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By Wayne Catan
July 2005

Blair Grapplers to Compete in Mid-Summer National Tournament

The ASICS/VAUGH Junior National Championships and Cadet National Championships to Test Blair Wrestlers’ Mettle; Blair Alumns Meltzer, Mocco Busy This Summer

Fargo, ND: Jeff Buxton is no stranger to the corner chair that sits in the coach’s box of both the Jr. National Finals and Cadet National Finals. He was the shepherd for numerous national champion Buccaneers from that spot, including Steve Mocco (three-time Junior National Champion), Zack Esposito (two-time finalist and Junior National Champion), Kurt Backes (Cadet National Champion and Junior National All-American), Robbie Preston (Junior National Champion), Damon Johnson (Junior National Champion), Hudson Taylor (Cadet National Champion), Eric Medina (Cadet National Champion), and Sean Gray (Cadet National Champion), to name just a few.  In addition, future Buc, Anthony Valles (Cadet National Champion) and Rollie Peterkin (Junior National Champion) each own one national title.

In the 1970’s NCAA greats such as Mark Lieberman (Junior National Champion) and Colin Kilrain (Junior National Champion) won Junior National crowns as a Blair Buccaneer.  Lieberman was a two-time NCAA Champion and Kilrain placed 3rd in the NCAA’s three times.  Both athletes competed for Lehigh University.

More than 4,500 wrestlers from 49 states are expected to compete in this national event July 23-30 in Fargo, North Dakota.

This year, Blair is led by Adam Frey a Junior National double place-winner and first-team Asics All-American. Fry placed 4th in Greco-Roman and 5th in Freestyle (130 lbs.) in 2004—he’s hungry to win both titles in Fargo. Frey is the hands-down favorite to win it at 130 on the junior level (both styles).  In addition, Hudson Taylor, Ross Gitomer and Rollie Peterkin will fight to stand on top of the podium.

“Hudson had and excellent Jr. Duals in Enid, Oklahoma where he went undefeated, helping Team New Jersey take second place overall. I am excited for Hudson as he has won a Cadet title but is now looking, and is very capable of,  winning a Junior National Title,” said Jeff Buxton, Blair Academy Head Coach. “Also wrestling well this spring are Max Shanaman and Ross Gitomer, both National Prep Champions. I would like to see them both high-up on the podium.”

Watch out for Rollie Peterkin, a National Prep runner-up in 2005. Rollie is experienced in Fargo as he has won both a Cadet National Title and a Junior National Title. “He can freestyle, so watch out for him,” said Jeff Buxton.

On the cadet side, Eric Medina (145 lbs.) and Anthony Valles (98 lbs.) will return to Fargo for repeat titles. This should give our kids the confidence needed for solid performances. Kellen Russell (125 lbs.) and Mario Mason (135 lbs.) have had good spring seasons, with Russell being named to the Jr. Dual All-Tournament team.  Tony Buxton will make his debut at 84 lbs.; Robert Brackup and Jared Platt will also compete in Fargo as a Blair Buccaneers.

MELTZER/MOCCO ROLL THIS SUMMER

Other Blair Alumnus’ who are busy this summer include Max Meltzer, who just won a Gold medal in freestyle (66KG) at the 2005 Maccabiah Games, which were held  in Tel-Aviv, Israel on July 11-July 21. Meltzer also rallied on the Greco-Roman side by picking up a silver medal at 66KG. This portends well for Meltzer as he enters his junior season at Harvard.

Steve Mocco, a two-time NCAA Champion at heavyweight and 2008 Olympic hopeful, will represent the United States at the World University Games later this summer. Steve (Mocco) is coming off one of the highlights of his career; he was a finalist at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles for “Best Male College Athlete,” quite an accolade for a junior in college. (Matt Leinart, the quarterback for USC who won the 2004 Heisman Trophy, edged out Mocco for the award.) Mocco and Zack Esposito will be the fulcrum of the Oklahoma State Cowboys next year, who are looking for its fourth straight NCAA team title.  

Please direct all questions and comments to buxtoj@blair.edu.