Blair Wrestling | Blair Wrestling Network

Blair Captures 26th Straight National Prep Championship; Travis Blasco Wins His Fourth in a Row

ROLLIE PETERKIN NAMED OW AT NCWA NATIONAL EVENT; MIKE GUTILLA PLACES 2nd

Blair repeats as National Prep Champions on February 25, 2006!!! Blair Academy repeats as National Prep Champions!!! That sounds great for any school save for Blair Academy. Now it’s an expected annual accomplishment for the #1-ranked team in the USA who has won the National Prep Tournament 26 straight years. (Blair also has been the #1 ranked {overall} team in the USA for the past six years in a row.) Leading the way in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (on the campus of Lehigh University) this year was Travis Blasco, who captured his fourth consecutive National Prep Title by pinning Mike Bressler (of Progressive Christian School of Maryland) in 1:12 in the first period. This put Travis in some very special company – Blasco became the sixth four-time National Prep Champion in history, joining three other Blair greats in John Giacche, Steve Mocco and Cory Cooperman and DeMatha’s Rudy Rueda and Todd Beckerman. Blasco is headed to the University of Iowa next year to begin his collegiate career.

“This was a great team effort as we put nine in the finals, coming out with seven champs. We wrestled extremely well and dominated the field while, at the same time, raising more than $4,000 for Pinning Down Hunger, a charity that benefits the Blairstown Food Pantry,” said Jeff Buxton, Blair Head Coach. “We also honored Ray Mendoza, a Prep finalist in the late eighties,” Buxton continued (Major Ray Mendoza died from wounds sustained in Iraq while protecting our country in Operation Freedom.) “It was an emotional two days for all of us as Ray was a shining star for us at Blair and kept very close to the program.”

Anthony Valles (112 lbs.), Kellen Russell (130 lbs.), Max Shanaman (135 lbs.), Mario Mason (140 lbs.), Jared Platt (215 lbs.) and Heavyweight Jim Powers all stood on the top of the platform receiving gold medals at the 2006 National Prep Tournament. Powers is headed to Virginia Tech, while the rest of the field returns for Blair.

Another exciting match came at 130 lbs. when Blair’s Kellen Russell was surprised by St. Benedict’s Mogi Batsukh midway through the third period. Russell was up 3-0 when Mogi tossed Russell to his
back. Russell came back for a last-minute 5-4 win. Russell will enter his senior year a top recruit and have the pick of the litter as far as college choices. This is Russell’s second National Prep title.

Keefer Taylor finished a strong 8th place at 103 lbs.; Joe Stanzione had a nice season and topped it off with a runner-up finish at 119 lbs.; Alex Cournoyer came one round from placing at 125 lbs.; Eric Medina was upset in the finals at 152 lbs. and had to settle for silver; Victor Mocco finished a strong 3rd place at 160 lbs.; the talented Ryland Gieger took home a fifth place medal at 171 lbs,.; and Reid Fliehr went 3-2 in the tourney at 189 lbs. ****Medina was the #1 ranked wrestler in the nation the entire season through the National Preps

Top Four Team Scores: Blair: 349.4, Bishop Lynch (Texas) 175.5, McDonogh (Md.) 161.5, Peddie (N.J.) 153.

PETERKIN AND GUTILLA ROLL IN MICHIGAN
Meanwhile up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Rollie Peterkin, Mike Gutilla and Zach Zitsos were doing battle in the NCWA (National Coaches Wrestling Association) National Championships on March 4 at Grand Valley State College. They faired well as Peterkin captured the 133 lbs. title as well as the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler Award. Peterkin defeated Joe Mendez of Grand Valley State in the finals 21-14. Mike Gutilla finished in second place behind Billy Johnson of Grand Valley State at 157 lbs. and Zach Zitsos did not place.

“We sent three wrestlers and two faired very well. In fact, Rollie dominated his weight class and was awarded the meet’s OW award. Gutilla overcame two ACL injuries sustained in 2005 and finished a strong second place- I am proud of the way Gutilla bounced back from adversity,” said Jeff Buxton. “This is our third year and each year the NCWA National Championship grows in both numbers and in quality.”

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