Blair Academy Wins Beast of the East

by Jeff Fisher
Host
NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

Blair Academy (New Jersey) flexed its muscles again at the 20th annual Beast of the East at the University of Delaware over the weekend.  The Bucs totaled 309 points to capture the team title, easily outdistancing second-place Wyoming Seminary (Pennsylvania) by 152 points.

Blair, which won its 13th straight BOE title and 17th in 20 years, had two champs - Russ Parsons (152) and Brooks Black (285).  Matthew Kolodzik (120), P.J. Klee (132) and Mason Manville (138) finished runners-up.

Junior Alfred Bannister of Bishop McNamara (Maryland) was named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler.

Click here to read a complete wrap-up from InterMat.

Last week on the NHSCA Sports Hour, I spoke with new Blair head coach Charles Danhof.  You can listen to that interview below.



Team Standings

1. Blair Academy (NJ) 309
2. Wyoming Seminary (PA) 157
3. Massillon Perry (OH) 144
4. Brecksville (OH) 142
5. Central Dauphin (PA) 120.5
6. McDonogh (MD) 113.5
7. Bergen Catholic (NJ) 109.5
8. Christiansburg (VA) 101.5
9. Don Bosco Prep (NJ) 100
10. Good Counsel (MD) 99

Finals Champs

106 - Nick Suriano - Bergen Catholic, NJ
113 - Brent Fleetwood - Smyrna, DE
120 - Nathan Tomasello, CVCA, OH
126 - Joey Dance, Christiansburg, VA
132 - Brandon Jeske, Cox, VA
138 - Alfred Bannister, Bishop McNamara, MD
145 - T.J. Miller, Camden Catholic, NJ
152 - Russ Parsons, Blair Academy, NJ
160 - Garrett Peppelman, Central Dauphin, PA
170 - Zach Epperly, Christiansburg, VA
182 - Eric Morris, Wyoming Seminary, PA
195 - Ryan Solomon, Milton, PA
220 - Kyle Snyder, Good Counsel, MD
285 - Brooks Black, Blair Academy, NJ

Beast of the East Underway

by Jeff Fisher
Host
NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

The Beast of the East, one of the nation's premiere high school wrestling tournaments, is underway at the University of Delaware.

Over the next two days, over 100 of the best wrestling programs in the nation will be battling for team and individual honors.

The nation's #1 (Blair Academy, NJ) and #2 (Wyoming Seminary, NJ)) teams are in the field for the 20th annual event.

The championship round is set for Sunday. 

Listen to Past NHSCA Sports Hour Shows

Did you know that the NHSCA Sports Hour just reached its 350th show? 

That's right, we started the show back in 2007 and many of America's top coaches and student-athletes have appeared on the show. 

Here's the great news, you can listen to all of the shows by clicking here to go to our show page at ArtistFirst.com. All of the shows are available free and on-demand. 

 If you'd like to listen to the December 6th show with GTM Sportswear October Athlete of the Month Andrew Beiber of Gilmour Academy, just click on the play button above.

Newtown Girls' Basketball Team Returns to Action

by Jeff Fisher
Host
NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

As Newtown, Connecticut tries to return to normalcy after last Friday tragedy, the Newtown High School girls' basketball team will take the first step tonight when it returns to the court.

The Nighthawks, who are the state's defending Class LL champs, will play a home game against Masuk.

CTPost.com reports that the team will debut its "Threes for Sandy Hook", a fundraiser that will give $3 for each 3-pointer to families affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

XCnation.com 2012 Team and Individual Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
Host
NHSCA Sports Hour 
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

If you listened to our interviews with XCnation.com co-founder David Taylor throughout the 2012 season, you know that it was one of the best ever.

Today we take a look at the final team and individual rankings from XCnation.  

Arcadia High (California) is the boys' Division I national champs while Perham High School (Minnesota) takes the Division II title.

On the girls' side of the equation, we have a split title with Fayetteville Manlius (New York) grabbing a share of the Division I title with Birmingham Seaholm (Michigan).  Fayetteville Manlius has now won or shared seven straight national championships.  Another New York school, East Aurora, wins the Division II national championship.

XCNation.com Boys' National Team Top 10 (Division I & II)

1. Arcadia (California)
2. American Fork (Utah)
3. Highland Milford (Michigan)
4. North Central (Washington)
5. Christian Brothers Academy (New Jersey)
6. Southlake Carroll (Texas)
7. Chantilly (Virginia)
8. Cardinal O'Hara (Pennsylvania)
9. York (Illinois)
10. Kamiakin (Washington)

Boys' Division II Team Top 10

1. Perham (Minnesota)
2. Monticello (Iowa)
3. Tatnall (Delaware)
4. Cathedral (Minnesota)
5. Luling (Texas)
6. Notre Dame (New York)
7. Crean Lutheran (California)
8. Salesian (California)
9. St. Joseph's Notre Dame (California)
10. Flintridge Prep (California)

Girls' National Team Top 10 (Division I & II)

1. (tie) Birmingham Seaholm (Michigan)
1. (tie) Fayetteville Manlius (New York)
3. Grosse Point South (Michigan)
4. Southlake Carroll (Texas)
5. Saline (Michigan)
6. Carmel (Indiana)
7. Great Oak (California)
8. East Aurora (New York)
9. Saratoga Springs (New York)
10. Tatnall (Delaware)

Girls' Division II Team Top 10

1. East Aurora (New York)
2. Tatnall (Delaware)
3. Academy of Holy Names (New York)
4. The Classical Academy (Colorado)
5. Decatur St. Teresa (Illinois)
6. Liberty Center (Ohio)
7. Esko (Minnesota)
8. Mt. Saint Dominic (New Jersey)
9. Mount Saint Mary's Academy (New Jersey)
10. Maple Grove (New York)

Go to XCnation.com to see the entire rankings.

On the individual side: Edward Cheserek of St. Benedict's Prep (New Jersey) finished the season ranked #1 in nation, while junior Sarah Baxter of Simi Valley (California) is the girls' individual champ.

Click here to see the Top 25 individual rankings.

Blair Academy Captures Ironman

by Jeff Fisher
NHSCA Sports Hour Host
Follow @nhscaradioshow

Well, somethings never change, even when their is change.

When Blair Academy's Jeff Buxton stepped-down as head coach, some may have thought the Bucs' performance might slip a little.  If last weekend's performance is any indication, there won't be any step backwards for the defending national champs under new head coach Charles Danhof.

Blair crowned three champs and rolled to the team title, easily out outdistancing Wyoming Seminary (Pennsylvania) by more than 80 points for the team championship.  Seminary entered the rock-solid event ranked #2 by Amateur Wrestling News behind the preseason #1 Bucs.

Click here to read a tournament wrap-up.

Team Points:
1. Blair Academy (NJ) 240.5
2. Wyoming Seminary (PA) 156
3. St. Paris Graham (OH) 143
4. St. Edward (OH) 132
5. Canon McMillan (PA) 96
6. Massillon Perry (OH) 90.5
7. St. John Bosco (CA) 87

Here's a look at the individual champs:
106 - Eli Stickley (St. Paris Graham)
113 - Zahid Valencia (St. John Bosco)
120 - Nathan Tomasello (Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, OH)
126 - Joey Dance (Christiansburg, VA)
132 - Aaron Pico (St. John Bosco)
138 - Zain Retherford (Benton, PA)
145 - Edgar Bright (St. Edward)
152 - Russell Parsons (Blair Academy)
160 - Bo Jordan (St. Paris Graham)
170 - Cody Wiercioch (Canon-McMillan)
182 - Eric Morris (Wyoming Seminary)
195 - Frank Mattiace (Blair Academy)
220 - Kyle Snyder (Good Counsel, MD)
285 - Brooks Black (Blair Academy)

Most Outstanding Wrestler: Nathan Tomasello