Blair Grapplers Shine at Asics/Vaughn Cadet and Junior Nationals

RUSSELL, GEIGER, PLATT IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA

Fargo, North Dakota: When 130-pounder Kellen Russell laced up his wrestling shoes for his national finals bout against Adam Koballa of Ohio he knew he would be making Blair Academy wrestling history, so he didn’t want to blow his chance by taking second place, by becoming a bridesmaid.

Don’t worry folks Kellen is no bridesmaid…he kept his eye on the ball and smashed his finals opponent, Koballa 6-0, 2-0, and is a Jr. National Champion, the ultimate achievement for a high school freestyle wrestler. Now, Russell joins Blair greats such as Steve Mocco, Zack Esposito, Colin Kilrain, Adam Frey, Robbie Preston, Mark Leiberman, among others as a Jr. National Champion. Please excuse the mixed metaphors there.

“Kellen controlled the tempo of all his matches and hand-fought really well,” Blair Head Coach Jeff Buxton said.

The National Introduction of Jared Platt!
Losing in the finals at 215 lbs. was another Blair athlete—Jared Platt. He was edged-out of a national title by Virginia’s Cody Gardner 1-0, 1-1. Platt showed the nation’s best college coaches why he is now a #1-pick; a blue chipper; a prize recruit; perhaps the top recruit in the USA. Platt blew through his side of brackets and didn’t give up one point. Jared Platt has arrived and with a vengeance.

“Jared completely dominated his side of the bracket. I am proud of the way he wrestled. Gardner was a bit bigger than Jared, but Jared showed everyone how much he has improved,” Buxton said. “He’s turning into a real terror.”

Ryland Geiger (189 lbs.) became the first Blair athlete to win both styles in the Cadet Division. (Adam Frey, who now competes for Cornell, won both styles in the Junior Division.) Geiger came back in freestyle to beat a tough Jacob Scharbrough of Idaho 0-6, 5-0, 6-3. Geiger toughed it out on the Greco side and beat Nick Pica of California 5-0, 2-2 for the 189 lbs. Greco-Roman title.

“It was a good tournament for our entire squad. They all did extremely well and should be proud of themselves. Some of our guys were just a match away from placing, but they will use that as motivation for the upcoming season,” Buxton continued. “I and the kids love the National Duals and we now use them as a warm up for the Cadets and Jr. Nationals. They (the national duals) are getting tougher every year and it’s great for the sport.”

Incoming Blair athletes Chris Villalonga and Corey Peltier were both runner-ups in the Cadet Division; Villalonga at 105 lbs., Peltier at 160 lbs.

Travis Blasco, a four-time National Prep Champion placed 3rd at 145 lbs.; Mario Mason had a nice tournament and placed 5th at 140 lbs.; Max Shanaman toughed out a late summer sickness and placed 5th at 135 lbs. In all Blair had five All-Americans in the Junior Division.

Tony Buxton, Adam Hogue, Andrew LaJara, Jessie Shanaman, and Garrett Frey gained invaluable experience in Fargo on the Cadet side with great tournaments. Ried Fliehr, Wes Rosamilia and Victor Mocco wrestled really well for Blair in the junior division and are ready to turn it up a notch.

Team New Jersey won the Acordia Cup for finishing first place in the Jr. Division with 66 points. Coach Buxton was the coach for Team New Jersey leading the way to a National Title. Ohio placed second and Missouri took home the third place trophy.