Blair Academy Trips on Road to Rival St. Edward of Ohio

CLEVELAND SCHOOL MOVES INTO #1 NATIONAL RANKING IN FINAL BOUT OF EVENING-BLAIR FALLS TO #2

Cleveland, Ohio: There’s an adage that we have all heard before and it goes like this “all good things must come to an end.” This is one adage that Blair Head Wrestling Coach Jeff Buxton has heard from wrestling aficionados and fans but was reluctant in his ways of interpreting it.

“I know that our streak of being named #1 team in the USA had to come to an end... I just didn’t know when. I take my hat off to St. Edward, its coaches and its wrestlers,” said Jeff Buxton. (Blair has been named the #1 team in the USA for six straight years.)

THE MATCH:
The dual started at 160 lbs. – and St. Edward started with a bang with its star two-time Ohio State Champion Sean Nemec – who won by a major decision. The Eagles had a 22-4 lead through the first six bouts. Helping mount the 22-4 lead were Chris Honeycutt who came up big at 189 lbs.; Ben Kuhar who won by regular decision over Kyle Hanson at heavyweight; and Jamie Clark who registered a fall at 103 lbs.

THE BUCS ANSWER THE CALL:
Coming up big for the Blair Bucs were Garret Frey who scored a fall at 119 lbs.; Jared Platt who won by a major decision at 215 lbs.; Eric Medina (at 145 lbs.); Mario Mason at 145 lbs. who defeated Ohio State Champion Shawn Harris; Kellen Russell at 125 lbs-who nearly had a fall (which would have earned precious bonus points), and Max Shanaman at 135 lbs.

Dan Gonsor clinched the dual win for the St. Edward Eagles by defeating Adam Hogue, 9-4, in the final bout of the evening. Blair was winning the bout 27-26 heading into the final bout.

“This was very exciting as it went pretty much as expected – i.e., each team winning seven bouts... and knowing that the match would come down to bonus points. St. Edward wrestled well in their home gym as their fans made it a very spiritual and electric event,” said Jeff Buxton.

Kellen Russell, Blair’s #1-ranked 130-pounder echoed Coach Buxton’s sentiment:
“It felt good wrestling in a place where people appreciate wrestling. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a high school match. This will help me get ready for college as most {college duals} are pretty close,” Russell said.

“This was billed as an epic struggle and it was. The lead changed hands mid-way through the match and momentum played a factor as the match started at 160 lbs. They got a very commanding lead early on and on two occasions they were able to fight off their backs to avoid the fall (and big bonus points). This was great for the sport of wrestling. I and our guys look forward to doing it again,” Buxton said.

If St. Edward and Blair win out the rest of the season they will remain St. Edward #1, Blair #2 in the USA.