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By Wayne Catan
February 2005

Blair Defeats #6-Ranked St. Edward’s of Ohio 27-23 to Nail Number One National Ranking for the Fifth Year in a Row

Bucs Also Defeat Cincinnati Moeller and Mt. Carmel of Illinois to Win St. Edward’s Super Quad

It all came down to the 140 lb. match, where Travis Blasco defeated Sean Nemec, 9-5, to seal the deal 27-23 for the Blair Buccaneers. The crowd inside the St. Edward’s gymnasium was going crazy as Blasco put the finishing touches on Sean Nemec (a cadet national champion and Beast champ) for the Blair victory and the nation’s #1 ranking—for the fifth straight year.   That’s right ladies and gentleman Blair Academy is the dynasty in prep wrestling.  The team strove for five and got five…five national titles that is!  The years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. 

There were several highlights throughout the hard-fought Blair vs. St. Edward’s dual including Mario Mason’s 10-9 victory over Errol Young, an Ohio state place-winner. Super Mario proved, again, why he is one of the top (perhaps the top freshman) in the USA.  Ross Gitomer had a last-minute takedown (again) in his 4-3 victory over Keith Sulzer at 119 lbs..  Gitomer is tough in the waning minutes of his matches and is ready for the next level. He waits for his opponents to tire then pounces on them like a lion on its pray.  And, once again Mike Gutilla gets the “Iron Horse Award” for wrestling on two bum knees. Gutilla (who was wrestling up at 171 lbs.) is one gutsy performer!  He lost his match, but saved valuable team points for the Bucs.  

“It was a testimonial of mental toughness as we moved several kids up a weight class to put our best athletes on the mat. We didn’t get the match-up we wanted at 135 lbs as they moved their star Nemec to 140 lbs. to wrestle Travis (Blasco). I wanted power against power, but we certainly found out what Travis was made of as he beat Nemec, the Beast Champion and Cadet National Champion, 9-5.  This was a total team effort as it has been for us the entire season,” said Blair Head Coach Jeff Buxton.

The dual started at 145 lbs. where a small John Mangini wrestled a great match and came away with a 7-1 victory over Mike McLaughlin. Rollie Peterkin (112 lbs.) and Adam Frey (135 lbs.), two wrestlers who will compete for the USA in the Dapper Dan Classic later this year, each registered decisions (Frey had a 15-7 major; Peterkin won 5-0).   The Team Thespian, Hudson Taylor, ripped his St. Ed’s Eagle opponent to shreds 16-1 at 189 lbs. and Eric Medina hung on for a tough 8-7 win up at 152 lbs.

Blair also defeated Mt. Carmel of Illinois 45-12 and Cincinnati Moeller 39-25 to finish out the St. Edward’s Super Quad: thus earning the nation’s #1 ranking.