Mark Perry is Latest Blair Student-Athlete to Win NCAA Division I Wrestling Crown

BACKES MAKES ELITE 20 – THE NCAA FINALS;
Meltzer, Palmer, Perry, Backes All Shine and Are All-Americans

Auburn Hills, Mich.: On Saturday morning March 17, 2007 Iowa’s Mark Perry woke up with a record of 0-7 against his NCAA finals opponent Johnny Hendricks of Oklahoma State. The chips were stacked against Perry to say the least. Not only was Perry 0-7 vs. Johnny Hendricks, but Hendricks’s coach John Smith is Mark’s uncle. Perry put that out of his mind and in the third period of the match, shown live on ESPN, Mark Perry tilted Hendricks to go ahead of him 4-3 and achieved his ultimate goal: ladies and gentleman Mark Perry is a now an NCAA Division I champion.

Perry joins Zack Esposito and Steve Mocco as the latest Blair student-athletes who’ve won NCAA titles. Esposito won the 149lbs. crown for Oklahoma State in 2005; Mocco won two titles for Iowa and Oklahoma State (2003, 2005).

“Defeating a two-time NCAA champion is a remarkable feat. I had all the confidence in the world that Mark would do it-it was his day,” said Jeff Buxton, Blair Head Coach. “Mark went away from his original game plan but was able to tilt Hendricks for the win.”

Perry is a three-time All-American for the Hawks (2nd in 2005, 3rd in 2006, and 1st in 2007).

BACKES FINISHES AS A TWO-TIME ALL-AMERICAN:
Iowa State’s Kurt Backes finished his career as a NCAA finalist falling in the finals to American University’s Josh Glenn 6-4 sudden victory. Backes ripped thru his bracket defeating the defending runner-up Phil Davis of Penn State in the semi finals earning a trip to the finals of the NCAA’s. Matt Palmer made it to the quarterfinals before falling to two-time NCAA champion Ben Askren of Missouri. Palmer then beat Josh Weitzel of Oklahoma to become a two-time All-American. Max Meltzer finished his stellar career at Harvard with an 8th place finish as well. Max won five matches in a row to become an All-American, Max’s ultimate dream. Meltzer is now a High School and Collegiate All-American.

“Kurt lost a heartbreaker to Glenn in the finals but had a very impressive tournament defeating opponents who defeated him during the year. Kurt went in a #9 seed and came out #2; I am extremely proud of Kurt,” said Buxton. “Matt Palmer overcame several injuries this season and finished his career as Columbia University’s only two-time All-American. Palmer made history in Morningside Heights.”

“Max (Meltzer) demonstrated a great deal of character and perseverance coming back to from a first round loss to earn All-American honors. Max also suffered a first round loss at the EIWA Championships and had to fight back just to qualify for the Big Show. This is what this sport is all about,” Buxton says.

Zack Hammond (Cornell), Matt Maciag (Wisconsin), Robbie Preston (Harvard), Hudson Taylor (Maryland), and Adam Frey (Cornell) all battled tough. Maciag won two matches in his first appearance. Frey will be in contention next year too. Hammond had an injury going into the NCAA’s but will go into the 2007-2008 season as a highly-ranked heavyweight.

“Look for Hudson and Robbie (Preston) to be on the podium next year; both were one match from placing. It’s their turn now,” said Buxton.

Next up for the Blair Bucs are the NHSCA High School Nationals and the prestigious Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic. Kellen Russell (130 lbs.) has been picked to represent the USA at the 2007 Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic – “The Rose Bowl of Wrestling.” Check back here for the results of the Dapper Dan and High School Nationals.

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