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By Wayne Catan
July 2004

Blair Wrestlers Prepare for Mid-Summer Classic

TWELVE BUCS TO WRESTLE IN WORLD’S LARGEST TOURNAMENT – THE ASICS/VAUGHN JUNIOR AND CADET NATIONALS

Fargo, North Dakota: It’s the dog days of summer and the boys at Blair are still going at it – hard; nothing new for the nation’s number one prep wrestling squad; nothing comes easy and Head Coach Jeff Buxton knows that. He also knows that working hard (especially in the grueling summer heat) does have a pay-off. Just ask former Blair stars Steve Mocco, Zack Esposito, Cory Cooperman, Kurt Backes, Matt Maciag and Mark Perry – all of whom were Asics/Vaughn Junior National finalists. Mocco and Esposito own Jr. Titles while Backes and Maciag won cadet crowns. Cooperman and Perry were finalists on the Junior level.

This brings us to Fargo (where the tournament has been held since 1992) and to Wednesday, July 28-the first day of wrestling for the boys of Blair – and also the first day of freestyle competition. This year there will be more than 4,500 wrestlers competing from 49 states in the annual national showdown in the Fargodome. In that field, Blair is well represented. Here’s a preview of Blair Academy’s entrants:

JUNIOR-LEVEL (ages 17 and 18)

  • 125 Juniors: Brendan Byrne: National Dual Team member, Regional Champion
  • 130 Juniors: Travis Blasco:two-time National Prep Champion
  • 140 Juniors: Tyler Thurgood: Jr. National Dual Team and Cadet All-American
  • 152 Juniors: Mike Galante: Cadet All-American, Freestyle State Champion
  • 171 Juniors: Hudson Taylor: two-time National Prep Champion, Cadet National Champion
  • 171 Juniors: Ben Kinerson: National Prep Champion
  • 189 Juniors: Alex Maciag: National Prep Champion, Jr. All-American

CADETS (ages 16 and below):

  • 112 Cadets: Kellen Russell: National Prep Champion, Freestyle State Champion
  • 119 Cadets: Max Shanaman: N.J. Regional Champion
  • 125 Cadets: Mario Mason: Tulsa National Champion, Freestyle State Champion
  • 145 Cadets: Eric Medina: National Prep Champion, Freestyle State Champion, Northeast Regional Champion
  • 171 Cadets: Jared Platt: Prep State Champion, Northeast Regional Finalist

Team New Jersey is coached by Jeff Buxton and Pete DiBiase; Buxton will handle freestyle duties while DiBiase will concentrate on Greco-Roman. There was an intensive training camp held at Blair Academy the week of.

For results of the tournament log onto www.themat.com or www.wrestlingmall.com. Also, check back at www.blairwrestling.com for a recap of all Blair entrants.