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By Wayne Catan
March 2006

Blair Academy Sends Nine to NCAA Championships to Be Held in Oklahoma City’s Ford Center March 16-19

MOCCO GOES FOR THIRD NCAA TITLE, ESPOSITO GOES FOR TITLE #2

Harvard’s Robbie Preston goes to the NCAA’s for the second straight year. Last year he was one match away from placing at 125 lbs.; this year he wants to be on That platform. Yes, That platform where an individual student-athlete who places in the top-8 is declared “All-American” – something that will stay with that athlete for a lifetime. Preston has moved up one weight class and will wrestle 133 lbs. He is a top-ranked wrestler.

Lehigh’s Cory Cooperman wants to stand on the top of That platform. Last year, he placed third in, perhaps, the toughest weight in the nation. Coops will vie for a title at 141 lbs. He has to get past his long-time nemesis Teyon Ware of Oklahoma first. It’s going to be a lot of fun out there at Oklahoma City’s Ford Center. Joining Cory in the 141 lbs. weight class is a much more physical Max Meltzer. Meltzer is a top-ranked athlete and is showing strong promise to stand on That platform. This is Meltzer’s second trip to the Big Dance.

“This is a different feeling from last year where we had two guys ranked #1 in the country in Esposito and Mocco. This year, those two (and the seven others) are facing a lot of adversity. The seven others will also rise to the occasion as they are proven champions and finish higher then they have in the past,” said Jeff Buxton, Head Coach, Blair Academy. “There is a possibility that there will be nine All-Americans.”

Two times. Count ‘em One. Two. Two-time NCAA finalist and defending NCAA Champion Zack Esposito will look to win a second NCAA Title at 149 lbs. It won’t be easy – there’s a freshman phenom from the University of Minnesota whom Esposito has lost to twice this year and Ty Eustice of the University of Iowa and many, many more tough competitors in this fan-favorite weight class.

The triumvirate at 174 lbs.: Blair is sending three athletes to the Big Dance in one weight class: Two returning All-Americans (Mark Perry {University of Iowa} and Matt Palmer {Columbia}) and first-time NCAA qualifier and ACC Champion Alex Maciag of the University of North Carolina. This is a tough weight class as two-time NCAA finalist Ben Askren of the University of Missouri has been ripping through the field the entire year. We will see if a Blair athlete can break through to Mr. Askren. Perry was an NCAA Finalist last year at 165 lbs. Perry will most likely see Jake Herbert of Northwestern in the semi-finals if they both advance through their respective brackets.

At 184 lbs., ladies and gentleman, welcome Kurt Backes, a two-time Big XII Champion and All-American. Backes will be in wide-open spaces and in a wide-open weight class. He has a chance to win it all. Last year, he was seeded #2 but was upset in the quarterfinal round. This year, it’s there for the taking. Backes will have competition from Paul Bradley of Iowa, Eric Bradley of Penn State, Josh Glenn of American University, Pete Friedl of Illinois and a plethora of solid 184 pounders.

Then comes the Bear. In his last appearance at the NCAA level Mr. Steve Mocco will go for his third NCAA Title. He won one last year and one in 2003 and was a runner-up as a true freshman in 2002. WOW!!! He took an Olympic red-shirt in 2004. Now, Mocco wants to go out on top, but it won’t be easy. The giant whom he defeated in last year’s NCAA Finals, Cole Konrad, has defeated Mr. Mocco three times this year, but Mocco is hungry... hungry for title #3.

TV: CHECK YOUR LOCAL ESNPU TV LISTINGS ON FRIDAY MORNING AND FRIDAY EVENING (MARCH 17) FOR QUARTERFINAL AND SEMI-FINAL ACTION; THE FINALS WILL BE BROADCAST ON ESPN ON SATURDAY, MARCH 18 AT 7:30P.M. EST

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