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
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

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

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 

Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Ohio & Pennsylvania lead the Gold Rush at Freshman Nationals at 24th Annual National High School Coaches Association National Wrestling Championships

by Jeff Fisher

Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

Follow @NHSCARadioShow

Ohio crowned three individual champs at the Freshman Nationals at the 24^th annual National HighSchool Coaches Association National Wrestling Championships held April 3^rd through the 7^th in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Behind the Buckeye State was Georgia, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania with two individual champs each.

Leading the way was Tyler Warner of Claymont High School in Ohio, who followed-up his state championship by taking the gold medal at 106-pounds. Warner pinned Jose Tapia of New Mexico in the finals. 

The other Ohio champs were Nick Svarda from Carlisle High at 170-pounds and Kordell Chaney of Sandusky Perkins at 220.

Warner was one six state champs from the 2012-13 high school season that captured NHSCA gold medals.  The other 2012-13 state champs that mined gold in Virginia Beach are: Kyle Norstrem of nationally-ranked Brandon High School in Florida; Jarrett Degan of Belgrade High in Montana; Kevin Budock of Good Counsel in Maryland; and brothers Daniel and Thomas Bullard of Archer High School in Georgia.

At 152 pounds, Jordan Torbitt of Whitney Point High School in New York pinned Joe Nadotti of Florida in the finals.  Torbitt won the 2012 154-pound Middle School championship. 

Another 2012 Middle School champ Jimmy Saylor of Easton High School in Pennsylvania finished second at 132 pounds.

The team championship was a close battle with New York edging Pennsylvania by one point 208.5 to 207.5 points. Ohio finished a close third with 204 points.

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

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

New York wins Middle School Championship at 24th Annual National High School Coaches Assocation National Wrestling Championships

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

With two individual champs and one runner-up finish, New York won the team championship at the 6^th annual Middle School Nationals that were held during the 24^th annual National High School Coaches Association National Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Leading the way for the Empire State that edged-out Pennsylvania by one-and-a-half points for the team title was Mack Berkowitz, who won the title at 127, and Travis Race, who captured the 165-pound crown.  Berkowitz was a 2012 NHSCA champ.

California, which finished third in the team championship crowned three individual champs: Izzak Olejnik at 85, Navonte Demison at 90 and J.J. Figueroa at 105.

At 90-pounds, Zach Sherman, who finished third in the state in the Florida Class 1A championships at 106-pounds as an 8^th grader, finished third for the second straight year at the NHSCA Middle School Nationals.  Sherman lost his first-round match, but battled-back through wrestlebacks to win a bronze medal.

The Top 8 wrestlers in each weight class won All-American honors. To qualify of the Middle School Championship event, every wrestler had to place in the Top 8 in his official NHSCA State Championship.

The top three states all received team awards with New York taking home the National Championship Cup to display at their State Championships.

2013 Middle School Nationals Finals

75 – Tanner Jordan (Ohio) pinned Ryan Zimmerman (New Jersey) 3:54

80 – No Contest, Cole Rhone  (Pennsylvania) and Joe Klock (Pennsylvania) finalists

85 – Izzak Olejnik (California) dec. Charles Chapman (Ohio) 4-1

90 – Navonte Demison (California) dec. Collin Gerardi (Virginia) 5-3

95 – Tuck Brough (Pennsylvania) dec. David Salazar III (Arizona) 6-2

100 – Daniel Planta (Maryland) dec. Hector Colom (New York) 9-0

105 – J.J. Figueroa (California) dec. Anthony Martoccio (Pennsylvania) 7-5

112 – Jimmy Hoffman (Pennsylvania) dec. John Manning (Utah) 1-0

119 – Quinn Deaney (Maryland) dec. Ty Lucas (Florida) 5-2

127 -  Mack Berkowitz (New York) pinned Tyler Grine (Ohio) 3:57

135 – Matthew Ceparano (North Carolina) dec. Gavin Hoffman (Pennsylvania) 6-5

142 – Layne Van Anrooy (Oregon) dec. Sangobunmi Smith (Georgia) 7-1

154 – Avery Dinardi (New Jersey) dec. John Borst (Virginia) 8-7

165 -  Travis Race (New York) dec. Michael Vigil (New Mexico) 10-0

180 – Nicolas Mosco (Florida) dec. Ryan Mills (West Virginia) 12-2

230 – Eric Chakonis (New Jersey) pinned Spencer Bowler (North Carolina) 1:18

Middle School National Finals

1. New York – 200

2. Pennsylvania – 198.5

3. California – 127.5

4. New Jersey – 122.5

5. Ohio – 120.5

24th Annual NHSCA Senior National Wrestling Championships to Feature Seven 4X State Champs

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

The talent registered in the Senior Division for 24^th annual National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) National Wrestling Championships is incredible. The field includes seven 4X state champs, with wrestlers who have won a combined 203 state championships.  In addition to the seven 4X champs; there are 18 3X state champs; and 23 2X state champions.

Our four-time state champs in the Senior Division are: Michael Billingsley of Lowry High School in Nevada; Miguel Calixto of Mount Anthony Union High School in Vermont; J’den Cox of Hickman High School in Missouri; Dani Fischer of Campbell County High School in Wyoming; Joey Lavallee of Reno High School (ranked #15 in the nation) in Nevada; Ryan Nivan of Tyngsboro High School in Massachusetts and Tyler Tate from Spring Creek High School in Nevada.

While all seven 4X champs are outstanding, Cox, who will wrestle at the University of Missouri next season, hasn’t lost since his freshman year and brings a 205-3 record to Virginia Beach.  Cox won all four of his state titles at different weight classes.

There are two 2X NHSCA champs in the Senior Division field led by Dennis Gustafson of Forest Park High School in Virginia.  Gustafson, who will wrestle in college at Virginia Tech, is currently ranked 15^th in the nation according to Win Magazine.  Coleman Hammond of Bakersfield High School in California is also a 2X NHSCA champ, who is entered at 145-pounds.  Back to defend his 2012 Junior championship at 152 is Kyle Perreault of Clovis East High School in California

Another nationally-ranked wrestler in the field is two-time National Prep champion Frank Mattiace of national champion Blair Academy in New Jersey. Entered at 195 pounds, Mattiace was 160-16 during his scholastic career and ranked #7 nationally by Win Magazine.

Last year the State of California walked away with three championships in the Senior Division, followed by Florida, New Jersey and New York with two champs apiece.  California captured the Senior title with 240.5 points, followed by New York (191) and New Jersey (159.5).

Blair Academy’s (Blairstown, New Jersey) Mark Grey won the 132-pound championship and the Senior Division’s Most Outstanding Wrestler Award.

Capturing Senior titles from California were Josh Rodriguez (Righetti HS) at 120; Natrelle Demison (Bakersfield HS) at 138 and Richard Black (Chavez HS) at 220. 

Florida’s champs were Clark Glass (Brandon HS) at 160 and Doug Vollaro of Pine Castle Christian at 285.

New Jersey’s champions were Grey and Alenick Richardson (St. Peter’s Prep) at 145. 

New York gold medalists were Dylan Palacio (Long Beach HS) at 145 and Anthony Lock (Pioneer HS) at 182.

Other states with single champs in the 2012 Senior Division were Kansas, Maryland North Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

Lots of Familiar Faces in Junior Division of the 24th National High School Coaches Association National Wrestling Championships

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

This year’s Junior Nationals are loaded from top-to-bottom with eleven 3X state champs in the field, plus eight 2012 NHSCA Sophomore Division champs are back to defend their titles.  In fact, three wrestlers are looking to add a third NHSCA title to their resumes.

Nathan Rose of Sibley East High School in Minnesota, Ryan Millhof of Collins Hill in Georgia and Jesse Webb of Mount Anthony Union High School in Vermont are halfway to becoming 4X NHSCA national champs.  There have only been two wrestlers in the history of the NHSCA National Wrestling Championships to win four titles.

Millhof, who is currently ranked 5^th in the nation at 120 pounds, also owns two Georgia state championships, plus a runner-up finish as a freshman. Rose, who is currently ranked 12^th in the nation at 195, is coming-off his second straight Minnesota title. Webb, who is ranked 17^th in the nation, is a 3X Vermont state champion.

The 126-pound bracket is loaded with 3X Kentucky state champ Brock Ervin of Union County High School and 2X Colorado state champ and defending 120 pound NHSCA Sophomore champ P.T. Garcia of Bear Creek High School in Colorado entered. Also at 126 are two 2X state champs Jack Mutchnik of St. Paul’s in Maryland and Cameron Perry of Gilmer High School in Georgia.  The 126-pound bracket has registrants with a combined 17 individual state championships.

Other returning 2012 Sophomore Division champs are: 3X Delaware state champ Brent Fleetwood of Smyrna High School (ranked #3 nationally @ 113 pounds); 3X South Carolina state champ Clay Walker from Eastside High; former Blair Academy (New Jersey) wrestler P.J. Klee, who sat out this season after transferring to Cardinal Newman High School in California because of transfer rules; 3X Maryland state champ Alfred Bannister of Bishop McNamara High School (ranked #5 nationally @ 138 pounds); Larry Bomstad of Atwater-Cosmos-Grove in Minnesota, who won a state championship this year.

Another top junior is Burke Paddock of Warsaw High School in New York. Burke won an NHSCA Freshman Division title and finished runner-up last year at 160 pounds.

Last year, Pennsylvania, with three champions, won the Junior National team title with 189 points to edge-out Virginia with 186.  New York finished third with 183.5 points.  

Gold Medals abound in Sophomore Division at 24th Annual National High School Coaches Association National Wrestling Championships

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
Follow @NHSCARadioShow

The Sophomore Division of 24^th annual National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) National Wrestling Championships could be called “golden” with 45 wrestlers entered having won their respective state wrestling championships during the 2012-13 school year. Eighteen of those champs are 2X state champs, who will grace the mats at the Virginia Beach Convention Center April 3rd through the 7th.

Included in the field so far are four wrestlers that captured NHSCA titles as freshman: Conor Ross of Springstead High School in Florida at 170-pounds; Tevis Bartlett of Cheyenne East High School in Wyoming at 182; Kenneth Brinson of Marist High School in Georgia at 195-pounds and Gage Cervenka of Emerald High School in South Carolina at 285.  Bartlett and Cervenka are both two-time state champions, who both pinned their ways to gold in last year’s NHSCA Freshman championship matches.

Multiple two-time state champs entered at 106, 113, 120, 126 and 132.  Both 120 and 126 have three, two-time state champs.

Two-time winners at 120 are Troy Gassaway of Mount Anthony Union High School in Vermont, Gresh Jones of Sidney High School in Montana and Richard Montoya of Robertson High School in New Mexico.

At 126 pounds, the two-time champs are: Dylan LaFountain of Mount Anthony Union High School in Vermont; Brooks Law of Foxcroft Academy in Maine and Dylan Lucas of Brandon High School in Florida.

Pennsylvania won last year’s Sophomore Nationals with 213 points to outdistance second place Ohio and third place Virginia.  Pennsylvania didn’t claim any individual championships, but did have two runner-up finishes.  Minnesota, New Jersey and Ohio claimed two individual titles each in the Sophomore Division.  States with single champs were: California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina, Vermont and West Virginia.

Eight of last year’s Sophomore champs are entered in the Junior Division this year. They are: two-time NHSCA champs Nathan Rose of Sibley East High School in Minnesota, Ryan Millhof of Collins Hill in Georgia; and Jesse Webb of Mount Anthony Union High School in Vermont; plus 2012 champs Brent Fleetwood (Delaware) at 106, P.T. Garcia (Colorado) at 120, Clay Walker (South Carolina) at 126, P.J. Klee (California) at 132, Alfred Bannister (Maryland) at 138 and Larry Bomstad (Minnesota) at 145.

Plenty of State Champs Entered in Freshman Division at 24th Annual National High School Coaches Association National Wrestling Championships

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour
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19 wrestlers from around America who are fresh off capturing freshman state championships over the last month-and-a-half will be vying for gold in the Freshman Division of the 24^th Annual National High School Wrestling Championships at the Virginia Beach Convention Center next week.

The 106-pound bracket is loaded with nine state champs entered. In alphabetical order they are: Benjamin Anderson of Pleasant Grove High School (Utah), Jake Brindley of Lake Highland Prep (Florida), Rian Burris of White Knoll (South Carolina), Peter Del Gallo of Gardiner High School (Maine), Chris McCrackin of Banks County (Georgia), Trent Olsom of Campbell County (Wyoming), Derek Spann of Adirondack High School (New York), Dylan Udero of Las Cruces High (New Mexico) and Tyler Warner of Claymont High School (Ohio).

2012 Middle School champ Kelan McKenna of New Hartford High School in New York is entered at 103 after taking the 90-pound title last year.  Jimmy Saylor of Easton High in Pennsylvania won the 127 Middle School title last year. This year’s he’s entered at 132 pounds.  Another Middle School champ moving-up is Jordan Torbitt of Whitney Point High School in New York, who won the 154-pound title in 2012.

Last year, Pennsylvania won the Freshman Division with 199 points, beating out Ohio and Virginia.  The Keystone State won the title with only one champ to Ohio’s four individual champs it the Freshman Division.  Austin Myers of Kentucky was the division’s Outstanding Wrestler.

Four of last year’s champs are back to defend their 2012 titles in the Sophomore Division.  2012 Freshman champs that are competing this year are: Conor Ross (Florida) at 170, Tevis Bartlett (Wyoming) at 182, Ken Brinson (Georgia) at 195 and Gage Cervenka (South Carolina) at 285.

24th annual NHSCA High School Wrestling National Championships - Junior Division

by Jeff Fisher
NHSCA Sports Hour Host
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With plenty of time to still register for the 24^th annual National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) National Wrestling Championships, the field in the Junior Division is stocked from top-to-bottom. As of March 15th, wrestlers who have won a combined 100 state championships have registered for the Junior Nationals April 3-7, 2013 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Currently there are eight 3X state champs registered in the Junior Division, plus eight 2012 NHSCA Sophomore Division champs are back to defend their titles.

The 126-pound bracket is loaded with Brock Ervin of Union County High School in Kentucky, P.T. Garcia of Bear Creek High School in Colorado and Clay Walker of Eastside High School in South Carolina.  Ervin and Walker are 3X state champs; Garcia is a 2X state champ. Last year at the NHSCA’s, Garcia won the 120-pound Sophomore Division championship, while Walker was the 126-pound champ.  Right now the 126-pound bracket has registrants with a combined 17 individual state championships.

Nathan Rose of Sibley East High School in Minnesota is halfway to becoming just the third 4X NHSCA national champ. Rose, who is currently ranked 12^th in the nation, is coming-off his second straight Minnesota title. Rose, who will be trying to defend his Sophomore Division 195-pound title in the same weight class, won NHSCA titles as a freshman and a sophomore.

Other returning 2012 Sophomore Division champs are: 3X Delaware state champ Brent Fleetwood of Smyrna High School; former Blair Academy (New Jersey) wrestler P.J. Klee, who sat out this season after transferring to Cardinal Newman High School in California; 3X Maryland state champ Alfred Bannister of Bishop McNamara High School; Larry Bomstad of Atwater-Cosmos-Grove in Minnesota, who won a state championship this year; and Jesse Webb, a 3X Vermont state champ at Mount Anthony Union High School.

Other top juniors registered are Ryan Milhof of Collins Hill High School in Georgia and Burke Paddock of Warsaw High School in New York. Milhof is ranked 5^th in the nation at 120 pounds, while Paddock is ranked 11^th at 160.  Milhof and Burke both won an NHSCA Freshman Division titles. Burke finished runner-up last year.

Last year was another record-breaking year with over 2,407 wrestlers competing in the NHSCA’s five championship divisions: Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman and Middle School.  In the four high school divisions in 2012, there were over 800 state champions and 1,600 state place winners competing for the coveted title of NHSCA national champ.  In addition to crowning individual champs, the NHSCA names wrestlers All-Americans for finishing in the Top 8 in each weight class.

NHSCA Senior National Division Loaded with State Wrestling Champs

by Jeff Fisher

NHSCA Sports Hour Host

Follow @NHSCAradioshow

 

With two weeks to go before the 24^th annual NationalHigh School Coaches Association (NHSCA) National Wrestling Championships, the talent registering in the Senior Division continues to build.  As of Friday wrestlers who have won a combined 119 state championships have registered for the Senior Nationals April 3-7, 2013 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Right now the field includes five, four-time state champs; four, three-time states champs; and 17, two time state champions.

The four-time state champs in the Senior Division that have registered so far are: 

J’den Cox of Hickman High School in Missouri; Dani Fischer of Campbell County High School in Wyoming; Joey Lavallee of Reno High School in Nevada; Ryan Nivan of Tyngsboro High School in Massachusetts and Tyler Tate from Spring Creek High School in Nevada.

There are two, two-time NHSCA champs currently in the Senior Division field led by Dennis Gustafson of Forest Park High School in Virginia.  Gustafson, who will wrestle in college at Virginia Tech, is currently ranked 15^th in the nation, according to Win Magazine.  Coleman Hammond of Bakersfield High School in California is also a two-time NHSCA champ, who is entered at 152-pounds.

Two-time National Prep champion Frank Mattiace of national champion Blair Academy in New Jersey is in the field at 195-pounds. Mattiace was 160-16 during his scholastic career and ranked #7 nationally by Win Magazine.

For more information on the 24th annual national championships, go to nhsca.com.

24th annual NHSCA National Wrestling Championships set for April 3-7

by Jeff Fisher
Follow @NHSCAradioshow

The National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) is pleased to announce that the prestigious NHSCA National Wrestling Championships will be held April 3-7, 2013 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  This is the 24^th straight year that the NHSCA has brought the high school wrestling community together to determine the best-of-the-best in America.

Last year was another record-breaking year with over 2,407 wrestlers competing in our five championship divisions: Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman and Middle School.  In the four high school divisions in 2012, there were over 800 state champions and 1,600 state place winners competing for the coveted title of NHSCA national champ.  In addition to crowning individual champs, the NHSCA names wrestlers All-Americans for finishing in the Top 8 in each weight class.

“This year’s tourney going to be even bigger than last year’s amazing tournament,” said Bobby Ferraro, Junior, Executive Director of the National High School Coaches Association.  “With more than two weeks to go before the competition, we have wrestlers registered from 44 states, plus an entrant from Europe.  The most important thing is the number of college coaches that our event attracts.  As in years past, last year over 200 college coaches descended upon Virginia Beach to check-out our incredible field of talent.”

Ferraro added, “The depth of the tournament is evidenced by the fact that in the past that 90% of NCAA All-Americans competed at the NHSCA National at some point during their high school wrestling careers.”

Already registered in the Senior Division are two two-time NHSCA National Gold Medalists: Dennis Gustafson of Forest Park High School in Virginia and Coleman Hammond from Bakersfield High School in California.  One of the top returners in the Junior Division is Burke Paddock of Warsaw High School in New York, who has claimed a gold and silver in his two years at the NHSCA Nationals.

If you can’t make it to Virginia Beach to watch the national championships in-person, the NHSCA will televise action on all 28 mats on the High School Television Network. Go to NHSCA.com for more information on the telecast.