Eight Former Blair Athletes to Compete in the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships

MARK PERRY TO DEFEND 165 POUND CROWN; TRUE FRESHMAN KELLEN RUSSELL LOOKING TO WIN IT ALL AT 141 POUNDS

From March 20-22 inside the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo. eight former Blair grapplers, including defending 165 pound champion Mark Perry of The University of Iowa, will attempt to become NCAA Division I All-Americans. Two former Blair student-athletes have a shot at winning it all in St. Louis…i.e., Mark Perry and Kellen Russell. Russell is a 141 lb. wunderkind who competes for the University of Michigan.

Perry will go in with the #2 seed; Russell, a 2008 Big Ten champion, will enter the tournament as the #3 seed in the 141 lb. bracket.

“I am excited to follow these eight individuals. I know they have trained hard for this weekend and it will come down to who’s the most prepared and ready to battle. Mark (Perry) has been banged up but I know he will go to St. Louis to win it all. Kellen (Russell) has had a phenomenal season and he has a shot at winning it all. Hudson and Rollie (Peterkin) can also finish high since the 197 lb. and 125 lb. brackets are pretty even making it a level playing field for all competitors,” said Jeff Buxton, Blair Head Coach. “Look out for Adam Frey too; if he’s on, he could do something special.”

Peterkin is coming off a fine showing at the EIWA Championships where he took home the first place trophy. He’ll enter the NCAA’s with a #9 seed at 125 lbs. Hudson Taylor, an ACC champion at 197 lbs., had a fine season and will look to place high with a #7 seed.

Also qualifying out of the EIWA Championships are Adam Frey of Cornell (141 lbs.) and Chris Stout (157 lbs.) of American University. Frey carried a high ranking last year….moved up a weight class this year and will test the waters in St. Louis. Stout had a nice EIWA tournament and will look to sneak in as an All-American for American University.

Hudson Taylor’s teammate at Maryland, Eric Medina (149 lbs.), will represent the Maryland Terps at 149 lbs.; and Ross Gitomer will wrestle for the Virginia Cavaliers at 125 lbs. (Gitomer was an ACC champion at 125 lbs.)

Log onto www.themat.com to follow the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Tournament….also check ESPN, ESPNU and ESPN360.com for a list of scheduled broadcasts of the tournament.

NCWA RESULTS
Andy Lowy placed seventh at 141 lbs. at the NCWA (National Collegiate Wrestling Association) National Tournament, which was held March 13-15 at the Lakeland Center Arena in Lakeland, Fla. Russell Bettencourt also had a nice tournament at 149 lbs., but a tweaked knee forced him to exit the tournament early.

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