2015 NHSCA Freshman Nationals preview

by Jeff Fisher

Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

Follow @NHSCARadioShow

The 9th annual NHSCA Freshman Nationals at the 26th Annual NHSCA High School National Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach this weekend will feature 37 state champs and 34 state runner-ups from around America.  The 106-pound, 113-pound and 132 pound weight classes account for 23 of the state champions. 

Six 2014 NHSCA Middle School National champs are hoping to go back-to-back after very successful freshman high school campaigns.  Who knows, one day, maybe one or more of these Middle School champs can become the NHSCA’s first five-time champs.  Currently there are five 4X NHSCA champions.

Leading the way is Jakob Camacho of Danbury HS in Connecticut, who captured the 90-pound NHSCA Middle School Nationals title in 2014 and this past season finished second at 106-pounds in Connecticut’s Class LL division.

Michael Lucas of Holy Rosary Academy in Alaska is entered at 132-pounds after capturing a gold medal in the state Class 1-2-3A division.  Last year, Lucas won the 127-pound Middle School title.

At 145 pounds, Jared Lough of Colonial Forge HS in Virginia is entered.  Lough, who won the 135-pound Middle School Nationals in 2014 finished third in the Virginia 6A tournament this past season.

From Florida, Erich Byelick of  Cardinal Gibbons HS is entered at 152-pounds. This past season, Byelick, who won last year’s 154-pound Middle School title, finished runner-up in Florida Class 1A at 145-pounds.

Anthony Walters, the 2014 NHSCA Middle School champ at 165 pounds, is entered at 170 pounds. This past season, Walters, who wrestles for Westmont Hilltop HS in Pennsylvania, placed 8^th in Pennsylvania’s Class AAA state tournament.

Our fifth and final returning Middle School champ is Chaston Holley from Cabell Midland HS in West Virginia.  Holley, who won the 180-pound gold medal last year, placed fifth this past high school season in West Virginia’s Class AAA.

The 106-pound weight class has six state champs — Bradley Bitting of North Paulding HS in Georgia, AJ Burkhart of Waverly HS in New York, Philip Daub from Enka HS in North Carolina, Cameron Hayes of Milford HS in Delaware,  Michael McAteer of Whitfield HS in Missouri and Quincy Monday of Arlington Martin HS in Texas.

The 113-pound field includes nine 2014-15 state champs — Jackson Allen of Show Low HS in Arizona, Casey Burchett of Commerce HS in Georgia, Collin Gerard of Powhatan HS in Virginia, Patrick McCormick of Poquoson HS in Virginia, Joey Silva of Lake Highland Prep in Florida, Brian Stuart of North Hagerstown HS in Maryland, Conner Thompson of Quabbin HS in Massachusetts, Brock Whorton of East Fairmont HS in West Virginia and Ben Widmann of John Stark Regional in New Hampshire.

The 132-pound weight class has eight state champs, including the previously mentioned Michael Lucas, plus Peyton Cole of Ellsworth HS in Maine, Philip Conigliaro of Belmont Hill HS in Massachusetts, Marco Groves of McClintock HS in Arizona, Jarrett Jacques of Kirksville HS in Missouri, Douglas Peppers of Loganville HS in Georgia, Nick Rino of Piedra Vista HS in New Mexico and Justin Ruffin of Union Grove HS in Georgia.