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By Wayne Catan
January 2005

Blair Academy Defeats #2 Great Bridge 42-13 to Keep Its #1 National Ranking

Bucs Finish the Night with a 39-23 Win Over #5 Easton; Mario Mason Named Event’s Outstanding Wrestler

The Blair Academy Buccaneers, the nation’s #1-ranked wrestling team entered Easton’s 25th Street Gym with two goals in mind: A) to stay undefeated and B) to keep its # 1 national ranking. It wouldn’t be easy as Blair had to face the #2-ranked team in the nation – Great Bridge of Virginia at 10:00 a.m. – the first session of the NHSCA Final Four of Wrestling.    

The match started with a BANG!!! as Ross Gitomer took down Bryan Lashomb with zero ticks on the clock for an 8-5 at 119 lbs. At 125 Max Shanaman beat a tough Derek Gillespie 10-2.

Then came Super Mario. And I mean Super Mario. Ladies and gentleman Mario Mason has arrived…and with a vengeance.

The freshman sensation defeated #5-ranked Jordan Frishkorn 7-4. Mason dominated the entire match against Frishkorn with sweeping low single leg attacks and strong mat acumen.  Mason pulled a hat trick at the Final Four by defeating three nationally ranked wrestlers. (Mason also defeated Nick Ramirez of Rio Rancho, 8-2, {a Fargo All-American} and Josh Oliver {ranked #7 in the nation} of Easton 5-4--thus earning him the NHSCA Final Four Outstanding Wrestler Award.  

Back to Blair vs. Great Bridge: Travis Blasco out-funked Adam Pittman, 13-9 at 135 lbs. and Adam Frey followed with a nice 7-5 victory over defending Virginia state champion Junior Pearman at 140 lbs.  “Big Jim Powers” avenged an earlier season loss to Matt Richardson by pinning him in 1:56 at heavyweight; Eric Medina also had a pin at 145 lbs. Hudson Taylor the #4 ranked 189-pounder in the USA lost a battle of the behemoths at 189 lbs. to #-1 ranked Patrick Bond 5-3.  Tyler Thurgood was impressive at 160 lbs. with a 15-2 drubbing over Scott Cust; Thurgood has made great strides and is ready for the next level.  Kyle Manley (215 lbs.) and Rollie Peterkin (112 lbs.) each earned decisions and Mike Gutilla out-gutted Tim Hill 15-5 at 171 lbs.  The final score was Blair 42 Great Bridge 13.  And, that was #1 vs. #2.

“Our team was battling through adversity the entire week and the NHSCA Final Four meet was a trial of our mental toughness. I am proud of the way we responded to the challenges set forth by Great Bridge, Easton and Rio Rancho,” said Jeff Buxton, Blair Head Coach.

Blair beat #16-ranked Rio Rancho in the afternoon session, 59-12. The highlight of that match was-you got it-SUPER MARIO-he defeated a tough Nick Ramirez 8-2. Other highlights included Jim Powers’ 8-2 win at heavyweight and Kellen Russell’s 7-4 decision over Vincent Verella. And, that was #1 vs. #16

The Easton match was a battle of wills.  Leading the way for the Bucs were (you got it) Mario Mason, who defeated the #7-ranked wrestler in the nation at 130 lbs, Josh Oliver, 5-4, and Jim Powers, who played a major roll in the match with a pin at heavyweight. Rollie Peterkin answered with a pin at 112 lbs and Hudson Taylor painted Cory Rutt into the mat in just 45 seconds. Final score Blair 39 Easton 23. And, that was #1 vs. #5.  

Blair heads to Cleveland, Ohio this Saturday (January 29) for the St. Edwards’ Quadrangular Meet, which will feature #1 Blair vs. # 6 Edward’s and several other top-tier teams.