The Mat Stats Show by the NWCA

Hosted by Jason Bryant, Glenn Gormley and Kevin Hazard

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May 2026

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Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.

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May 20, 2026Episode 5553 min

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (Part 2) - Mat Stats Ep. 55

In Episode 55 of The MatStats Show, hosts Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant, and Kevin Hazard continue their "Moneyball" deep dive into the impact of the 3-point takedown rule. Analyzing over 3,300 matches from the 2021–2026 NCAA Championships, the team investigates whether the recent rise in total points is a result of increased action or merely "scoring inflation". The data reveals a staggering 228% increase in technical falls, prompting Gormley to suggest that bonus-point thresholds have been "cheapened".The hosts propose modernizing the sport by raising the Major Decision margin to 10 points and Technical Falls to 18 or 20 points. This adjustment aims to restore the historical value of dominance in an era where takedowns now account for 59% of all scoring.The episode also features a "College Business Update," highlighting the financial pressures of Revenue Sharing and massive NIL budgets. With top basketball NIL budgets now estimated at $20 million per year, the crew discusses how these external shifts may eventually force Men’s Basketball to seek a larger share of NCAA revenues. Slideshow for Episode 55: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/slideshow55.pdfAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

April 29, 2026Episode 5443 min

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Mat Stats 54

Episode 54 of The Mat Stats Show gets back into the speakeasy with Jason Bryant shaking off 25 days, seven countries, two continental championships, 66 medal ceremonies and whatever number of anthems came through Kyrgyzstan and the Balkans. Jason, Kevin Hazard and Glenn Gormley start with a quick look at April in wrestling, including the U.S. Open, high schoolers making noise at the senior level and the fact that wrestling no longer just disappears after the NCAA Division I Championships. The main topic kicks off a three-part Mat Stats series on the three-point takedown rule. Glenn breaks down six years of NCAA Division I Championship data — 2021-23 under the two-point takedown and 2024-26 under the three-point takedown — with 3,659 matches analyzed. The first takeaway: takedowns per minute are down 7.18 percent since the rule change. Scoring moves overall are also down, while stalling and penalties were the only scoring category to increase. That doesn’t automatically mean the rule change is good or bad, but it does give the crew plenty to dig into. Takedowns now account for nearly 59 percent of all points scored, and takedowns plus escapes make up almost 83 percent of the scoring at the NCAA Championships. Episode 54 lays out the first batch of numbers before the next two shows get into margin of victory, majors, tech falls and what the three-point takedown may actually be doing to college wrestling. Slideshow for Epsiode 54: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/slideshow54.pdfAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

April 1, 2026Episode 5351 min

Root Locally, Support Nationally! - Mat Stats 53

Episode 53 of The Mat Stats Show recaps the conclusion of the 2026 collegiate wrestling season across all major divisions, with hosts Jason Bryant, Glenn Gormley, and Kevin Hazard breaking down the numbers behind the NCAA, NAIA, and NCWA championships. The discussion opens with reflections on the NCAA Division I Championships in Cleveland, including Penn State’s record-setting performance and Oklahoma State becoming the first program to crown three freshman champions in the same tournament. The hosts also highlight the postseason landscape across divisions, emphasizing the continued dominance of programs such as Wartburg in Division III and Grand View in the NAIA. The show’s statistical focus examines participation, championships, and competitive balance across the sport. Across the six NCAA and NAIA championships alone, 339 teams representing 46 states, Washington, D.C., and British Columbia qualified wrestlers, producing 41 teams with national champions and 186 programs with All-Americans. Combined participation across NCAA, NAIA, and NCWA levels now exceeds 750 collegiate teams, reinforcing the hosts’ central argument that wrestling has become a truly national sport extending far beyond the traditional Division I spotlight. Additional analysis explores which programs and states produced the most success during the 2026 championship season. Iowa led all states in national champions and All-Americans across the NCAA and NAIA tournaments, while NAIA powerhouse Grand View scored the most combined team points across the six championships.The episode concludes by reinforcing the show’s theme of “Root Locally, Support Nationally,” encouraging fans to recognize the full collegiate wrestling ecosystem—including Division II, Division III, NAIA, and emerging women’s programs—as essential to the continued growth of the sport. Slideshow for Epsiode 53: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/slideshow53.pdfAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

February 18, 2026Episode 5246 min

Waiting for a friend: A look at the NCAA women's championships - Mat Stats 52

The Mat Stats Show discussed the growth and significance of women's wrestling, highlighting the upcoming NCAA Women's Championship in Coralville, Iowa. The NCAA now has 127 women's wrestling teams, set to surpass rowing in numbers.The NAIA Women's Championship will be held in Park City, Kansas, with 46 teams and 21 qualifiers per weight class. The NCAA Women's Championship will feature 180 wrestlers from six qualifying tournaments. The discussion also touched on the financial challenges in college athletics and the potential for increased women's sports due to new scholarship caps. Slideshow for Epsiode 52: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/slideshow52.pdf About Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

January 21, 2026Episode 511 hr 10 min

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes. A look at the history of the NCAA - Mat Stats Ep. 51

The Mat Stats Show, hosted by Jason Bryant, Glenn Gormley, and Kevin Hazard, discussed the current state of college wrestling, particularly the dominance of Penn State and the potential of Ohio State. They highlighted the upcoming NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships in 2028 and the recent drop of men's wrestling, golf, and swimming at Cal Baptist due to “financial constraints.” The show also covered the NCAA's evolution, its current structure with 1,100 members, and the challenges schools face when reclassifying divisions, including the impact on non-revenue sports. Slideshow for Epsiode 51: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/slideshow51.pdfAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

December 23, 2025Episode 5050 min

Ask what you can do for wrestling - Mat Stats 50

The discussion on Episode 50 of Mat Stats digs into the growth and challenges of collegiate wrestling. Key points include the significant growth of NCAA wrestling teams, with 137.5% of the increase coming from D2 and D3 schools. The University of Utah's $500 million investment from Otro Capital is highlighted, despite a $17 million loss in 2023-2024.The conversation emphasizes the need for small donations, sponsorships, and NIL deals to support wrestling programs. The hosts stress the importance of fan involvement and the evolving landscape of college sports, urging proactive support to sustain and grow wrestling teams. Slideshow for Epsiode 50: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/slideshow50.pdfAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

December 3, 202545 min

Don't Stop Believin' - A look at NCAA men's participation statistics - Mat Stats 49

The MatStats boys analyze the participation numbers of Men’s NCAA Wrestling from 1981-82 to 2024-25. How the new roster cap limits on D1 will affect the numbers and the possibilities to help augment the losses from the roster cap limits. Slideshow for Episode 49: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/slideshow49.pdf NCAA Stats & Participation Report: Link About Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

October 31, 2025Episode 4850 min

These ARE the good old days - a look at HS wrestling participation numbers - Mat Stats 48

MatStats does it s annual dive into HS wrestling. We look at the participation numbers, if having a separate coach for the girls helps, the number of forfeits, states HS numbers and number of college teams, how the 3-point TD rule has affected HS wrestling & analyze the state of HS wrestling. Slideshow for Episode 48: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/MatStats48slideshow-1.pdfAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

September 16, 2025Episode 471 hr 0 min

On A Clear Day You Can See College Athletics (Part 3 of 3) – Mat Stats 47

In this three-part series, MatStats does a business study using stats and financial data to help the viewers understand the drastic changes in college sports. It is so confusing, it is tough to understand the business of college sports in 2025. MatStats investigates how we got here, the financials of college athletic departments, and who is making money from this. Hopefully MatStats has educated the viewers enough to provide us with suggestions for a long-term sustainability of college wrestling (mainly NCAA D1). Slideshow for Episode 47: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/slideshow47.pdf About Mat StatsWelcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better. Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSSAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

September 3, 2025Episode 461 hr 16 min

On A Clear Day You Can See College Athletics (Part 2 of 3) - Mat Stats 46

In this three-part series, MatStats does a business study using stats and financial data to help the viewers understand the drastic changes in college sports. It is so confusing, it is tough to understand the business of college sports in 2025. MatStats explores the revenues, expenses, & profits of college athletic departments in Part 1. In Part 2 we dive into Revenue Sharing, NIL, & roster limits. In Part 3 we will discuss Congressional involvement, potential LLCs, more lawsuits, how many groups have their hands in the cookie jar, & most importantly the affects it could all have on college wrestling. Slideshow for Episode 46: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/slideshow46.pdf About Mat StatsWelcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better. Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSSAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS