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Articles contributed by Wayne Catan
December 2003

Blair Academy Wrestlers Win the Tough “Beast of the East” Tournament

N.J. School Outscored St. Edward (Ohio) and Northampton (Penn.) to Capture Prestigious Team Title; Adam Frey Captures Lone Title for Bucs

Coming off the heels of winning the 2003 Walsh Ironman Tournament last weekend (December 13-14), Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) outscored St. Edwards of Ohio 248.5 to 199.0 to win the team title at the 11th annual “Brute Beast of the East” wrestling tournament, which is the toughest prep wrestling tournament in the USA. Adam Frey came through again for Blair by winning an individual title at 130 pounds, thus becoming Blair’s only champion for the second week in a row. Kellen Russell, who is becoming one of the nation’s premiere 103 pounders, made it to the finals but fell to a tough Aaron Hart of St. Paris Graham (Ohio) by a score of 7-3. The final team standings for the 11th Annual Beast of the East Wrestling Tournament were (national ranking precedes team name): #1 Blair Academy (248.5); #5 St. Edwards of Ohio (199.0); #3 Northampton, Penn. (186.5); #8 St. Paris Graham of Ohio (184). The competition took place December 20 and 21 at the Bob Carpenter Center on the campus of the University of Delaware. Blair Academy is a re-peat champion at the “Brute Beast of the East.”

“The competition was fantastic. In both tournaments {the Beast and Ironman} nobody thought we were going to have a champion; Adam {Frey} proved the pundits wrong there,” Jeff Buxton, Blair Academy Head Wrestling Coach, said. “Adam won it {the 130-pound title} at both tournaments.”

“Overall, it was a strong team effort. We are coming off two big tournament victories, which is great. However, we need to work on a lot of tactics such as closing out a match and numerous counters. We will be working on these tactics during the next few weeks as there is some stiff competition ahead for us,” Buxton continued.

Here’s a glance at Blair’s individual place-winners: 103 lbs: Kellen Russell, 2nd place; 112 lbs: Ross Gitomer, 5th place; 119 lbs: Travis Blasco, 4th place; 130 lbs: Adam Frey, Champion; 140 lbs: Greg Romano, 3rd place; 152 lbs: Mike Galante, sixth place; 171 lbs: Hudson Taylor, 3rd place; 189 lbs: Alex Maciag, 7th place; and 215 lbs: Ben Kinerson, 4th place. Blair Academy will go head-to-head with #5-ranked St. Edwards (of Ohio) on January 9th.

The Buccaneers will be nationally tested again at the Final Four Duals when they meet #2 Apple Valley (of Minnesota), # 8 St. Paris Graham (Ohio), and #6 Easton (Penn.). The Final Four Duals will be held at Easton High School on January 17th, 2004.

In other wrestling action, five Blair athletes competed in the Robin Leff Tournament at Southern Regional High School this past weekend. Gaining individual titles were Tyler Thurgood and Ed Allegra. Chris Stout placed second; Jay Giuricich came in third place, while Kyle Manley exited the Leff Tournament with a sixth-place finish.