24th Annual NHSCA Senior National Wrestling Championships to Feature Seven 4X State Champs

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

The talent registered in the Senior Division for 24^th annual National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) National Wrestling Championships is incredible. The field includes seven 4X state champs, with wrestlers who have won a combined 203 state championships.  In addition to the seven 4X champs; there are 18 3X state champs; and 23 2X state champions.

Our four-time state champs in the Senior Division are: Michael Billingsley of Lowry High School in Nevada; Miguel Calixto of Mount Anthony Union High School in Vermont; J’den Cox of Hickman High School in Missouri; Dani Fischer of Campbell County High School in Wyoming; Joey Lavallee of Reno High School (ranked #15 in the nation) in Nevada; Ryan Nivan of Tyngsboro High School in Massachusetts and Tyler Tate from Spring Creek High School in Nevada.

While all seven 4X champs are outstanding, Cox, who will wrestle at the University of Missouri next season, hasn’t lost since his freshman year and brings a 205-3 record to Virginia Beach.  Cox won all four of his state titles at different weight classes.

There are two 2X NHSCA champs in the Senior Division field led by Dennis Gustafson of Forest Park High School in Virginia.  Gustafson, who will wrestle in college at Virginia Tech, is currently ranked 15^th in the nation according to Win Magazine.  Coleman Hammond of Bakersfield High School in California is also a 2X NHSCA champ, who is entered at 145-pounds.  Back to defend his 2012 Junior championship at 152 is Kyle Perreault of Clovis East High School in California

Another nationally-ranked wrestler in the field is two-time National Prep champion Frank Mattiace of national champion Blair Academy in New Jersey. Entered at 195 pounds, Mattiace was 160-16 during his scholastic career and ranked #7 nationally by Win Magazine.

Last year the State of California walked away with three championships in the Senior Division, followed by Florida, New Jersey and New York with two champs apiece.  California captured the Senior title with 240.5 points, followed by New York (191) and New Jersey (159.5).

Blair Academy’s (Blairstown, New Jersey) Mark Grey won the 132-pound championship and the Senior Division’s Most Outstanding Wrestler Award.

Capturing Senior titles from California were Josh Rodriguez (Righetti HS) at 120; Natrelle Demison (Bakersfield HS) at 138 and Richard Black (Chavez HS) at 220. 

Florida’s champs were Clark Glass (Brandon HS) at 160 and Doug Vollaro of Pine Castle Christian at 285.

New Jersey’s champions were Grey and Alenick Richardson (St. Peter’s Prep) at 145. 

New York gold medalists were Dylan Palacio (Long Beach HS) at 145 and Anthony Lock (Pioneer HS) at 182.

Other states with single champs in the 2012 Senior Division were Kansas, Maryland North Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.