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

Win Magazine's Preseason High School Wrestling Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
Host
NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

Defending national champ Blair Academy (New Jersey) no longer is headed by Jeff Buxton, who resigned in August as the school's head coach, but the Buccaneers are still loaded and considered a good bet to win another national championship with six returning starters.  At least that what WIN Magazine believes with the release of its Preseason Top 25 high school wrestling rankings.

Here's the Top 25, and click here to see more detail on the rankings:

Win Magazine's Top 25
**last season's final ranking in parentheses

1. Blair Academy - New Jersey (1)
2. Central Dauphin - Pennsylvania (15)
3. Canon-McMillan - Pennsylvania (7)
4. St. Edward - Ohio (2)
5. Clovis - California (4)
6. Brandon - Florida (5)
7. St. Johns - Michigan (6)
8. Christiansburg - Virginia (8)
9. Wyoming Seminary - Pennsylvania (10)
10. Davison - Michigan (NR)
11. St. Michael-Albertville - Minnesota (NR)
12. Montini - Illinois (23)
13. South Plainfield - New Jersey (NR)
14. Marist - Illinois (NR)
15. Carl Sandburg - Illinois (NR)
16. Allen - Texas (NR)
17. Perry Meridian - Indiana (24)
18. Perry - Ohio (17)
19. Apple Valley - Minnesota (3)
20. Simley - Ohio (13)
21. Archbishop Moeller - Ohio (18)
22. Kasson-Mantorville - Minnesota (NR)
23. Shenendehowa - New York (NR)
24. Assumption - Iowa (NR)
25. West Fargo - North Dakota (NR)