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By Wayne Catan
November 2004

Mike Galante Leads A Strong Blair Post-Graduate Team in 2004-2005

Mike Galante made the “Big Time” this summer when he placed third at the Asics/Vaughn Junior Nationals at 152 lbs. Galante is a blue-chip recruit who will hone his skills on Blair’s PG team in 2004-2005 before matriculating to college next fall. Galante also placed third at the national preps and was an Asics/Vaughn Cadet runner-up; he will make an immediate impact on the college level. He will decide the college of his choice within two weeks. He has the tools to make it on the NCAA Division I level: strength, speed, technique and determination.

But first he has the Blair PG schedule with which to contend. His teammates include another highly-touted kid in Ben Kinerson, who placed 6th at the Asics/Vaughn Junior Nationals at 171 lbs.

Kinerson showed up at Blair Academy raw from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, but...

...But he’s not raw anymore, not after winning a national prep title and placing 6th at the Junior Nationals. Not bad for a kid from Maine, who has only witnessed bears wrestle in his home state of Maine. Kinerson will compete at 184lbs during his PG year at Blair.

Kyle Foy – also 184-pounder out of Pleasanton, California – is making great strides in the Blair room. Foy ran up a 71-42 record at Pleasanton High School while winning two league titles. Andrew Coles an All-South Jersey athlete will wrestle at 149 lbs. Brendan Byrne is a New Jersey district champion and will by highly competitive at 125 lbs.

A fast-improving Ed Allegra got stronger in the off-season and is looking to do some damage at 197 lbs. this year before heading to college (somewhere in the south). Allegra’s motion has picked up and so has his technique and strength. Joel Ahern (141 lbs.) is a New York state finalist and will help out immediately at 141 lbs.

“We are excited about this year’s college team as they are a very experienced group culled from last year’s high school team. We have also added four PG’s (from outside our program) to whom we will look for major points throughout the season,” said Jeff Buxton, Blair Head Coach. “A great schedule awaits these athletes culminating with the NCWA Nationals in Dallas, Texas in March.”

The Blair PG program will enter the East Stroudsburg Open in late November. After the East Stroudsburg competition the Blair PG’s will wrestle in the Middlesex Community College Open before heading to the mid-season classic: The Wilkes Open (December 26-27). Their season will culminate with the NCWA National Tournament, which is being held in Dallas, Texas on March 11 and 12.