Blair Places Second at Nation’s Top Wrestling Tournament

RUSSELL, SHANAMAN, MASON, AND MEDINA ALL CAPTURE TOP PLACE FINISHES AT WALSH IRONMAN TOURNAMENT

BLAIR SCORES 237 POINTS... ST. EDWARD OF OHIO TAKES TOP SPOT WITH 260 POINTS

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio: When the 2006-2007 Blair Academy wrestling squad traveled to Walsh Jesuit High School on December 9 for the annual Ironman Wrestling Tournament, the seniors were starting to feel the heat of being number one for six straight years…the juniors were too for that matter. After all, the Ironman is, hands-down, the #1 tournament in the USA and Blair Academy is the #1 wrestling program in the nation.

Individually, the Buc athletes stepped up and met their challenges, but they didn't – as a team – come away with a first-place trophy, something that hasn't happened in six years.

“As in the past, this tournament is determined by who wrestles well in the wrestle-backs. St. Edward wrestled extremely well in the consolation rounds demonstrating greater team depth last week,” Jeff Buxton, Blair Head Coach said. “I am pleased, however, by Kyle Hanson, who had a gutsy performance at heavyweight placing sixth and scoring us points.”
 
With this runner-up finish, can Blair win its seventh national title in-a-row? You betcha they can! But first, the feisty Bucs must put on a show at the Beast of the East Tournament in Delaware this weekend (December 16 and 17), win the NHSCA Final Four, and then travel to Cleveland for a THROWDOWN-SHOWDOWN with the Eagles of St. Edward of Ohio.  Be there!
 
Let’s talk about the Ironman first though.

"We wrestled well in the finals coming away with four champions and two other finalists, who dropped one-point bouts. This is a tremendous accomplishment for any team at a tournament of this caliber,” said Jeff Buxton.
 
THE ROCK STARS/CHAMPIONS/FINALISTS/HANSEN:

• Kellen Russell, who is looking extremely focused, pinned Chase Skonieczny of Walsh Jesuit in 2:21 at 130 lbs. Russell is rough-housing everyone this year.
• Rock-solid Max Shanaman defeated Ben Jordon (who is top-10 ranked wrestler) 1-0 in the 135 lbs. finals
• Super Mario Mason continued the Blair winning ways with an important 5-2 dec. over Shawn Harris of St. Edward. (Harris is ranked # 12 in the USA)
• Eric Medina smashed through his 152 lbs. bracket and finished up with a 5-3 win over Thomas Strauhgn of Massillon Perry of Ohio.
• In a battle of the nation’s #1 vs. #2 at 215 lbs. Blair’s Jared Platt fell to #1 Cody Gardner of Christiansburg (Virginia) 6-5. Platt will look for redemption at the Beast this weekend.
• Chris Villalonga fell to Tony Ramos of Glenbard North of Illinois, 3-2 at 112 lbs. Ramos is a nationally-ranked wrestler; Chris is now on his way to a national ranking.
• Kyle Hanson placed sixth at heavyweight for the Bucs, helping out with some crucial bonus points.

Final team scores: St. Edward (Ohio) 260, Blair Academy (New Jersey) 237, St. Paris Graham (Ohio) 174, Montini (Illinois) 140.5, Glenbard North (Illinois) 129.

“This tournament always shows us what we need to work on and we will certainly be ready when we meet St. Edward on February 3. I am looking forward to it. This is what sport is all about,” said coach Buxton. “We will be ready.”