Middle School Nationals Enter 6th Year of Competition with the NHSCA Big Boys at National High School Wrestling Championships

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

It’s been six years since the National High School Coaches Association added a Middle School Division to the National High School Wrestling Championships - since then the number of competitors continues to increase.  

What does that mean?  It means that we should have the biggest fields ever when the national championships open April 3rd in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

To qualify for the 24^th NHSCA Middle School Championship event in Virginia Beach, every wrestler had to place in the Top 8 in his official NHSCA State Championship during the prior year.

One of the most intriguing entries is Zach Sherman at 90 pounds.  Sherman, who is an 8^th grader, competed at the varsity level this year at American Heritage High School in Florida during the 2012-13 school year.  Sherman had an incredible year finishing third in the state in Class 1A at 106 pounds. 

Last year Sherman placed 3^rd at the NHSCA’s at 80 pounds.

Then there’s Jonathan Loew of Wantagh High School in New York, who started at 99 pounds on his school’s varsity team as a 7^th grader.  Loew’s record was 25-8 this year and he’s entered at 100 pounds.

Hunter Owens (Virginia) is a 3X NHSCA Middle School All-American entered at 112 pounds.

Past NHSCA Middle School All-Americans in the field this week include: Mack Berkowitz (New York); 2X NHSCA All-American Vincent Deale (New York); Tanner Pasvogel (Minnesota); and Adam Wagner (New York);

Each competitor also will have the opportunity to score points for his state. The top three states will receive team awards, and the winning state will take home the National Championship Cup to display at their State Championships.

Last year New York crowned four champs; Virginia three; and Alabama, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Utah had once champ each.

Virginia Wrestler Blake Roulo Gets Four-Peat at NHSCA Wrestling Championships

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

Blake Roulo of Mantoaca High School in Virginia, who joined us on the March 30th NHSCA Sports Hour, won his fourth straight National High School Coaches Association national wrestling championship Sunday at the 22nd Annual NHSCA Senior Division wrestling championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Roulo beat three-time Colorado state champ Travis Himmelman of Conifer High School 3-1 in overtime to become just the second wrestler to win four straight NHSCA national championships. Last year Tyler Beckwith of Greene High School in New York became the first wrestler to pull-off a four-peat.

California won the team title with four wrestlers capturing gold medals. Overall 16 states were represented in the finals.

Below are the results for the Sr. Division championship round...

103 – Josh Smith (Ashbrook HS, NC) dec. Michael Clemmensen (Atascadero HS, CA) 9-7 OT
112- Nahshon Garrett (Chico HS, CA) dec. Evan Link (Penn Cambria HS, PA) 3-2
119- Fabian Garcia (Turlock HS, CA) pinned Antwan Davis (Parkland, NC) in 1:12
125 – Vince Rodriguez (Clovis North HS, CA) dec. Chris Perez (MacArthur HS, NY) 5-4
130 – Coltin Fought (Benton, PA) dec. Lou Mascola (Seton Hall Prep, NJ) 9-4
135 – Terrel Wilbourn (Francis Howell Central HS, MO) dec. Taylor Moeder (St. James HS, KS) 5-4
140 – Blake Roulo (Matoaca HS, VA) dec. Travis Himmelman (Conifer HS, CO) 3-1 OT
145 – James Green (Willingboro HS, NJ) dec. Pete Baldwin (Osceola HS, FL) 10-5
152 – Chad Welsh (Castle HS, IN) dec. Christian Barber (Westfield HS, NJ) 1-0
160 – Bryce Hammond (Bakersfield HS, CA) dec. Austin Wilson (Hastings St. Cecelia HS, NE) 7-4
171 – Kris Klapprodt (Rapid City Stevens HS, SD) dec. Jakob Scheffel (Southern Garrett HS, MD) 3-2
189 – Patrick Downey (North County HS, MD) dec. Victor Avery (Foxboro HS, MA) 3-1
215 – Nick Gwiazdowski (Duanesburg HS, NY) pinned Patrick Gillen (Shelton HS, CT) in 4:57
HWT. – Conner Medbery (Loveland HS, CO) dec. Collin Campbell (Person HS, NC) 3-1

2,525 Wrestlers to Descend on Virginia Beach for 2011 NHSCA National Championships

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

National High School Coaches Association Executive Director Bobby Ferraro announced today that 2,525 wrestlers have entered the 22nd NHSCA National Championships that will take place later this week in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

48 states and one European country will be represented when action begins Thursday morning.  The field includes 832 state titles with eight four-time state champs; 52 three-time state champs and 127 two-time state champs.

The national championship final will begin at 5 o'clock Sunday afternoon.

For more information, go to the NHSCA website at www.nhsca.com.