NHSCA and USA TODAY High School Sports announce partnership for HS Wrestling Rankings

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

Having helped the National High School Coaches Association with its radio show and media relations since 2010, I've very pleased to announce a HUGE partnership today.

I've engineered a partnership between USA TODAY High School Sports and the NHSCA to produce a Super 25 High School Wrestling Poll for the 2015-16 season.

We jointly released our preseason poll on Wednesday and beginning December 15th, we'll put-out weekly ratings on every Tuesday through the end of the season.

Below you can read the USA TODAY announcement on the partnership....

USA TODAY High School Sports and the National High School Coaches Association are teaming up to produce and promote Super 25 team rankings for scholastic wrestling.

To kick off this partnership, USA TODAY and the NHSCA are releasing the Super 25 Preseason Rankings for the 2015-16 season. The first regular season rankings will be released in mid-December. The content is available at usatodayhss.com.

"We are excited to partner with USA TODAY High School Sports to produce a national high school wrestling poll," said Bobby Ferraro, executive director of the National High School Coaches Association.  "To do the Top 25 in conjunction with the nation's leading producer of high school sports content will mean a lot for the sport of high school wrestling.  Our National Top 25 is a perfect complement to our individual national championships that we've been conducting for over a quarter of a century."

Said Josh Barnett, director of content for USA TODAY High School Sports: “We are excited to be working with the National High School Coaches Association. With nearly 11,000 schools nationwide with wrestling teams and more than 250,000 athletes participating, we feel like the addition of wrestling is an important step in expanding our overall Super 25 content. We are eager to provide more content for the dedicated wrestlers and coaches and passionate fans of high school wrestling.”

With the addition of wrestling, the Super 25 expands to 11 sports (six boys and five girls), a growth from four sports in the 2013-14 academic year. USA TODAY High School Sports has added boys and girls soccer and field hockey this fall.

 
About USA TODAY High School Sports
USA TODAY High School Sports is the leading destination for high school sports news and information, providing nationwide coverage and aligning locally with USA TODAY Sports and Gannett properties in various markets across the country. USATHSS is home to the Super 25 national rankings and the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Teams for boys and girls sports, both serving for more than 30 years as the leading platforms for determining the best teams, and the best athletes, in scholastic sports. USATODAY HSS also is the official media partner for the Gatorade Athlete and Player of the Year programs.

NHSCA announces 2014 Senior Athletes of the Year Awards

by Jeff Fisher

Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

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The National High School Coaches Association today announced its selections for its 2014 National High School Senior Athletes of the Year Awards.

NHSCATFXC.com releases preseason national high school cross country rankings

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
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North Central High School from Spokane, Washington is ranked as the #1 preseason boys' cross country team in the nation by NHSCATFXC.com, the country's premiere ranking service for the sport.  Great Oak from Temecula, California is the #1 girls' cross country team.

NHSCA announces 2014 National Coaches of the Year

by Jeff Fisher

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The National High School Coaches Association announced the winners for its 2014 National High School Coach of the Year Awards this week. This is the 15th year straight year the NHSCA has honored these achievers in the high school coaching community nationwide. 

25th annual NHSCA High School National Wrestling Championships - Finals

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

Here are the match-ups for Sunday's championship finals in the high school divisions for the 25th annual NHSCA High School National Wrestling Championships.

Senior Nationals

106 – Brandon Cunningham (Prattville HS, Alabama) vs. Issac Blackburn (Del Oro HS, California)

113 – John Twomey (St. Anthony’s, New York) vs. Joe Calderone (Walt Whitman, New York)

120 – Mason Pengilly (Porterville HS, California) vs. Tyrone Klump (Nazareth HS, Pennsylvania)

126 – Ryan Millhof (Collins Hill HS, Georgia) vs. Isaiah Locsin (Gilroy HS, California)

132 – Sean Fausz (Campbell County HS, Kentucky) vs. Dusty Hone (Cedar City HS, Utah)

138 – Josh Reyes (Parkrose HS, Oregon) vs. Clay Walker (Eastside HS, South Carolina)

145 – Niko Villarreal (Gilroy HS, California) vs. Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (Cheektowaga HS, New York)

152 -  Paul Fox (Gilroy HS, California) vs. Jairod James (Bedford HS, Ohio)

160 – Dakota Juarez (Grand Haven HS, Michigan) vs. Brandon Womack (Scottsboro HS, Alabama)

171 – Cale Wilson (Sallisaw HS, Oklahoma) vs. Nathan Marek (Southmoore HS, Oklahoma)

182 – Luis Peguero (Robinson HS, Florida) vs. Nicholas Fiegener (Folsom HS, California)

195 -  Tristan Sponseller (Bermudian Springs HS, Pennsylvania) vs. Marcus Harrington (Waterloo West HS, Iowa)

220 – Corey Daniel (River Hill HS, Maryland) vs. Matthew Moore (Apalachee HS, Georgia)

285 – James O’Hagan (Seaford HS, New York) vs. Jesse Webb (Mt. Anthony Union HS, Vermont)

Junior Nationals

106 – Jabari Moody (Rich Central HS, Illinois) vs. Jarret Reisenbichler (Jackson HS, Missouri)

113 -  L.J. Bentley (St. Edward, Ohio) vs. Niko Colunga (Oakdale HS, California)

120 -  Jordan Allen (Huntington HS, West Virginia) vs. Steven Simpson (St. Mary’s Ryken, Maryland)

126 – Rico Montoya (Robertson HS, New Mexico) vs. Mike Dangelo (Commack HS, New York)

132 – Lucas Weiland (Seckman HS, Missouri) vs. Will Clark (Cary HS, North Carolina)

138 – Max Thomsen (Union HS, Iowa) vs. Pat Lugo (South Dade HS, Florida)

145 -  Lorenzo De La Riva (Folsom HS, California) vs. Neal Richards (Matoaca HS, Virginia)

152 – Sean Glasgow (Bound Brook HS, New Jersey) vs. Miguel Barreras (Rio Rancho HS, New Mexico)

160 – Johnathan Viruet (Springfield Central HS, Massachusetts) vs. Kollin Moore (Norwayne HS, Ohio)

170 -  Benjamin Schram (Bellbrook HS, Ohio) vs. Johnny Garcia (Danbury HS, Connecticut)

182 -  Dylan Wisman (Millbrook HS, Virginia) vs. Cash Wilcke (OA-BCIG,Iowa)

195 -  Jeff Velez (David Brearley HS, New Jersey) vs. Matthew Rudy (Cane Bay HS, South Carolina)

220 – Austin Myers (Campbell County HS, Kentucky) vs. Kenneth Brinson (Marist HS, Georgia)

285 – Nicholas Wimmer (North Davidson HS, North Carolina) vs. Andrew Pacheco (Warren Hills HS, New Jersey)

Sophomore Nationals

106 – Garrett O’Shea (Morris Knolls HS, New Jersey) vs. Sebastian Rivera ( Christian Brothers Academy, New Jersey)

113 – Peter Del Gallo (Gardiner HS, Maine) vs. Josh McClure (Fulton HS, Missouri)

120 – Jake Spiess (Delta HS, Ohio) vs. Kyle Norstrem (Brandon HS, Florida)

126 -  Kris Lindemann (Howell HS, New Jersey) vs. Christopher Diaz (Archer HS, Georgia)

132 – Jarrett Degen (Belgrade HS, Montana) vs. Mark McCormick (Camden Catholic HS, New Jersey)

138 – Kevin Budock (Good Counsel, Maryland) vs. Dakota Gardner (Fredonia HS, New York)

145 – Abner Romero (Buchanan HS, California) vs. Thomas Bullard (Archer HS, Georgia)

152 – Daniel Bullard (Archer HS, Georgia) vs. Deyaun Trueblood (Gateway HS, Colorado)

160 – Austin Bell (Belle Vernon HS, Pennsylvania) vs. Chris Weiler (Wyoming Seminary, Pennsylvania)

170 – Bridger Barker (Corona del Sol HS, Arizona) vs. Dean Drugac (Morris Knolls HS, New Jersey)

182 – Ross Graham (Poquoson HS, Virginia) vs. Blake Rypel (Indianapolis Cathedral, Indiana)

195 – Drew Phipps (Norwin HS, Pennsylvania) vs. Matthew Correnti (Holy Cross HS, New Jersey)

220 – Kyle Mann (Columbus HS, Florida) vs. Kyle Jennings (Ponderosa HS, California)

285 – Nick Coe (Asheboro HS, North Carolina) vs. Jake Beistel (Southmoreland HS, Pennsylvania)

Freshman Nationals

106 – Brian Courtney (Athens HS, Pennsylvania) vs. Jose Tapia (Capital HS, New Mexico)

113 – Brandon Felix (Ocean Grove HS, California) vs. Tyler Waterson (Spearfish HS, South Dakota)

120 – Josh Wyland (Benedictine College Prep, Virginia) vs. Dominick Mandarino (Don Bosco Prep, New Jersey)

126 – Jaden Enriquez (Mission Oak HS, California) vs. Francisco Valdes (Miami Southwest HS, Florida)

132 – Brock Wilson (Nazareth HS, Pennsylvania) vs. Stephan Glasgow (Bound Brook HS, New Jersey)

138 – Dominic Demas (Dublin Coffman HS, Ohio) vs. Trey Greiner (Olentangy Liberty HS, Ohio)

145 – Max Andreoni (Woodford County HS, Kentucky) vs. Bryan McLaughlin (Woodbridge HS, New Jersey)

152 – Drew Peck (Chambersburg HS, Pennsylvania) vs. Jesse Beverly (Delta HS, Ohio)

160 – Caleb Little (Jefferson HS, Georgia) vs. Bunmi Smith (Camden County HS, Georgia)

170 – Brian Hennessy (St. John’s, Maryland) vs. Chase Singletary (Palmetto Ridge HS, Florida)

182 – Zane Black (Bishop McDevitt HS, Pennsylvania) vs. Matt McKenzie (Wall HS, New Jersey)

195 – Quinn Miller (Archer HS, Georgia) vs. Cole Nye (Bishop McDevitt HS, Pennsylvania)

220 – Sammy Evans (Alcoa HS, Tennessee) vs. Nick Mosco (Jesuit HS, Florida)

285 – Nick Boykin (Riverdale HS, Tennessee) vs. Brody Gregory (Hixson HS, Tennessee)

  

Dave Dean named NHSCA National Wrestling Coach of the Year

by Jeff Fisher

Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

Follow @NHSCARadioShow

Dave Dean of Lowell High School in Michigan is the 2014 NHSCA National High School Wrestling Coach of the Year.

In nine years as the head coach at Lowell, Dean has built the Red Arrows program into one of the best in Michigan while also gaining attention on the national level.  This past season, Dean led his program to its second overall Michigan’s Division 2 team championship, plus a Top 20 ranking by multiple national media outlets.  Three of his wrestlers – Lucas Hall (112 pounds), Max Dean (171 pounds) and Josh Colegrove (215 pounds) – won individual state championships this past season.

With three state champs this past season, Dean has now coached 12 individual state champs along with 46 state place winners while amassing an overall record of 237-39.  Under Dean, Lowell has won nine Michigan district titles, six regional championships and seven conference titles.  This past year, Dean was named Michigan Division 2 Coach of the Year.

Maybe more impressive than his on-the-mat record, is the fact that since 2007, every Lowell wrestling team has been named Academic All-State.

“Coach Dean and his family have set a level of excellence in Michigan and the nation that makes Lowell High School one of the top programs each year,” said Bob Ferraro, Junior, Executive Director of the National High School CoachesAssociation. “We are proud to honor Coach Dean not only for his work on the mat, but also his drive to turn-out top quality student-athletes.”

“My very first thought is to thank all of the coaches, athletes, parents and administrators that have shared in all of the work and sacrifice over the years,” said Coach Dean. “Without the backing of all of those people, a recognition like this would be possible.  On behalf of them, I am truly honored to receive this prestigious recognition from the NHSCA.”

This past season was Dean’s last at Lowell.  He has accepted the job as the head of the Olympic Development Program at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. 

Dean’s son Gabe just finished his freshman year wrestling for the Big Red.  Gabe Dean finished third at 184-pounds at the recently completed NCAA National Championships.  Earlier this year, Dean beat Penn State’s Ed Ruth two stop the two-time champs 84-match win streak.  Ruth gained revenge at the NCAA’s, beating Dean in the semifinals before going on to win his third NCAA title.

Dave Dean was a two-time All-American while wrestling at the University of Minnesota, that included a runner-up finish at the NCAA’s.  He was also a two-time Big 10 champ.

Next year, Coach Dean will have seven former student-athletes wrestling at the Division 1 level.

Past NHSCA High School National High School Wrestling Coaches of the Year

2013 – Steve Tirapelle – Clovis (California)

2012 – Pat Simpson – Father Ryan (Tennessee)

2011 – Cliff Ramos – Collins Hill (Georgia)

2010 – Barry Chooljian – Timberlane (New Hampshire)

2009 – Jeff Sweigard – Central Dauphin (Pennsylvania)

2008 – Bill Jacoutot – Spencerport (New York)

2007 – Jerry Winterton – Cary (North Carolina)

2006 – Mike Polz – Carl Sandburg (Illinois)

2005 – Roy Hall – Davison (Michigan)

2004 – Terry Dubert – Northampton (Pennsylvania)

2003 – Jeff Jordan – St. Paris Graham (Ohio)

2002 – David East – Bakersfield (California); Jim Jackson – Apple Valley (Minnesota)

2001 – Dave Crowell – Wilson Borough (Pennsylvania); Jeff Jordan – Clarksville (Tennessee)

2000 – Russ Cozart – Brandon (Florida); Scott Legacy – Mount Anthony Union (Vermont); Herb Stinson – Aztec (New Mexico)

1999 – Lewie Benitz – Lincoln (Wisconsin); Keith Healy – Providence Catholic (Illinois); Tim Marzuola – Highlands Park (Texas); Dick Rhoades – Bald Eagle Area (Pennsylvania)

1998 – Jim Poston – Montgomery Bell Academy (Tennessee)

Record number of entrants set to battle at NHSCA National Wrestling Championships

by Jeff Fisher

Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

Follow @NHSCARadioShow

The 25^th annual NHSCA High School National Wrestling Championships will break a record for number of entrants with 3,367 wrestlers from 47 states and Germany entered for the competition that will take place this weekend in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  This size of this year’s field shatters the old record of 2,800 that was set in 2013.

This year’s field in the five divisions (Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshmen and Middle School) features the following: 618 seniors with 374 state champions; 983 juniors with 254 state champions; 806 sophomores with 89 state champions; 604 freshmen with 39 state titles; and 357 Middle School wrestlers.

The Senior Nationals enter their Silver Anniversary with an incredible ten four-time state champs, 19 three-time champs and 72 two-time state champs with 494 state place winners.  Two wrestlers: Ryan Millhof of Collins High School in Georgia and Clay Walker of Eastside High School in South Carolina will try to make history by becoming four-time NHSCA National Champions.  Only three wrestlers have ever won four consecutive NHSCA titles.

The NHSCA High School National Wrestling championships are known as a Who’s Who in the sport of high school wrestling with three former champs – Cael Sanderson, Jake Varner and Jordan Burroughs - going on to win Olympic gold medals. 

In the recently complete 2014 NCAA Division 1 National Championships, 17 of the 20 finalists competed in the NHSCA National Champions while in high school.

In addition to the 3,367 wrestlers that will be competing at the NHSCA National Championships in the Virginia Beach Convention Center, over 1,200 high school coaches are expected to be in attendance along with 200-plus college coaches.

36 mats will be used to handle the record number wrestlers that will be competing for NHSCA All-American status that goes to the top eight finishers in each weight class in each division.

The NHSCA High School National Wrestling Championships will be carried LIVE on FloWrestling.com.

Seven 2013 NHSCA Freshman National Champs looking for back-to-back gold at Sophomore Nationals

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

Seven 2013 NHSCA Freshman National champs are back to defend their titles at the 25th Annual National High School Coaches Association High School National Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Back-to-back titles put wrestlers halfway to joining the exclusive NHSCA 4X National Title Club.  Only three wrestlers have ever captured four NHSCA's. Last year B.J. Clagon of Toms River South High School in New Jersey joined Blake Roulo of Matoaca High School in Virginia and Tyler Beckwith of Greene High School in New York as the only four-time champs in the history of the event.

The 2014 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals field features 16 two-time state champs from around America. Three of those two-time state champs hail from Georgia - Jack Barber of Buford High School and twins Thomas and Daniel Bullard of Archer High School.

The Bullard boys have been been the talk of the Peach State over the last two year and they are back to defend their 2013 NHSCA Freshman Nationals titles.  Both wrestlers have also won back-to-back Georgia state championships.  This past season, Thomas was 60-1, while Daniel was 60-4.

As freshmen, Daniel owned a record of 58-5, Thomas was 54-7. The twins brother Sam, who is a junior, has finished as a state runner-up twice, plus a third place finish.  All three boys carry 4.0 GPA's.

At 120, two-time Florida state champ Kyle Norstrem of Brandon High School is back to add another gold medal to the trophy case.  Norstrem won the 2013 Freshman Nationals title at 113.

Defending 2013 NHSCA Freshman Nationals champ at 132, Chris Mauriello of Hauppauge High School New York is back at the same weight class as a sophomore.  Mauriello won the state's Division II title this year with a 48-1 mark.

At 138, Kevin Budock of Good Counsel will be going after a second straight NHSCA championship.  Budock won the 126-pound title last year. 

The 195-pound weight class features 2013 Freshman Nationals champ Matthew Correnti of  Holy Cross High School in New Jersey. Correnti, who placed third in this year's New Jersey state championships, won the 182-pound NHSCA title last year.

At 285, Jack Beistel of Southmoreland High School in Pennsylvania is back to defend the title he won last year as a freshman.

Runner-ups from last year that are entered in the 2013 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals: Kellen Devlin (126) of Amherst High School in  New York, Ryan Peters (132) of Timberlane High School in New Hampshire Jimmy Saylor (138) of Easton High School in Pennsylvania, Dean Drugac (170) of Morris Knolls High School in New Jersey, Alan Clothier (170) of Lawrence High School in Kansas, Christian Araneo (182) of Melville High School in New York, Joe Hensley (285) of Archbishop Moeller in Ohio.

2X State Champs entered in 2014 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals

113 - Peter Del Gallo, Gardiner HS (Maine)
113 - Michael Prieto, Garden City HS (Kansas)
120 - Benjamin Anderson, Pleasant Grove (Utah)
120 - Chris McCrackin, Banks County (Georgia)
120 - Michael Murphy, Baylor School (Tennessee)
120 - Kyle Norstrem, Brandon HS (Florida)
126 - Jack Barber, Buford HS (Georgia)
126 - Michael Berkowitz, Long Island Lutheran (New York)
132 - Jarrett Degen, Belgrade HS (Montana)
132 - William Verallis, Wyoming Seminary (Connecticut)
138 - Lenny Merkin, Poly Prep (New York)
145 - Thomas Bullard, Archer HS (Georgia)
145 - Eric Reyes, Dedham HS (Massachusetts)
145 - Luke Weber, Forsyth HS (Montana)
152 - Daniel Bullard, Archer HS (Georgia)

Tons of talent in the NHSCA Freshman Nationals

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
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The 8th annual NHSCA Freshman Nationals at the 25th Annual NHSCA High School National Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach will feature 37 state champs from around America.  The 106-pound weight class is stacked with 16 champs from 13 states, plus one high school champion wrestler from Germany. 

Some notables in the 106-pound weight class...

Jose Tapia of Capital High School in New Mexico, who finished runner-up as an 8th grader at the 2013 Freshman Nationals, is back.  Tapia captured his second straight Class AAAA state title last month when he won the 113-pound weight class.  Tapia, who was unbeaten during 2013-14, also won a New Mexico state title as an eight grader.  

Last year in the 106-pound freshman final, Tapia was pinned by Tyler Warner from Ohio.

Danny Bertoni of Middletown High School in Maryland won his first competitive wrestling match when he was four years old.  Earlier this month, Bertoni won the Maryland 2A-1A 106-pound title with a perfect 44-0 record.

Dane Heberlein of Alexander High School in New York was also a perfect 44-0 this past season, winning New York's Division II 99-pound individual title.

Andrew Burpee of Habersham High School in Georgia won the state's Class 6A title with a 46-1 record. Burpee is Habersham's first-ever state champ.

Another Georgia state champ in the field at 106-pounds is Eli Hartley of Buford High School, who comes to Virginia Beach after capturing Georgia's 106-pound AAA state title in February.  Hartley was one of six individual AAA champs for Buford that also captured its first-ever Georgia AAA team title.

Hartley's gold medal came in heart-stopping style. He found himself down 3-0 to Noah Kile of Blessed Trinity after two periods in the finals.  After battling back to tie match at 3-3, Kile escaped to take a 4-3 led with 20 seconds to go.  Hartley captured the gold by taking down Kile with 0.8 seconds left on the clock.  Hartley's overall record for the 2013-14 season was 48-12.

Jacob Baird from Virgin Valley High School in Nevada also felt the joy mining freshman gold by beating a senior from his own school in Nevada's Division I-A classification Baird, who finished the year undefeated, beat teammate Clancy Leavitt in the finals.

Matthew Bolduc of Patch American captured the 106-pound title at the DODDS-Europe Wrestling Championships.  Patch American has won four Division I titles in the last five years.

Steven Shields of Brother Martin High School captured Louisiana's 106-pound Division I individual crown.  Shields was one of five individual champs for Brother Martin that has won three straight Louisiana Division I team titles.

At the other end of the spectrum is 220-pounder Sammy Evans of Alcoa High School in Tennessee.  In February, Evans won his first varsity Tennessee state title with four straight pins in the 220-pound bracket. Evans won Tennessee state titles as a middle schooler at the 7th and 8th grade levels.

At 113, Jake Brindley of Lake Highland Prep has an impressive resume with two Florida 1A state championships to his credit.  This past season Brindley finished 52-2.

Brindley's teammate Joey Silva won the Florida 1A state title as an 8th grader with 42 victories this year.

Also at 113 is New York Division II state champ Hunter Dusold of Locust Valley High School. Dusold won this year's title by defeating defending state champ Derek Spann in the 113-pound championship. 

Another state champ at 113-pound pounds is Christian Miller of Plainview High School in Nebraska.  Miller won the Nebraska Class D 113-pound title this past season with a 41-0 record.

Here are the other 2013-14 State Champs in the field...

106 - Jacob Baird, Virgin Valley HS (Nevada)
106 - Danny Bertoni, Middletown HS (Maryland)
106 - Matt Bolduc, Patch American HS (Germany)
106 - Dylan Boone, SouthLake Christian HS (North Carolina)
106 - Andrew Burpee, Habersham Central HS (Georgia)
106 - Jayce Cunha, Ironwood Ridge HS (Arizona)
106 - Luke Davis, St. John's College (Maryland)
106 - Sawyer Degan, Belgrade HS (Montana)
106 - Eli Hartley, Buford HS (Georgia)
106 - Dane Heberlein, Alexander HS (New York)
106 - Gavin Hutchens, Pigeon Forge HS (Tennessee)
106 - Bjorn Schroeder, Bozeman HS (Montana)
106 - Steven Shields, Brother Martin HS (Louisiana)
106 - Joseph Silva, Lake Highland Prep (Florida)
106 - Jose Tapia, Capital HS (New Mexico) - 2X NM champ
106 - Zachary Van Alst, Montgomery Catholic HS (Alabama)
113 - Bradley Beaulieu, Marshwood HS (Maine)
113 - Jake Brindley, Lake Highland Prep (Florida) - 2X FL champ
113 - Hunter Dusold, Locust Valley HS (New York)
113 - Christian Miller, Plainview HS (Nebraska)
113 - Reid Stewart, Brookville HS (Virginia)
120 - Knox Fuller, Bradley Central HS (Tennessee)
120 - Grant Hall, Croatan HS (North Carolina)
120 - Quentin Hovis, Seton Catholic Prep (Arizona)
120 - Franco Valdez, Southwest HS (Florida)
120 - Joshua Wyland, Benedictine College (Virginia)
126 - Hayden Hastings, Sheridan HS (Wyoming)
126 - Victor Plante II, Bedford HS (New Hampshire)
132 - Gil Gerber, Arrichion HS (North Carolina)
132 - Jacob Hart, Independence HS (West Virginia)
138 - Jared Henry, Dayton HS (Oregon)
138 - Max Wohlabaugh, Bishop Moore HS (Florida)
152 - Noah Adams, Independence HS (West Virginia)
152 - Anthony Falbo, Newtown HS (Connecticut)
160 - Caleb Little, Jefferson HS (Georgia)
182 - Justin Allman, Parkersburg South HS (West Virginia)
195 - Jeffrey Allen, Amherst College (Virginia)
220 - Sammy Evans, Alcoa HS (Tennessee)

2013 Freshman Nationals Finals

106: Tyler Warner (Ohio) pinned Jose Tapia (New Mexico), 5:45
113: Kyle Norstrem (Florida) dec. Trent Olson (Wyoming), 11-6
120: Jarrett Degen (Montana) dec. Kellen Devlin (New York), 6-4
126: Kevin Budock (Maryland) dec. Max Pickett (New Jersey), 4-3
132: Christopher Mauriello (New York) dec. Jimmy Saylor (Pennsylvania), 9-4
138: Daniel Bullard (Georgia) dec. Ryan Peters (New Hampshire), 6-0
145: Thomas Bullard (Georgia) pinned Joey Nadotti (Florida), 3:24
152: Jordan Torbitt (New York) major dec. Dean Drugac (New Jersey), 10-0
160: Brandon Dallavia (New Jersey) major dec. John Jakobsen (Pennsylvania), 12-2
170: Nick Svarda (Ohio) dec. Alan Clothier (Kansas), 11-8
182: Drew Phipps (Pennsylvania) pinned Christian Araneo (New York), 0:56
195: Matthew Correnti (New Jersey) dec. Kobe Woods (Indiana), 13-7
220: Kordell Chaney (Ohio) dec. Joe Hensley (Ohio), 8-7
285: Jake Beistel (Pennsylvania) dec. Edwin Rubio (New York), 4-3

2013 Freshman National Team Scores

1. New York – 208.5

2. Pennsylvania – 207.5

3. Ohio – 204

4. New Jersey – 184.5
5. Virginia – 135.5

Seven defending NHSCA champs entered in 2014 Junior Nationals

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

It's hard to handicap the 2014 NHSCA Junior Nationals because of the amount of talent that will descend upon Virginia Beach for the 25th Annual National High School Coaches Association's High School National Wrestling Championships.

From top-to-bottom, the NHSCA Junior Nationals are deep with talent.  There are 19 wrestlers entered that are three-time state champs (see below), plus a large number of wrestlers that have captured between one-and-two state championships.

There are also seven 2013 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champs back to defend their titles as juniors.

At 120, three-time West Virginia state champ Jordan Allen from Huntington High School is looking for his second straight NHSCA gold medal.  Allen won the 113-pound gold in 2013.

At 152-pounds, last year's 145-pound champ Corbin Allen of Hanover High School in Virginia is looking to defend his NHSCA gold medal.  This past year, Allen won Virginia's Class 4A state title at 152-pounds.

Allen's main competition may come from three-time Maine state champ and defending 2013 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champ Cody Hughes of Marshwood High School.  Hughes was 49-1 this past season and owns a lifetime record of 149-9.
Another three-time state champ entered in the 2014 Junior Nationals is Tevis Bartlett of Cheyenne East High School in Wyoming.  The 2013 Sophomore Nationals champ at 182 is entered at 195 this year.  Barlett, who also won the 2012 NHSCA Freshman Nationals at 182-pounds, was a perfect 46-0 this year and he's also Wyoming's top high school football players with Division I scholarship offers in football.

Like Bartlett, Kenneth Brinson of Marist High School in Georgia is looking for his third straight NHSCA gold medal. After winning freshman and sophomore titles at 195, Brinson moves-up to 220-pounds for the 2014 NHSCA Junior Nationals.

Awaiting Brinson in the 220-pound weight class is defending 2013 NHSCA Sophomore National champ Austin Myers of Campbell County High in Kentucky, who is also looking for his third straight NHSCA championship.  Myers has won three straight Kentucky state wrestling championships.

Benjamin Schram of Bellbrook High School in Ohio, who has also won two NHSCA gold medals and was last year's 160 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champ, is up at 170-pounds this year. Making the trip east will east from Arizona will be Ryan Allred of Camp Verde High School in Arizona.  Allred, who is entered in the Junior Nationals at 138 pounds, is a three-time Arizona state champ, who has only lost one match in his high school career.

Returning 2013 NHSCA Sophomore Nationals' Finalists

Corbin Allen, Hanover HS (Virginia) - 1st, 145
Jordan Allen, Huntington HS (West Virginia) - 1st, 113
Tevis Barlett, Cheyenne East HS (Wyoming) - 1st, 182
Kenneth Brinson, Marist HS (Georgia) - 1st, 195
Cody Cordes, Wyoming Valley West HS (Pennsylvania) - 2nd, 145
Christopher Favoroso, Jensen Beach HS (Florida) - 2nd, 182
Johnny Garcia, Danbury HS (Connecticut) - 2nd, 160
Cody Hughes, Marshwood HS (Maine) - 1st, 152
Dylan Lucas, Brandon HS (Florida) - 2nd, 126
Austin Myers, Campbell County (Kentucky) - 1st, 220
Jake Newhouse, Perry HS (Ohio) - 2nd, 106
Adam Olsen, Highpoint Central HS (North Carolina) - 2nd, 285
Benjamin Schram, Bellbrook HS (Ohio) - 1st, 160

2014 NHSCA Junior National 3-Time State Champs

113 - Jonathan Ragsdale, Gordon Lee HS (Georgia)
106 - Arick Shankles, Muscle Shoals HS (Alabama)
113 - Mitchel Langford, North Henderson HS (North Carolina)
113 - Kyson Levin, Pleasant Grove HS (Utah)
120 - Jordan Allen, Huntington HS (West Virginia)
120 - Chris Debien, Cleveland HS (Tennessee) 
120 - Troy Gassaway, Mt. Anthony (Vermont)
120 - Gresh Jones, Sidney HS (Montana)
126 - Fred Green, Orting HS (Washington)
126 - Seth Johnson, Brother Martin HS (Louisiana)
126 - Rico Montoya, Robertson HS (New Mexico)
132 - Dylan Lucas, Brandon HS (Florida)
132 - Matt Weber, Forsyth HS (Montana)
138 - Ryan Allred, Camp Verde HS (Arizona)
138 - Max Thomsen, Union (Iowa)
138 - Anthony Juckes, Fort Lupton HS (New Mexico)
145 - Neal Richards, Matoaca HS (Virginia)
152 - Cody Hughes, Marshwood HS (Maine)
160- Jackson Howarth, Marshwood HS (Maine)
195 - Tevis Barlett, Cheyenne East HS (Wyoming)
220 - Austin Myers, Campbell County HS (Kentucky)

40th Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

It's called the Rose Bowl of Wrestling and Sunday the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic will turn 40.

This year's USA All-Stars versus Pennsylvania All-Stars format at the University of Pittsburgh will feature 26 wrestlers that have combined to win 57 state and national prep titles.  The US team features four, 4-time state champs.

Here are the match-ups with USA All-Star first:

113 - *Brent Fleetwood (Smyrna, DE) vs. Ethan Lizak (Parkland)
120-  Nathan Boston (Woodford Co., KY) vs. Dalton Macri (Canon-McMillan)
126 - Steve Micic (Hanover Central, IN) vs. Zeke Moisey (Bethlehem Catholic)
132 - Josh Albers (Dakota, IL) vs. Ian Brown (Hanover)
138 - Joey McKenna (Blair Academy, NJ) vs. Solomon Chishko (Canon-McMillan)
145 - *Tyler Berger (Crook County, OR) vs. Jason Noll (Kittanning)
152 - Bryce Brill (Mount Carmel, IL) vs. T.C. Warner (Cumberland Valley)
160 - *Ryan Blees (Bismark, ND) vs. Garrett Peppleman (Central Dauphin)
170 - Bo Nickal (Allen TX) vs. Stephen Loiseau (Lancaster Catholic)
182 - Joe Dixon (Edmond North, OK) vs. Zack Zavatsky (Latrobe)
195 - *Chip Ness (Buford, GA) vs. Tristan Sponseller (Bermudian Springs)
220 - Kyle Snyder (Good Counsel, MD) vs. Michael Boykin (Coatesville)
285 - Nick Nevillis (Clovis, CA) vs. Thomas Haines (Solanco)

*- 4X state champ

USA Head Coach - Adam Tirapelle (Clovis, CA)
PA Head Coach - Josh Shields (Burrell)

Kicking off the event will be the western Pennsylvania (WPIAL) All-Stars taking on Oklahoma All-Stars.

The Wrestling Webers coming to NHSCA's

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

The Weber wrestling family in Montana had a perfect year when it came to state high school wrestle titles - 3 for 3.  Brothers Brandon, Luke and Matt, who wrestle for Forsyth High School in Montana finished with a combined 168-2 record this year with all three winning Montana B-C individual state championships for their dad Scott, who is the team's head coach.

All three Weber brothers will be making the trek east later this month to take part in the 25th Annual NHSCA National High School Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Brandon Weber, who will wrestle in the NHSCA Senior Nationals, is Montana's all-time leader in wins and a three-time state champ.  He finished 56-0 this season, winning the last 134 matches of his career. His overall record in high school is 200-9.

Matt Weber, who will wrestle in the NHSCA Junior Nationals, may be able to top his brother's all-time wins record next year.  In February, Matt won the Montana Class B-C 126-pound title with a 55-2 mark. He'll enter his senior season with an overall record of 147-9. Matt will have a chance to become a four-time state champ during the 2014-15 season.

And, if Matt breaks Brandon's record, it may be Luke Weber, a sophomore this year, who will top both of them.  Matt won his second straight state title this year with a 57-0 record. He's won 81 straight matches and owns an overall record of 104-4.

The trio's dad Scott Weber is a Forsyth grad won his own state title and finished runner-up twice in his high school career.  After graduation Scott trained for two years at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and then went-on to become a Navy SEAL for five years in the 80's.

The Weber wrestle tradition will last many more years with 8th grader Nathan and 7th grader Michael waiting in the wings.

Registration for the year's silver anniversary event that will be held March 27th through the 30th is open at nhsca.com.

25th annual NHSCA National High School Wrestling Championships to feature six clinics by top-notch coaches from around America

by Jeff Fisher

Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

Follow @NHSCARadioShow

The National High School Coaches Association has announced that the Silver Anniversary Edition of the National High School Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia on March 27-30, 2014 will once again feature top-notch clinics taught be some of the best coaches in America.  The 25^th annual NHSCA National High School Wrestling Championships feature five divisions of competition that will be held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.

The clinics get started Thursday night, March 27^th with 2012 USA Olympic Team member Jake Herbert, who is a 2-time NCAA champ and 4-time All-American at Northwestern.  Herbert, who finished runner-up in 2003 at the NHSCA Senior Nationals, won a silver medal at the 2009 World Championships.  Cliff Keen sponsors the Herbert clinic.

There will be three clinics on Friday, two with college coaches – Teague Moore, head coach at American University and Kevin Dresser, head coach at Virginia Tech.  Moore, who was a 1996 NHSCA Senior National Champ, was a 2-time NCAA national champ at Oklahoma State.  Dresser was a NCAA champ and 2-time All-American during his career at Iowa. Our third clinic on Friday will feature Damion Logan, Michigan’s 2-time NCAA champ, who is the founder of the Apex Wrestling School.

On Saturday, 3-time World Champ Gene Mills will host a clinic.  Mills, who is the head coach at Pin 2 Win, won two NCAA titles at Syracuse.  Later on Saturday, 2014 NHSCA Coach of the Year Dave Dean of Lowell High School in Michigan will put-on a clinic.  Dean was a 2-time NCAA All-American at Minnesota that included a national runner-up finish.

The action-packed weekend ends off the mat with our College Recruiting Fair from 3 P.M. to 5 P.M.

To register for the 25^th annual NHSCA National High School Wrestling Championships, go to nhsca.com.

NHSCA Clinic Schedule

Thursday, March 27, 2014

5:30-6:30p.m.  Jake Herbert 2X NCAA Champ & USA Olympic Team member, sponsored by Cliff Keen

Friday, March 28, 2014

8am-9am   Damion Logan, Founder of Apex Wrestling School

12pm-1pm  Teague Moore, Head Coach at American University

4pm-5pm  Kevin Dresser, Head Coach at Virginia Tech

  

Saturday, March 29, 2014

8am-9am  Gene Mills, Head Coach at Pin 2 Win
3pm - 4pm Dave Dean, Head Coach at Lowell High School (Michigan), 2014 NHSCA Coach of the Year 

Sunday, March 30, 2014

3pm-5pm  College Recruiting Fair