New York wins Middle School Championship at 24th Annual National High School Coaches Assocation National Wrestling Championships

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

With two individual champs and one runner-up finish, New York won the team championship at the 6^th annual Middle School Nationals that were held during the 24^th annual National High School Coaches Association National Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Leading the way for the Empire State that edged-out Pennsylvania by one-and-a-half points for the team title was Mack Berkowitz, who won the title at 127, and Travis Race, who captured the 165-pound crown.  Berkowitz was a 2012 NHSCA champ.

California, which finished third in the team championship crowned three individual champs: Izzak Olejnik at 85, Navonte Demison at 90 and J.J. Figueroa at 105.

At 90-pounds, Zach Sherman, who finished third in the state in the Florida Class 1A championships at 106-pounds as an 8^th grader, finished third for the second straight year at the NHSCA Middle School Nationals.  Sherman lost his first-round match, but battled-back through wrestlebacks to win a bronze medal.

The Top 8 wrestlers in each weight class won All-American honors. To qualify of the Middle School Championship event, every wrestler had to place in the Top 8 in his official NHSCA State Championship.

The top three states all received team awards with New York taking home the National Championship Cup to display at their State Championships.

2013 Middle School Nationals Finals

75 – Tanner Jordan (Ohio) pinned Ryan Zimmerman (New Jersey) 3:54

80 – No Contest, Cole Rhone  (Pennsylvania) and Joe Klock (Pennsylvania) finalists

85 – Izzak Olejnik (California) dec. Charles Chapman (Ohio) 4-1

90 – Navonte Demison (California) dec. Collin Gerardi (Virginia) 5-3

95 – Tuck Brough (Pennsylvania) dec. David Salazar III (Arizona) 6-2

100 – Daniel Planta (Maryland) dec. Hector Colom (New York) 9-0

105 – J.J. Figueroa (California) dec. Anthony Martoccio (Pennsylvania) 7-5

112 – Jimmy Hoffman (Pennsylvania) dec. John Manning (Utah) 1-0

119 – Quinn Deaney (Maryland) dec. Ty Lucas (Florida) 5-2

127 -  Mack Berkowitz (New York) pinned Tyler Grine (Ohio) 3:57

135 – Matthew Ceparano (North Carolina) dec. Gavin Hoffman (Pennsylvania) 6-5

142 – Layne Van Anrooy (Oregon) dec. Sangobunmi Smith (Georgia) 7-1

154 – Avery Dinardi (New Jersey) dec. John Borst (Virginia) 8-7

165 -  Travis Race (New York) dec. Michael Vigil (New Mexico) 10-0

180 – Nicolas Mosco (Florida) dec. Ryan Mills (West Virginia) 12-2

230 – Eric Chakonis (New Jersey) pinned Spencer Bowler (North Carolina) 1:18

Middle School National Finals

1. New York – 200

2. Pennsylvania – 198.5

3. California – 127.5

4. New Jersey – 122.5

5. Ohio – 120.5