Mirikitani visits with Zack Esposito discussing his new position with USA Wrestling, Oklahoma State, moving to Colorado Springs and more. 

    Mat Chat Episode 155: LaDarion and Jasper Lockett

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2023 48:35


    David Mirikitani visits with U17 World champion LaDarion Lockett and Jasper Lockett discussing his journey to becoming a world champion and more.

    Mat Chat Episode 154: Chris Owens

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2023 58:23


    David Mirikitani speaks with Director of Wrestling Operations for Idaho USA Wrestling Chris Owens about Idaho's success in Fargo as they won their first-ever team title at the 2023 Junior and 16U National Championships and more.

    Mat Chat Episode 153: Adeline Gray and Nate Engel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2023 57:22


    David Mirikitani speaks with six-time world champion, two-time Olympian and 2023 World Team member Adeline Gray and Beaver Dam RTC coach Nate Engel about Adeline being a new mom, preparing for tough matches, support systems, gratitude and the growth of women's wrestling in the United States.

    Mat Chat Episode 152: Zane Richards and Bryan Medlin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2023 51:28


    David Mirikitani speaks with 2023 World Team member Zane Richards and IRTC Coach Bryan Medlin- Match against Thomas Gilman at Final X- Zane's relationship with his faith (22 min in)- Preparing for Worlds and getting the most out of his training (30 minutes in)- The USA men's freestyle coaching dynamics- Next steps before Serbia (40 minutes in)- Supporting Illinois RTC (43 minutes in)

    Mat Chat Episode 151: Bill Zadick, Joe Russell, James Green

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2023 59:25


    David Mirikitani interviews National Freestyle Coaches Bill Zadick, Joe Russell and James Green about the U.S. Open, the Pan American Championships, wrestling rules and tactics, elite wrestler training and more.

    Mat Chat Episode 150: Jason Keck and Mario Flores

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2023 51:21


    David Mirikitani interviews Coaches Jason Keck and Mario Flores about the 2023 Women's Nationals in Spokane and its top story lines, athletes and other women's wrestling issues.

    Mat Chat Episode 149: Andrew Alirez and Troy Nickerson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2023 49:17


    David Mirikitani visits with NCAA champion Andrew Alirez and head coach Troy Nickerson of Northern Colorado, discussing Alirez's win at the 2023 NCAAs as well as the Bears program. Photo: Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors

    Mat Chat 148: Joel Koester, Tulsa Sports Commission

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2023 61:09


    David Mirikitani chats with Joel Koester, Director of Sports of the Tulsa Sports Commission, about the preparation by community for the 2023 Big 12 Championships and 2023 NCAA Div. I Championships

    Mat Chat Episode 147: Greg Warren

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2023 62:56


    David Mirikitani visits with comedian Greg Warren, an All-American wrestler for Missouri. Warren and Mirikitani were high school teammates in Missouri, and talk about Greg's career on the mat and in comedy.

    Mat Chat Episode 146: Alex Clemsen

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2023 56:58


    David Mirikitani and Maryland head coach Alex Clemsen talk about his Terps team, program development, skills for success, the importance of duals, a one semester sport and more. 

    Mat Chat Episode 145: Tony Robie

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2023 46:01


    David Mirikitani speaks with Virginia Tech head coach Tony Robie on his Hokie wrestlers, coaching philosophy, program development, length of season, promoting college wrestling and more.

    Mat Chat Episode 144: Lee Pritts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2023 57:03


    David Mirikitani chats with Arizona State assistant coach Lee Pritts on the Sun Devils wrestling team, the state of college wrestling, using experts to help programs and coaching concepts.

    Mat Chat Episode 143: Omi Acosta

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 34:13


    David Mirikitani chats with Life University head men's wrestling coach, on his NAIA powerhouse team, his coaching philosophy and other topics.

    Mat Chat Episode 142: Emma Bruntil

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2022 56:39


    David Mirikitani talks with Emma Bruntil on her wrestling journey, and a variety of issues within the sport.

    Mat Chat Episode 141: Lee Roy Smith, Ed Gallegos & Ethan Kyle of NWHOF Dual Meet Classic

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2022 42:19


    David Mirikitani speaks with National Wrestling Hall of Fame Executive Director Lee Roy Smith, Board member Ed Gallegos and Stillwater High School coach Ethan Kyle about the NWHOF Dual Meet Classic

    Mat Chat Episode 140: Josh Schamberger

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 48:51


    David Mirikitani chats with @JoshSchamberger, President of @ThinkIowaCity, about the upcoming Men's and Women's Freestyle World Cup in Coralville, Iowa.

    Mat Chat Episode 139: Bill Zadick

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 58:31


    David Mirikitani visits with National Freestyle Coach Bill Zadick shortly after the U.S. men's freestyle team won the 2022 World Team Tit

    Mat Chat Episode 138: Brandon and Doug Paulson

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2022 51:31


    David Mirikitani visits with coaches Brandon Paulson and Doug Paulson. Brandon, an Olympic medalist and coach with Pinnacle, and Doug (his father) and also a coach in Minnesota, talk all topics coaching.

    Mat Chat Episode 137: Kenny Monday

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2022 47:02


    David Mirikitani interviews 1988 Olympic champion Kenny Monday, the new head coach at HBCU Div. I program at Morgan State.

    Mat Chat Episode 134: TJ Sebolt and Adam Fellers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2022 52:04


    TJ Sebolt and Adam Fellers, from Sebolt Wrestling Academy, join David Mirikitani and guest host Mark Ostrander to discuss their kids' success and the future of Iowa wrestling. 

    Mat Chat Episode 133: Rob Koll

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2022 51:51


    Rob Koll joins Mat Chat to discuss making the job you have the job you want, the importance of understanding the economics of wrestling, how to build and grow a program and much more. 

    Mat Chat Episode 132: Hayden Zillmer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2022 53:53


    World Team member Hayden Zillmer joins Mat Chat to discuss first contact, maple syruping, the culture at Minnesota and more.

    Mat Chat Episode 131: Ryan Mango

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022 43:36


    Ryan Mango joins Mat Chat to discuss his new role as the Black Wrestling Association Executive Director, the importance of networking and why local heroes are so important.

    Mat Chat Episode 130: Seth Gross

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 44:57


    Seth Gross discusses making his first Senior level World Team and learning to let go of past results. 

    Mat Chat Episode 129: Thomas Gilman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2022 48:23


    David Mirikitani interviews 2021 World champion, 2020 Olympic medalist and 2022 World Team member Thomas Gilman

    Mat Chat Episode 127: Junior Women's National Duals Special

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2022 50:17


    David Mirikitani and his panel discuss the upcoming Junior Women's National Duals, with Zach Randall (OK), Mario Flores (MI), Amond Prater (MO)

    Mat Chat Episode 126: Evan Henderson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2022 48:59


    David Mirikitani speaks with World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion Evan Henderson, a few days after he qualified for Final X.

    final x mat chat evan henderson
    Mat Chat Special Episode: Matt Storniolo

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2022 46:49


    David Mirikitani speaks with Northwestern Coach Matt Storniolo after the 2022 NCAA Championships.

    Mat Chat Episode 123: Nick Mitchell

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 49:04


    David Mirikitani chats with Grand View head coach Nick Mitchell after his team won the 2022 NAIA Nationals team title.

    Mat Chat Episode 122: Derek St. John

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2022 46:56


    Mat Chat Episode 122: Derek St. JohnDavid Mirikitani interviews Iowa State assistant coach Derek St. John.

    Mat Chat Episode 121: Rich Bender

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2022 51:38


    Mat Chat Episode 121: Rich BenderThis week, David talks with USA Wrestling executive director Rich Bender.

    Mat Chat Episode 120: Jahi Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 45:33


    Mat Chat Episode 120: Jahi JonesDavid Mirikitani talks with executive director of the HBCU Wrestling Initiative, Jahi Jones. The two discuss many topics, including the Black Wrestling Association and Morgan State's program announcement.

    Mat Chat Episode 119: Lee Pritts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2022 48:13


    Mat Chat Episode 119: Lee PrittsDavid Mirikitani interviews Arizona State assistant wrestling coach Lee Pritts this week to discuss a variety of topics, including coaching strategies and various topics around the Sun Devils program.

    Mat Chat Episode 117: Pat Popolizio

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2021 46:50


    David Mirikitani talks with NC State head coach Pat Popolizio about the Wolfpack's effort at the Collegiate Duals in Florida, the development of the program and much more.

    Mat Chat Episode 116: Chris Perry

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2021 42:31


    Mat Chat Episode 116: Chris PerryDavid Mirikitani interviews Oklahoma State assistant wrestling coach Chris Perry

    Mat Chat Episode 115: Cody Brewer

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 44:55


    Mat Chat Episode 115: Cody BrewerDavid Mirikitani talks with Virginia Tech assistant coach Cody Brewer. In the episode, he talks about his experiences wrestling at Oklahoma, the Virginia Tech program and more.

    Mat Chat Episode 114: Clarissa Chun

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2021 41:43


    Mat Chat Episode 114: Clarissa ChunDavid Mirikitani interviews new Iowa women's wrestling head coach Clarissa Chun. The two talk about the future of the Hawkeyes program and her vision for women's wrestling in Iowa.

    Mat Chat Episode 113: Lou Rosselli

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2021 29:30


    Mat Chat Episode 113: Lou RosselliOn this week's edition of Mat Chat, David Mirikitani sits down with Lou Rosselli, head wrestling coach at the University of Oklahoma. The two discuss many topics surrounding the Sooners program, including the culture and the dynamics of Rosselli's staff.

    Mat Chat Episode 112: Luke Becker

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2021 47:26


    Mat Chat Episode 112: Luke BeckerOn the latest episode of Mat Chat, David Mirikitani interviews Minnesota head assistant wrestling coach Luke Becker. The two discuss many topics, including the latest around the Gophers program, Gable Steveson, technique talk and more.

    Mat Chat Episode 111: Kevin Jackson

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2021 43:50


    Mat Chat Episode 111: Kevin JacksonOn the latest episode of Mat Chat, David Mirikitani talks with Kevin Jackson, USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Developmental Coach who was just announced as an addition to the University of Michigan wrestling coaching staff. Mirikitani and Jackson discuss many topics related to coaching and the current state of wrestling.

    Mat Chat Episode 110: Mike Grey

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2021 45:54


    Mat Chat Episode 110: Mike GreyDavid Mirikitani talks with Cornell head coach Mike Grey to discuss the busy summer, the program and what the future looks like for the team.

    Mat Chat episode 109: Eric Thompson

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2021 44:16


    Mat Chat episode 109: Eric Thompson. David Mirikitani speaks with new Arizona State Volunteer Assistant Coach Eric Thompson, a 3x NAIA national champion and national level freestyle wrestler at heavyweight.

    Mat Chat episode 108: Daton Fix

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2021 42:43


    Mat Chat episode 108: Daton Fix. David Mirikitani talks international and college wrestling with Daton Fix, who qualified for the 2021 U.S. Senior World Team at 61 kg in men's freestyle.

    Mat Chat episode 107: Keegan O'Toole, Rocky Elam and Brian Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2021 42:34


    David Mirikitani visits with 2021 Junior World champions Keegan O'Toole and Rocky Elam, teammates at Missouri, and their college head coach Brian Smith upon their return from Ufa, Russia.  Much of the talk was about the tremendous performances by O'Toole and Elam at the Junior Worlds, but there was also good conversation about the college season ahead for these two talented stars and a very good Missouri team.

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