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Article contributed by Wayne Catan and Nate Burroughs
March 2004

Blair Academy Wins 24th Consecutive National Prep Title

EIGHT BLAIR GRAPPLERS BRING HOME GOLD MEDALS...IN THE YEAR OF “TOTAL TEAM” EFFORT

Blair caps off the year with a prep national championship (which was held at Lehigh University on March 25-26, 2004) and finishes as the top-ranked team in the USA (for the 4th year in a row).

Winning the National Prep Tournament is no longer big news... that’s right, it is barely even noteworthy, especially when you consider the fact that most of your children have witnessed Blair win its first title and are at least 24 years young. They’re out of college now! In all seriousness, 24 national titles in a row is nothing to scoff at, and it is particularly impressive when you look at the way they accomplished this feat.

Is this news? Adam Frey dominated his 130 lb. weight class... nothing new for the 38-0 and top-5 ranked Frey. Hudson Taylor steamrolled through the 171 lb. bracket– nothing new for the team thespian. Ben Kinerson won by scores of 16-1 and 17-2 and had three pins, including one at 2:47 over Pat Fisher of Haverford in the finals. Not only is this new, it’s news... and... noteworthy news that Ben Kinerson is a kid from Maine who has developed into one of the top-10 215-pounders in the USA.

Two freshmen – The Quiet Champion: At 103 Kellen Russell capped off a stellar freshman campaign with a 10-4 finals win over Sean Bilodeau of the Fay School (Mass.) (***Bilodeau is coached by 1991 National Prep champ and Blair alumnus, Dave Leonardis.) Russell will finish with a top-5 ranking in the USA. Eric Medina dominated his weight class with six one-sided victories. He held steady in the finals, 3-0, against a tough Mike Powers of Loomis Chaffee (Conn.). Then came the laconic Travis Blasco. Blasco, who won the 103 lbs. title in 2003 and was quiet all year...but not at the preps. In fact, he defeated a Jr. National Champion, Pat Feeley of Loomis Chaffee, 10-5, in the finals to make some noise in the ultimate bout of his sophomore campaign. After losing a tough semi-final bout, Ross Gitomer, Blair’s 112-pounder, fought back hard to take third place. He beat Joe Breen of McDonagh (Maryland) in an exciting consolation finals bout to earn the bronze medal at 112 lbs.

“Kellen (Russell) and Eric (Medina) showed a lot of composure for freshman. Six matches can be a lot, and they showed me their mettle,” said coach Buxton. “Travis (Blasco) wrestled really tough. He fought so tenaciously, and his win over a Jr. National Champion (Feeley) in the finals proves that Travis is a taut competitor.”

Gregg Romano, who often flies under the radar, smashed thought the 140 lbs. division. True, he had a 1-0 squeaker in the finals over Zack Cunliffe, last year’s New Jersey state runner-up at 130 lbs. (public school), but his besting such an opponent only added flavor to the main course. Romano will segue to a strong college program, where we could very well see him march in yet another All-American parade. (Cunliffe was coached by John Leonardis, Blair 1994). Charlie Clark (160 lbs.) won five in a row. His tally was pin (0:51), pin (1:20), 7-2, 11-0 and 10-2.

“This was a year where we didn’t have any established superstars. It was exciting to see the improvement our kids made throughout the season as we watched them develop and mature into outstanding wrestlers,” Buxton said. “Adam Frey had a remarkable season going 38-0 — he performed at a high level through the season and I am proud of him.”

Alex Maciag finished off a strong senior campaign as runner-up at 189 lbs. Maciag is a “true” 171-pounder but has wrestled up at 189 for the team. Mike Galante finished in third place at 152 pounds. Galante wrestled back hard, an especially tough chore after the controversial semifinal bout he lost 2-1 in overtime to Ryan Kennett of Haverford. Chris Stout finished in fifth place at 145 lbs; Jay Giuricich placed 7th at 125 lbs.

The final team standings (Top-5): Blair Academy 379.5; Mt. St. Joseph (Maryland) 172; DeMatha (Maryland) 157.5; McDonogh (Maryland) 143; Peddie (New Jersey) 142.5.

FACTOID: ***Blair has won 109 dual meets in a row. See you next year for #110.