Wrestling

Ross Gitomer ’05, Head Coach

Ross Gitomer ’05 returns to his alma mater as a math teacher and head coach of the wrestling program. His teaching and coaching experience includes 10 years at St. Christopher’s School in Virginia, where he served as an upper-school mathematics teacher, freshman dean and head wrestling coach. As coach, Mr. Gitomer proudly led St. Christopher’s team to win a multitude of titles including two Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) State Championships, six Virginia Prep League Championships as well as helping secure top-five rankings for the team at the 2016 and 2017 National Prep Wrestling Championships. During his time at Blair, Ross distinguished himself as wrestling team captain and a national prep champion. He was also an NCAA qualifier and ACC champion at the University of Virginia, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in government studies and master of education/teaching. Ross teaches algebra and precalculus, and he is joined at Blair by his wife, Kellyn, and two sons. The family lives in Wayside House on Park Street.

Brian Antonelli ’93, Assistant Coach

Brian Antonelli ’93 is Blair’s director of both athletic facilities and security and the School’s assistant football, wrestling and girls’ lacrosse coach. From 2014 through 2021, he served as head varsity wrestling coach, earning distinguished titles including NHSCA National Coach of the Year in 2019 and Wrestling USA High School Coach of the Year in 2018. Under his leadership, the Blair varsity wrestling team secured top rankings nationally five times. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Brian coached his alma mater’s wrestling team for nine seasons, serving as interim head coach in 2013. He was a varsity wrestler at Navy and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Marine Corps upon graduation in 1997. As a Marine officer, he attained the rank of captain and served in Operation Rapid Cheetah, patrolling the borders between Kosovo and Bosnia, and later as a Naval Academy admission officer and Marine Corps Green Belt instructor. In 2004-2005, he was the head wrestling coach at The Lawrenceville School. Brian and his wife, Susie, Blair’s Senior Associate Dean of Admission and Director of Financial Aid, live in Millbrook Cottage with their four children, Kate ’20, Sammi ’22, Christopher ’24 and Michael ’26.

Chris Thatcher, Assistant Coach

Chris Thatcher joined Blair’s faculty in 2016 as a chemistry and physics teacher and assistant wrestling coach. During a 23-year career in engineering, Chris worked in pharmaceutical manufacturing, validation consulting, and medical device research and development. He earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering at Princeton University (1993), where he was a four-year Division I wrestler and cross country runner and two-year captain of the wrestling team. Chris has served as Blair’s assistant wrestling coach since 2012, and, in addition to continuing in this role, he is the assistant coach of varsity softball. He serves on the staff of the Center for Innovation and Collaboration and the Lakeside dormitory. He and his wife, Kristi, and their children, Tyler, Tanner, Chelsea, and Adison, live in Blairstown. Chris enjoys trail running, hiking and do-it-yourself projects and has coached more than 30 youth recreational sports teams.

Michael Carbonaro ’00, Assistant Coach

Michael Carbonaro ’00 joined Blair’s wrestling coaching staff as an assistant during the 2014-2015 season. He was a four-year starter at Blair Academy from 1996 to 2000 and a four-year starter at the United States Naval Academy from 2000 to 2004. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy with a bachelor of science in economics, Mike served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps and deployed several times to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines; 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines; and 1-2-1 Military Transition Team. He earned an MBA in global business from American Military University and currently works for Mars, Inc., as a global senior sourcing manager. Mike resides in Blairstown with his wife, Renee, and children, X’avier ’18, Victoria and Francesca. He enjoys hunting, fishing and traveling with his family. 

Chase Palanca ’15, Assistant Coach

Chase Palanca ’15 joins Blair’s admission team as an admission counselor. He completed his undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins University and received his master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania in 2021. From 2019 to 2021, he worked as a humanities teaching fellow and wrestling coach at St. Paul’s School. Chase is excited to share his love for Blair with prospective families and work with Ross Gitomer ’05 as assistant wrestling coach. He is joined by his partner, Haley Chrobock ’15, and lives in West Hall.

 

Gino Fluri, Assistant Coach

Gino Fluri joined Blair's wrestling coaching staff as an assistant during the 2022-2023 season. He was born and raised in Blairstown, New Jersey. He completed his undergraduate degree at Rider University in Secondary Education, and is a graduate student. Gino was a starter for the Rider wrestling team, and served as captain his last two seasons. He is currently employed as a middle school teacher.

Ed Russell, Assistant Coach

Edward Russell returns to Blair Wrestling as an assistant coach. Ed had previously coached at Blair from 2003-2008.  Previously he was an assistant coach at Voorhees High School and was head wrestling coach at Ridge High School. At Ridge High School he also coached girls cross country and girls track and field. He completed his undergraduate degree at Kean University and went on to earn a master’s degree. Ed wrestled collegiately at Kean University.  Ed retired in 2017 after a 30 year career as a physical education/health teacher from Bernards Township Public Schools after teaching 30 years.  Ed and his wife, Maria, live in High Bridge, New Jersey.  They have three grown children Jessica, Shannon, and Kellen Russell ‘07. Ed enjoys paddleboarding, cycling and wood working.  

Will Svensson, Assistant Coach

Science teacher Will Svensson comes to Blair from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, where he completed his master’s degree in 2023 in environmental science and policy with a focus on climate change, resiliency and societal impacts. Beyond his graduate studies and undergraduate work in ecology and evolutionary biology, also at Northeastern. A 2018 graduate of Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vermont, where he captained the rowing and ski teams, Will is the assistant coach for girls’ rowing and wrestling at Blair. Outside of school, he is also a nature lover and jiujitsu practitioner. 

 

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To view more wrestling photos please visit www.blair.edu/sportsphotos.