2015 NHSCA High School National Wrestling Championships wrap-up

by Jeff Fisher

Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

Follow @NHSCARadioShow

The 26^th annual National High School Coaches Association’s High School National Wrestling Championships had another record-breaking year attendance-wise with 3,498 wrestlers descending on Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The Senior Nationals championship round featured three match-ups between nationally-ranked wrestlers with a total of nine ranked wrestlers reaching gold medal matches.

Also, Ben Schram of Bellbrook HS in Ohio entered the exclusive four-time NHSCA Champions Club with a 6-3 win over Jordan Bushey of Peru HS in New York in the 170-pound final.

Schram becomes only the sixth wrestler to have ever captured four NHSCA's. The other five are — Tyler Beckwith of Greene HS in New York; B.J. Clagon of Toms River South HS in New Jersey; Ryan Millhof of Collins Hills HS in Georgia; Blake Roulo of Matoaca HS in Virginia; and Clay Walker of Eastside HS in South Carolina are the event’s only 4-time champs.

At 220, 3X NHSCA champion Kenneth Brinson of Marist HS in Georgia squared-off with Austin Myers of Campbell County HS in Kentucky.  Brinson, a three-time Georgia state champion, entered the match ranked #2 by Intermat, while Myers, who never lost a match in high school was ranked #3. 

Myers, the four-time Kentucky state champion who lost to Brinson 8-6 in the 2014 NHSCA Junior Nationals final at 220-pounds, avenged last year’s defeat with an 8-5 victory.  The loss, denied Brinson an opportunity to become just the sixth wrestler to win four NHSCA titles in the history of the event.

Myers is now a three-time NHSCA champ with titles as a freshman, sophomore and senior.

At 152, Neal Richards of Matoaca HS in Virginia also was denied a fourth straight NHSCA gold medal, losing to Myles Amine of Detroit Catholic Central in Michigan. Armine, a two-time Michigan state champ was ranked #5 in the nation by Intermat, decision Richards 3-1.   Richards, a four-time Virginia state champ, was ranked #8 by Intermat.

At 145, Idaho’s Bryce Parson from Lewiston HS captured gold by defeating Patricio Lugo of South Dade HS in Florida with an 18-2 tech fall in 4:42.  Parson entered the match ranked #8 by Intermat, while Lugo was ranked #11.

At 182, Dylan Wisman of Millbrook HS in Virginia won his second straight NHSCA title by pinning Dean Sherry of Brick Township HS in New Jersey in 27 seconds. Wisman, a two-time Virginia state champ, was ranked #10 in the nation by Intermat.

Mike D’Angelo of Commack HS in New York, who entered the Senior Nationals ranked #16 by Intermat, captured gold with a 4-3 decision over Jaedin Sklapsky of Eaton Rapids in Michigan in the 138-pound final.

At 160, nationally-ranked Dayton Racer of Bettendorf HS in Iowa decisioned Seldon Wright of Oscar Smith HS from Virginia 3-0.  Racer was ranked #6 by Intermat.

The final nationally-ranked wrestler to win gold at the 2015 Senior Nationals was Jacob Seely of Fruita Monument HS in Colorado. Seely, ranked #16 by Intermat, won the 195-pound title with a 7-2 win over Tyler Love of Centreville HS in Virginia.

Below are the results from the Senior Nationals at the 26th annual NHSCA High School National Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia

113 - Jarrett Reisenbichler (Jackson HS, MO) dec. Lamont Wilson (Webster HS, MO) 7-3

120 - Ryan Friedman (St. Paul's HS, MD) dec. Anthony Rubinetti (Demarest HS, NJ) 4-2

126 - Chris Debien (Cleveland HS, TN) dec. Ben Lamantia (St. Anthony's HS, NY) 3-1

132 - Angel Velasquez (Pitman HS, CA) dec. Sam Cali (Don Bosco Prep, NJ) 3-2

138 - Mike D'Angelo (Commack HS, NY) dec. Jaedin Sklapsky (Eaton Rapids HS, MI) 4-3

145 - Bryce Parson (Lewiston HS, ID) tech fall over Patricio Lugo III (South Dade HS, FL) 18-2 in 4:42

152 - Myles Amine (Detroit Catholic Central HS, MI) dec. Neal Richards (Matoaca HS, VA) 3-1

160 - Dayton Racer (Bettendorf HS, IA) dec. Seldon Wright (Oscar Smith HS, VA) 3-0

170 - Benjamin Schram (Bellbrook HS, OH) dec. Jordan Bushey (Peru HS, NY) 6-3

182 - Dylan Wisman (Millbrook HS, VA) pinned Dean Sherry (Brick Twp. HS, NJ) in 0:27

195 - Jacob Seely (Monument HS, CO) dec. Tyler Love (Centreville HS, VA) 7-2

220 - Austin Myers (Campbell County HS, KY) dec. Kenneth Brinson (Marist HS, GA) 8-5

285 - Jose Alvarez (Selma HS, CA) dec. Gary Whitaker (Riverside HS, NC) 4-2 (OT)

New York won the Senior Nationals team crown with 165 points to California’s 145.5 points.  California had the most individual champs with two.

Next year, Thomas Bullard of Archer High School in Georgia will try to become the seventh wrestler in NHSCA Nationals history to collect four straight gold medals.  Bullard captured his third straight NHSCA title by pinning A.J. Alford of Fort Dorchester HS in South Carolina in the NHSCA Junior Nationals 152-pound final.  Bullard was ranked #4 at 160-pounds by Intermat.

Thomas’ brother Daniel was also going for his third straight NHSCA title, but lost in the 160-pound semifinals to eventual runner-up Tucket Leavitt, a two-time Idaho state champ from Highlands HS.

At 195 pounds, Matthew Correnti of Holy Cross HS in New Jersey was also denied a third straight NHSCA title.  Correnti, who was ranked #11 by Intermat, finished 5^th after losing to Blake Rypel of Indianapolis Cathedral HS in Indiana in the semifinals. 

Rypel, who won a gold medal at the 2014 Sophomore Nationals, lost in the 195-pound finals to Samuel Colbray of Hermiston HS in Oregon.  Colbray was ranked #5 by Intermat, while Rypel was ranked #6 coming into the NHSCA Junior Nationals.

Kevin Budock from Good Counsel HS in Maryland was also going for a third straight NHSCA title, but that run came to an end in the 145-pound semifinals when he lost to eventual runner-up Jimmy Saylor of Easton HS in Pennsylvania.  Budock finished 6^th overall at the Junior Nationals.

At 285, Nick Coe of Asheboro HS in North Carolina won his second straight NHSCA gold medal.  Coe defeated Edwin Rubio of John Glenn HS from New York 3-2.

At 106, Thomas Cox of Deer Park HS in New York won an 8-3 decision over Kelan McKenna of New Hartford HS in New York in a battle of nationally-ranked wrestlers.

David Campbell of Mission Oak HS in California, who was ranked #20 by Intermat, won the 113-pound title with a 6-4 win over Justin Stickley of St. Paris Graham HS in Ohio.  At 132, #5 ranked Israel Saavedra of Modesto HS in California defeated Chris Diaz of Archer HS in Georgia 9-5 for the title.

Below are the results from the Junior Nationals at the 26th annual NHSCA High School National Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

106 - Thomas Cox (Deer Park HS, NY) dec. Kelan McKenna (New Hartford HS, NY) 8-3
113 - David Campbell (Mission Oak HS, CA) dec. Justin Stickley (St. Paris Graham, OH) 6-4
120 - Devin Turner (Dixon HS, CA) dec. Peter Del Gallo (Gardiner HS, ME) 6-4
126 - Kellan Devlin (Amherst Central HS, NY) dec. Alex Mackall (Walsh Jesuit HS, OH) 4-2
132 - Israel Saavedra (Modesto HS, CA)  dec. Chris Diaz (Archer HS, GA) 9-5
138 - Jarrett Degan (Belgrade HS, MT) pinned Jake Douglas (Lake Stevens HS, WA) in 5:23
145 - Chris Mauriello (Hauppauge HS, NY) dec. Jimmy Saylor (Easton HS, PA) 3-2
152 - Thomas Bullard (Archer HS, GA) pinned A.J. Alford (Fort Dorchester HS, SC) in 3:30
160 - Alex Herringshaw (Holland Patent HS, NY) dec. Tucker Leavitt (Highland HS, ID) 3-2
170 - Dylan Barreiro (Pinkerton Academy, NH) dec. Jala'a Darwish (Passaic Valley HS, NJ) 6-5
182 - Tyler Frankrone (Trinity HS, KY) dec. Robert Winters (Colonial Forge HS, VA) 3-1 (OT)
195 - Samuel Colbray (Hermiston HS, OR) dec. Blake Rypel (Indianapolis Cathedral HS, IN) 11-4
220 - Toby McBride (Fort Morgan HS, CO) dec. Kobe Woods (Penn HS, IN) 9-5
285 - Nick Coe (Asheboro HS, NC) dec. Edwin Rubio (John Glenn HS, NY)

New York won the Junior Nationals team championship with four individual champions and 209.5 overall points. Pennsylvania, with one runner-up, finished second, followed by New Jersey in third place.

The 2015 Sophomore Nationals featured two wrestlers that won their second straight NHSCA championship.

Back-to-back titles put wrestlers halfway to joining the exclusive NHSCA 4X National Title Club.

At 113-pound Jose Tapia of Capital HS in New Mexico won his second straight NHSCA crown with a 2-0 win over Dane Heberlein of Alexander HS in New York.  Chase Singletary of Blair Academy in New Jersey won his second straight NHSCA title.  Singletary, who was ranked #14 at 182-pounds by Intermat, won a 8-4 decision over Brian Andrews of Grapevine HS in Texas.

Pennsylvania won the team title with four individual champions — Brian Courtney (120) of Athens HS, Jake Hinkson (132) of North Allegheny HS, Jared Verkleeren (145) of Belle Vernon HS and Seth Janney (220) of South Western HS. 

Verkleeren, who was ranked #12 in the nation by Intermat, beat 2014 Freshman National champ Stephan Glasgow of Bound Brook HS 2-1 in the ultimate tiebreaker in the finals.

In all, Pennsylvania earned All-American honored in twelve weight classes.

In the 152-pound final, nationally-ranked Michael Labriola of Bethlehem Catholic in Pennsylvania lost to Layne van Anrooy of Roseburg HS in Oregon.  Labriola was ranked #20 by Intermat.  Van Anrooy is a two-time Oregon State champ.

Levi Seabolt of Gilmer HS in Georgia had an impressive run capturing the 285-pound title.  Seabolt won all five of his matches with pins that came in 6:16.

Aside from Pennsylvania’s four sophomore champs, New York was the only state with multiple winners Jonathan Gomez of Locust Valley HS and Vitali Arujau of Syosset HS.  Arugau, who was ranked #11 at 132 by Intermat, decided 2014 Freshman National champ Jaden Enriquez of Mission Oak HS in California.

Below are the results from the Sophomore Nationals at the 26th annual NHSCA High School National Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

106 - Jonathan Gomez (Locust Valley HS, NY) dec. Jacob Dunlop (Belle Vernon HS, PA) 3-1
113 - Jose Tapia (Capital HS, NM) dec. Dane Heberlein (Alexander HS, NY) 2-0
120 - Brian Courtney (Athens HS, PA) dec. Danny Bertoni (Middletown HS, MD) 7-2
126 - Vito Arujau (Syosset HS, NY) dec. Jaden Enriguez (Mission Oak HS, CA) 11-10
132 - Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny HS, PA) dec. Mason Wallace (Manhattan HS, KS) 4-3
138 - Quentin Hovis (Seton Catholic Prep, AZ) dec. Conor Melbourne (John Jay HS, NY) 9-2
145 - Jarod Verkleeren (Belle Vernon HS, PA) dec. Stephan Glasgow (Bound Brook HS, NJ) 2-1 (OT)
152 - Layne Van Anrooy (Roseburg HS, OR) pinned Mikey Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic HS, PA) in 5:00
160 - Anthony Falbo (Newtown HS, CT) dec. Brandon Kui (DePaul Catholic HS, NJ) 6-4
170 - Noah Adams (Independence HS, WV) dec. Andrew Berreyesa (Reno HS, NV) 6-5
182 - Chasen Blair (Rancho Bernardo HS, CA) dec. Casey Cornett (Simon Kenton HS, KY) 3-2
195 - Chase Singletary (Blair Academy, NJ) dec. Brian Andrews (Grapevine HS, TX) 8-4
220 - Seth Janney (South Western HS, PA) dec. Evan Ellis (Eastern HS, IN) 7-0
285 - Levi Seabolt (Gilmer HS, GA) pinned Nick Rivera (Brick Memorial HS, NJ) in 1:01

Pennsylvania dominated the Freshman Nationals with four individual champions each — Dalton Group (160) of Susquenita HS, Gavin Hoffman (170) of Montoursville HS, Blake Barrick (182) of Big Spring HS and Francis Duggan (220) from Cumberland Valley HS.

Pennsylvania won the team title with 247.5 points to second place New Jersey’s 151.5.  Florida, which finished sixth in the team chase with 115.5 points, had three individual champs with win by two-time state champ Joey Silva of Lake Highland Prep at 113, Grant Aronoff of St. Thomas Aquinas at 126 and Silva’s teammate Ben Goldin at 195.

Roman Bravo-Young of Sunnyside HS in Arizona, the #3 ranked wrestler at 106, captured the Freshman Nationals title by defeating #20 Brody Teske of Fort Dodge HS in Iowa 14-8.

Below are the results from the Freshman Nationals at the 26th annual NHSCA High School National Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

106 - Roman Bravo-Young (Sunnyside HS, AZ) dec. Brody Teske (Fort Dodge HS, IA) 14-8
113 - Joey Silva (Lake Highland Prep, FL) dec. Jake Silverstein (Hauppauge HS, NY) 5-1
120 - Malcolm Robinson (St. John's College HS, Washington, DC) dec. Ryan Luth (Foran HS, CT) 9-4
126 - Aaron Brooks (North Hagerstown HS, MD) dec. Wes Rayburn (Piedra Vista HS, NM) 8-2
132 - Grant Aronoff (St. Thomas Aquinas HS, FL) dec. Sammy Sasso (Nazareth HS, PA) 10-6
138 - Josiah Rider (Grand Junction HS, CO) dec. Michael O'Malley (Hasbrouck Heights HS, NJ) 7-4
145 - Brock Bushfield (Skyview HS, MT) pinned Jared Lough (Colonial Forge HS, VA) in 5:22
152 - Ryan Karoly (Blair Academy, NJ) dec. Robert Patrick (Ligonier Valley HS, PA) 3-1
160 - Dalton Group (Susquenita HS, PA) dec. Knox Allen (Commerce HS, GA) 8-7
170 - Gavin Hoffman (Montoursville HS, PA) dec. Zach Elam (Staley HS, MO) 4-2
182 - Blake Barrick (Big Spring HS, PA) dec. Tony Wuest (Smyrna HS, DE) 4-2
195 - Ben Goldin (Lake Highland Prep, FL) dec. Max Darrah (Whitfield HS, MO) 5-3
220 - Francis Duggan (Cumberland Valley HS, PA) pinned Cade Ridley (Commerce HS, GA) in 1:22
285 - Brey Walker (Southmoore HS, OK) pinned Terrese Aaron (Mexico HS, MO) in 1:53