Impact
Records
Ben Clymer
Faith Christian Academy
Impact Statement
“We’ve have been slowly building it over time. My family will always be a big part of all of this. It is about having faith in each other, and we’ll keep moving forward. ”
-Ben Clymer
Biography
Ben Clymer has made Faith Christian into a powerhouse over the past decade and the cream of the crop in Pennsylvania.
The Lions dominated the field in the 2023 and 2024 PIAA State Championships claiming both the Team State Title and the Individual team Title. In 2023, the Lions beat Ft. LeBoeuf 54-12 in the finals and knocked off Bishop McCort 46-18 in the finals of 2024.
At the Individual State Championships, Faith Christian won by 50 points in 2023 over Notre Dame-Green Pond. The Lions finished with 9 state medals including 2 champs. In 2024, they won by a 16 points over Bishop McCort and had 9 medalists including 2 champions and 4 finalists.
Clymer himself graduated from Northwestern Lehigh High School (PA) in 2008 and won a state title as a senior. He then continued his academic and athletic career at Hofstra University where he was multiple time NCAA Qualifier.
Photos
Montgomery High School
Harer wrapped up his high school career by becoming the winningest wrestler in District 4 with 191 victories.
Harer wrapped up his high school career by becoming the winningest wrestler in District 4 with 191 victories.
Conner Harer
Montgomery High School
Impact Statement
Harer wrapped up his high school career by becoming the winningest wrestler in District 4 with 191 victories.
Biography
Conner Harer is undoubtedly the most decorated wrestler in Montgomery history.
He capped off his senior season with his third PIAA State Championship and a perfect record of 55-0 with 29 falls and 15 technical falls. He boasts a career record of 191-5, making him the winningest wrestler in District 4. This also places him 4th overall on the all time win list in the state of Pennsylvania. Harer additionally won all four district titles and regional titles over the course of his career.
Harer spent his senior season ranked 3rd in the Nation according to FloSpots. He is also the 25th overall ranked wrestler in the country. He also claimed gold at the NHSCA Sophomore Nationals and Junior Nationals.
A highly sought after middle weight, Harer will continue his education and wrestling career at Rutgers University.
Photos
Articles
Records
Personal Honors
St. John's Preparatory School
“His biggest strength is his confidence in his ability and thirst to compete against the best in the country.” -Manny Costa, head coach
“His biggest strength is his confidence in his ability and thirst to compete against the best in the country.” -Manny Costa, head coach
Tyler Knox
St. John's Preparatory School
Impact Statement
“His biggest strength is his confidence in his ability and thirst to compete against the best in the country.” -Manny Costa, head coach
Biography
Knox capped off his senior year with his second consecutive NHSCA title. Knox became the first-ever Massachusetts wrestler to win multiple national crowns.
He won by an 11-0 major decision in the finals against Maryland’s Jacob Brenneman as a senior. His junior year, he won by fall in the finals for his Junior title. As a junior, he finished with a 47-0 record that highlighted 45 first period falls. He also finished 7th as a Sophomore.
Knox was a member on three State Championships teams and they won New England’s once. He individually was a four time New England finalist, winning three of the coveted titles.
He also was a Beast of the East and Doc B champ over his career.
Knox also excels in the classroom. Upon graduation, Knox will continue to wrestle and study at Stanford University.
Photos
Records
Personal Honors
Bethlehem Catholic High Shcool
“Jeff Karam has been the epitome of coaching at Bethlehem Catholic. There is no way to ever thank him enough for his commitment and leadership in our community.” -Chris Domyan, Athletic Director
“Jeff Karam has been the epitome of coaching at Bethlehem Catholic. There is no way to ever thank him enough for his commitment and leadership in our community.” -Chris Domyan, Athletic Director
Jeff Karam
Bethlehem Catholic High Shcool
Impact Statement
“Jeff Karam has been the epitome of coaching at Bethlehem Catholic. There is no way to ever thank him enough for his commitment and leadership in our community.” -Chris Domyan, Athletic Director
Biography
Karam and his Golden Hawks have been at the upper echelon of the Pennsylvania wrestling scene continuing to shine.
He held a 35 match win streak over the past two season. He’s coached the Hawks to 9 State Team Wrestling Championships, which is a PIAA record. His teams also won the Individual State Team Champions seven times.
He has coached 22 PIAA State Individual Champions, over 50 Regional Champs and over 60 District Champs. Additionally, he coached over 50 state medalists.
His wrestlers continue to shine after they graduate. Bethlehem Catholic and Coach Karam have produced an NCAA Division 1 All American or National Champion for seven consecutive years.
After 15 years of leading the Golden Hawks, Karam is stepping down from his helm after the 2022-23 season. Over his 30 seasons as a head coach, he holds a career record of 366-116.
Photos
Records
Shayne Van Ness
Impact Statement
Mount Carmel High School
“It’s about finding the right people and designing your program so these kids love the sport but still get the training they need.” -Alex Tsirtsis
“It’s about finding the right people and designing your program so these kids love the sport but still get the training they need.” -Alex Tsirtsis
Alex Tsirtsis
Mount Carmel High School
Impact Statement
“It’s about finding the right people and designing your program so these kids love the sport but still get the training they need.” -Alex Tsirtsis
Biography
Tsirtsis took over the program during the 2016-17 school year. Since then, he’s led the Caravan to victory. This past season, Tsirtsis has led the Caravan at Mount Carmel to another State Championship.
Tsirtsis himself was a star on the mat. He was a four time Indiana state champion with a final record of 236-0. He went on to attend the University of Iowa. As a Hawkeye, he was an All American in 2006.
Since being honored, Tsirtsis led the Caravan to the second 3A Team State Championship within the past three seasons. They knocked off Yorkville 59-6 in the finals.
Photos
North Hagerstown High School
“When you’re in front of a big crowd, you gotta realize they are here to see you, so let’s go out and put on a show.” -Aaron Brooks
“When you’re in front of a big crowd, you gotta realize they are here to see you, so let’s go out and put on a show.” -Aaron Brooks
Aaron Brooks
North Hagerstown High School
Impact Statement
“When you’re in front of a big crowd, you gotta realize they are here to see you, so let’s go out and put on a show.” -Aaron Brooks
Biography
Brooks capped off a brilliant scholastic career by becoming only the seventh wrestler to ever capture four NHSCA championships at the 29 th annual NHSCA High School Nationals in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Brooks, who will attend Penn State for the 2019-20 season after training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado this coming year, also became just the seventh Maryland wrestler to win four state championships. He finished his career at North Hagerstown with a 163-2 record.
At the Senior Nationals in March, Brooks finished a perfect 6-0, pinning three-time Utah state champ Cole Moody in 1:23 in the 170-pound final. He won the Jeff Reese Memorial Award as the Senior Nationals’ Outstanding Wrestler. Brooks also won the Craig Wesner Memorial Award for recording the most pins in the least amount of time.
Brooks spent a year training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs as part of the Elite Accelerator Program before enrolling at Penn State. In his true freshman season, Brooks capped off a 15-1 record with his only loss coming half way through the season. He was the Big-10 Champion at 184. Due to Covid, the NCAA’s were canceled. Brooks was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and was a First Team All-American.
As a sophomore, Brooks continued his domination and finished with a 14-0 record. He was the NCAA Champion at 184 and claimed his second Big-10 title. He was a finalist for the coveted Hodge Trophy. In 2022, Brooks won another NCAA title for the Nittany Lions.
Photos
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Bergen Catholic High School
Dave Bell has built Bergen Catholic High School into one of the best wrestling programs in New Jersey not to mention the nation.
Dave Bell has built Bergen Catholic High School into one of the best wrestling programs in New Jersey not to mention the nation.
Dave Bell
Bergen Catholic High School
Impact Statement
Dave Bell has built Bergen Catholic High School into one of the best wrestling programs in New Jersey not to mention the nation.
Biography
Over the past 20 years Bell has built Bergen Catholic into one of the best wrestling programs in the state of New Jersey and nationally.
This past season, Bell and his Crusaders, who finished ranked No. 2 in the nation as a team, set a new standard with nine wrestlers finishing in the top eight in their weight class, which gave BC its seventh straight NJSIAA team title.
Three BC wrestlers captured individual state titles. In the last two years, BC has seven state champs, giving Bell a total of 14 during his illustrious career. In addition to a marvelous state tournament, the Crusaders finished 15-1 during the dual meet portion of its schedule, which included wins over then No. 1 Blair Academy (New Jersey) and No. 7 Lake Highland Prep (Florida) to capture the Who’s No. 1 Duals. Bell is a member of the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
In 2022, BC went on to win their twentieth Country Championship and are currently ranked second in the state.
Photos
Lowell High School
Dave Dean built Lowell into a state and national wrestling power that produced numerous state champs.
Dave Dean built Lowell into a state and national wrestling power that produced numerous state champs.
Dave Dean
Lowell High School
Impact Statement
Dave Dean built Lowell into a state and national wrestling power that produced numerous state champs.
Biography
In nine years, Dave Dean built Lowell into a state and national wrestling power that produced numerous state champs and student-athletes that have been awarded Division I scholarships.
Dean led the Red Arrows to the Michigan state team championship this past season and a #16 national ranking. The team title was Lowell’s second, with the first coming in 2009. Lowell finished runner-up in 2007, 2012 and 2013.
Coach Dean produced 12 individual state champs and 46 state placewinners. In addition to excellence on the mat, Dean’s teams were named academic all-state every year since 2007.
Dean resigned after the 2013-14 season to become the head of the Olympic Development Program at Cornell University. He was able to be in the same program as his son’s Gabe and Max. Gabe went on to be a two time NCAA National Champion and a four time All American. Max is entering his junior year. He placed 8th and 2nd respectively in his freshman and sophomore year.
Dean was an accomplished wrestler himself. While at Minnesota, he was a two time Big 10 Champ and a National Runner-Up. He spent 13 years coaching at Michigan State prior to his stint at Lowell.
He left Cornell to focus full time on his own organization, NUWAY.
Photos
Records
Clovis High School
“Our goal is to better prepare our youth athletes for the challenges ahead, so they are better prepared for the big stage.” – Steve Tirapelle
“Our goal is to better prepare our youth athletes for the challenges ahead, so they are better prepared for the big stage.” – Steve Tirapelle
Steve Tirapelle
Clovis High School
Impact Statement
“Our goal is to better prepare our youth athletes for the challenges ahead, so they are better prepared for the big stage.” – Steve Tirapelle
Biography
Steve Tirapelle led Clovis High to its third straight California state wrestling championship during the 2012-13 season, plus a lofty national ranking.
So far, in his illustrious career as a head coach, Tirapelle has coached 109 state medalists and 29 state champions over his 34 year career – 102 place finishers and 27 state champions were at Clovis.
Since being honored, Tirapelle and the Cougars won another two CIF titles in 2014 and 2015, to make it five straight. At the 2015 CIF’s, the Cougars set a new state record earning a team score of 276.5 points.
In March of 2018, he announced his retirement. Over the duration of his career, he coached a total of 33 State Champions, including sons Adam, Alex and Troy.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Bergen Catholic High School
Foca excells both on and off the mat as he continues his wrestling career at Cornell University.
Foca excells both on and off the mat as he continues his wrestling career at Cornell University.
Chris Foca
Bergen Catholic High School
Impact Statement
Foca excells both on and off the mat as he continues his wrestling career at Cornell University.
Biography
March was an incredible month for Foca.
He won his first-ever New Jersey high school state wrestling championship along with his second straight NHSCA national title. At the start of the month Foca won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association 182-pound state title with a 7-4 win over Joe Poznanski of Colonia. He was 43-1 this year, winning his second straight Beast of the East title.
He then defended his 2018 NHSCA Junior national title (160 pounds) with an 11-2 major decision win over Trey Sizemore of Ohio in the 182 pound final. Foca, the No. 1 seed in his bracket, was named the Senior Nationals’ Outstanding Wrestler by recording three falls and two major decisions in the championship bracket.
Foca, who will attend Cornell, finished his high school career at Bergen Catholic with a 148-18 record, winning a silver medal as a junior and a bronze medal as a sophomore. He was also named the Big North Wrestler of the Year.
Foca took a greyshirt before enrolling at Cornell.
Photos
Videos
Records
Personal Honors
Campbell County High School
Myers was a four- time Kentucky State Champ and a three – time NHSCA Champion.
Myers was a four- time Kentucky State Champ and a three – time NHSCA Champion.
Austin Myers
Campbell County High School
Impact Statement
Myers was a four- time Kentucky State Champ and a three – time NHSCA Champion.
Biography
Austin Myers is a four-time Kentucky state champ and three-time National High School Coaches Association national wrestling champ.
Myers was undefeated during his high school career and won the NHSCA Senior Nationals Outstanding Wrestler Award in March when he defeated three-time NHSCA champ Kenneth Brinson from Georgia in the 220-pound championship match. Myers will continue his wrestling career at West Virginia.
Myers spent one year at West Virginia before transferring to the University of Missouri where he finished out his career as a Tiger.
Photos
Records
Personal Honors
Collins Hill High School
From Collins Hill, to the NHSCA’s, to the NCAA’s, Millhof has had success on each level on the mat.
From Collins Hill, to the NHSCA’s, to the NCAA’s, Millhof has had success on each level on the mat.
Ryan Millhof
Collins Hill High School
Impact Statement
From Collins Hill, to the NHSCA’s, to the NCAA’s, Millhof has had success on each level on the mat.
Biography
Ryan Millhof closed out his scholastic career by becoming the fourth 4x NHSCA champ by winning the 126-pound title at the Senior Nationals in Virginia Beach in March.
That title cameon the heels of Millhof winning his third Georgia state title in four finals appearances.
Millhof, who will wrestle at the University of Oklahoma, finished 69-3 during his senior season and 243-7 for his career. Millhof is the first wrestler from Georgia to be honored by the NHSCA.
As a Sooner, Millhof was one of four true freshman who wrestled the whole season. As a sophomore, he made his first trip to the NCAA Championships. He earned All-America status after placing 7th. Millhof transferred after the season to Arizona State. As a junior and senior, he once again qualified for the NCAA’s.
Off the mat, he was named to the Pac-12 First Team All-Academic as a junior. Additional, he was honored as part of the NWCA All-Academic team.
After graduating, Millhof returned to his hometown and is now the head coach at his alma mater (as of May of 2020).
Photos
Articles
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Toms River South High School
Clagon became the third wrestler ever to win four straight NHSCA national championships.
Clagon became the third wrestler ever to win four straight NHSCA national championships.
B.J. Clagon
Toms River South High School
Impact Statement
Clagon became the third wrestler ever to win four straight NHSCA national championships.
Biography
BJ Clagon closed-out his high school career in-style in April by becoming just the third wrestler ever to win four straight NHSCA national championships.
Clagon, who is a two-time New Jersey state wrestling champ, won the 145-pound title at the Senior Nationals. Clagon, who will wrestle in college at Rider, finished his career at Toms River South with a 155-6 record and 85 straight victories at the end of his career.
While at Rider, Clagon became the first freshman to earn All-America honors in any sport. He placed 5th at the 2015 NCAA Division I National Championships. He was named EWL Rookie of the Year and the Rider Athlete of the Year. As a sophomore, he fell shy, losing in the blood round. He also qualified for the NCAA’s as a junior before being plagued by injuries as a senior.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Blair Academy
Mark Grey dominated his way through high school at powerhouse Blair Academy.
Mark Grey dominated his way through high school at powerhouse Blair Academy.
Mark Grey
Blair Academy
Impact Statement
Mark Grey dominated his way through high school at powerhouse Blair Academy.
Biography
In April, Grey won the 132-pound title in the NHSCA National High School Seniors Wrestling Championships at Virginia Beach, Va., and was the recipient of the Jeff Reese Memorial Award as the meet’s Outstanding Wrestler. It was the second significant victory for the Cornell University recruit in an NHSCA national event this season.
In January, Grey’s decision win in the final match of the NHSCA Wrestling Festival lifted Blair Academy (20-0) past Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward High, 27-22 in a No. 1-vs.-No. 2 showdown, cementing the Bucs’ spot atop the national rankings this season. That victory earned Grey GTM Sportswear Athlete of the Month honors from the NHSCA.
A four-time National Prep Championships champion, Grey finished 27-2 this season, 133-7 in his career and won titles at 103, 119 and 125 pounds prior to this season. Grey also has a long history of success in USA Wrestling events. He was a double Cadet National champion in 2008 and the Cadet National Greco-Roman champion in 2009, the FILA Cadet National freestyle champion in 2010 and was the runner-up in the FILA Junior freestyle World Team Trials last year. Grey was selected to the ASICS All-America First Team at 132 this year.
Grey attended Cornell University. He was four year starter despite missing the majority of his junior year due to injury. He was a three time qualifier for the NCAA Division I Championships. He finished with a 81-42 career record.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Matoaca High School
Roulo made NHSCA history by becoming the second wrestler to become a four-time National High School champion.
Roulo made NHSCA history by becoming the second wrestler to become a four-time National High School champion.
Blake Roulo
Matoaca High School
Impact Statement
Roulo made NHSCA history by becoming the second wrestler to become a four-time National High School champion.
Biography
In April, Roulo made NHSCA history by becoming the second wrestler to become a four-time National High School champion.
His takedown nine seconds into overtime gave him a 3-1 victory in the 140-pound championship match and the National Seniors championship, to go along with titles in the National Juniors, the National Sophomores and the National Freshman Championships the previous three years. He joins Tyler Beckwith of Greene (N.Y.) High who accomplished the feat last year and also earned NHSCA National Senior Athlete of the Year honors.
The title was a record seventh for Roulo in a NHSCA national event. The Group 3A state champion at 140 pounds as a junior, Roulo was the state runnerup at 145 as a sophomore and third in state at 135 as a freshman. He finished 37-3 and was the Central Region champion at 145 this year, and he posted a career record of 185-14. He will attend the University of Buffalo.
While at Buffalo, Roulo placed second in the MAC Conference twice. He qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2012. He transferred to George Mason after his sophomore season. He placed fifth as a junior and fourth as a senior.
After graduating, Roulo spent the 2016-17 season as the assistant at Southern Virginia University. He took a new role in 2017, becoming the assistant at Avery University. In August of 2019, Roulo was promoted to the head coach. Since taking the helm, Avery had a poster year with two wrestlers qualifying for the NCAA Championships. In addition, Avery had it’s first Regional Champion.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Greene High School
Beckwith made NHSCA history by becoming the first wrestler to become a four-time National High School champion.
Beckwith made NHSCA history by becoming the first wrestler to become a four-time National High School champion.
Tyler Beckwith
Greene High School
Impact Statement
Beckwith made NHSCA history by becoming the first wrestler to become a four-time National High School champion.
Biography
In March Beckwith made NHSCA history by becoming the first wrestler to become a four-time National High School champion. His 6-3 victory in the 171-pound championship match gave him the National Seniors championship, to go along with titles in the National Juniors, the National Sophomores and the National Freshman Championships the past three years. Beckwith won his second consecutive Division 2 state title at 171 this year, and earned Outstanding Wrestler honors after finishing 45-0 with 38 pins to go along with a 44-0 record as a junior.
He also was the state runner-up as a sophomore and fifth in state as a freshman and his career record was 243-13 with 153 pins. A two-time FILA Cadet National champion, Beckwith also is a four-time USA Wrestling Cadet and Junior National All-American, finishing second in Greco-Roman and eighth in freestyle in the Junior Nationals in 2009. A four-year honor roll student with a 3.3 grade-point average, he will attend Binghamton University.
Beckwith competed for Binghamton before transferring to the SUNY at Cortland to finish the rest of his college career.
Photos
Records
Columbus High School
“I can’t be away from this sport for more than a week or two at a time.”
-CJ Napier
“I can’t be away from this sport for more than a week or two at a time.”
-CJ Napier
CJ Napier
Columbus High School
Impact Statement
“I can’t be away from this sport for more than a week or two at a time.”
-CJ Napier
Biography
Napier accomplished a rarity in high school wrestling, winning three consecutive Class 4A state championships at the same weight class, 135 pounds. This year Napier posted a perfect 36-0 record. As a freshman, he finished third in state at 130, and ended his career with a record of 145-9.
Wrestling in one of the toughest weight classes in the NHSCA National High School Seniors Wrestling Championships at Virginia Beach, Va. in April, Napier went 6-0 with victories over two three-time state champions and a two-time state champion. His 7-3 overtime victory in the finals earned him the meet’s Jeff Reese Memorial Award as the meet’s Outstanding Wrestler. Last year he finished fifth in the NHSCA Junior Nationals. Napier also has been a freestyle wrestling standout. He was a USA Wrestling Cadet National freestyle champion in 2006 and finished fifth in the USA Wrestling Junior National freestyle championships in 2008. He will attend the University of Nebraska.
While at Nebraksa, Napier qualified for the 2012 NCAA National Championships as a sophomore. Going into his senior year, Napier transferred to Fort Hayes State University. He went on to place 4th after two tough overtime loses to close out his career, making him a NCAA DII All American.
Photos
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Easton Area High School
“Getting comfortable on the mat was something I had to establish in my wrestling if I wanted to be the best wrestler.” -Jordan Oliver
“Getting comfortable on the mat was something I had to establish in my wrestling if I wanted to be the best wrestler.” -Jordan Oliver
Jordan Oliver
Easton Area High School
Impact Statement
“Getting comfortable on the mat was something I had to establish in my wrestling if I wanted to be the best wrestler.” -Jordan Oliver
Biography
A three-time Class 3A state champion, Oliver went 6-0 and won the 130-pound weight class in the NHSCA National High School Seniors Wrestling Championships in March, winning by a technical fall in the finals. Oliver became the first wrestler to claim championships in the NHSCA’s signature event as a sophomore, junior and senior, and he was voted the meet’s Outstanding Wrestler as a sophomore and as a junior.
After finishing second in the state tournament as a freshman, Oliver won state titles at 103 pounds as a sophomore, taking Outstanding Wrestler honors as well. He also won this event at 119 pounds as a junior and at 130 pounds this season. He posted a career record of 175-5, and was a finalist for W.I.N. magazine’s prestigious Junior Dan Hodge Trophy. He will attend Oklahoma State University.
While at Oklahoma State, Oliver continued his success. He was a two-time NCAA National Champion. He was a four-time All American, placing 4th at a Freshman, 1st as a Sophomore, 2nd as a Junior and 1st as a Senior.
Since graduating, Oliver has continued to wrestle at International events. Most recently, Oliver won the 2019 US Open, qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Trials.
Photos
Articles
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
West Holmes High School
“I approach life being relentless. Do everything as hard as you can. You don’t want to take any shortcuts.” -Colt Sponseller
“I approach life being relentless. Do everything as hard as you can. You don’t want to take any shortcuts.” -Colt Sponseller
Colt Sponseller
West Holmes High School
Impact Statement
“I approach life being relentless. Do everything as hard as you can. You don’t want to take any shortcuts.” -Colt Sponseller
Biography
A three-time Ohio Division 2 state champion, Sponseller went 6-0 and won one of the toughest weight classes – 160 pounds – in the NHSCA National High School Seniors Wrestling Championships in April and was voted the meet’s Outstanding Wrestler.
It was Sponseller’s second NHSCA national championship, as he also claimed the National Juniors title at 152 pounds in 2006. Sponseller completed a dominating senior season with a 49-0 record and posted a career record of 157-13, and was a finalist for W.I.N. magazine’s prestigious Junior Dan Hodge Trophy. He will attend Ohio State University.
Sponseller continued to shine as a Buckeye. He was a 3x NCAA National Qualifier. His senior year he placed 4th at the NCAA Tournament, earning him All- American status.
Off the mat, Sponseller was a two time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and on the NWCA All-Academic Team in 2010 and 2011. He was a three Ohio State Scholar Athlete honoree.
After college he competed on the international circuit and won the Bronze medal at the 2012 University World Championships.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Bonners Ferry High School
“I approach every match the same, regardless of whether it counts or they use it for this or that.”
-Adam Hall
“I approach every match the same, regardless of whether it counts or they use it for this or that.”
-Adam Hall
Adam Hall
Bonners Ferry High School
Impact Statement
“I approach every match the same, regardless of whether it counts or they use it for this or that.”
-Adam Hall
Biography
A three-time Idaho Class 3A state champion and four-time finalist, Hall went 7-0 and won one of the toughest weight classes – 152 pounds – in the NHSCA National High School Seniors Wrestling Championships in March and was voted the meet’s Outstanding Wrestler. Undersized for the weight, Hall won his first match by 12 points and his final six matches by a combined 11 points, scoring a takedown at the buzzer in an 8-7 victory over three-time Michigan champion Jonathan Reader of Davison (Mich.) High in the title match. He was a USA Wrestling Cadet National All-American in 2004 and a Junior National finalist in 2005. He will attend Boise State University.
While at Boise State, Hall was a two time All American placing 3rd and 5th his Junior and Senior year. He finished with a 122-18 career record, placing him second with his overall wins in BSU’s history.
After graduation, Hall coached 15 NCAA Qualifiers and one NCAA All-American at Columbia University. In 2015, he became the assistant coach at North Carolina State. The Wolfpack has been extremely successful. In 2016, the Pack tied a school record with eight NCAA Qualifiers.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Perry High School
“The individual title is something that you work for your whole life. It’s directly related to the work you put in and the time you spent wrestling.” -Dustin Schlatter
“The individual title is something that you work for your whole life. It’s directly related to the work you put in and the time you spent wrestling.” -Dustin Schlatter
Dustin Schlatter
Perry High School
Impact Statement
“The individual title is something that you work for your whole life. It’s directly related to the work you put in and the time you spent wrestling.” -Dustin Schlatter
Biography
A four-time Ohio state champion, Schlatter had a career record of 147-4 and was twice voted the state’s Outstanding Wrestler. He won the 145-pound title in the NHSCA National High School Seniors Wrestling Championships in April and was voted the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.
A two-time Asics All-America First Team member, he was voted the Wrestler of the Year in 2004. He was a double champion in the USA Wrestling Cadet and Junior Nationals three consecutive years, earning three Outstanding Wrestler awards in the process. He will attend the University of Minnesota.
While at Minnesota, Schlatter went on to have a grand career. As he put, “my career was anything but ordinary”. Schlatter is the first Gopher to win the NCAA’s as a true freshman. He was named the Big 10 Freshman of the Year finishing with a 42-1 season record. His sophomore year was equally as impressive with a 3rd place finish at the NCAA’s and a 37-1 season record. His junior and senior years were difficult and plagued with injuries. Schlatter got a medical redshirt and went on to be an All American for a third time in 2008.
After graduation Schlatter went on to compete internationally and has many accolades. He stayed on at Minnesota as the Graduate Assistant and moved up the ranks to Assistant in 2015. Schlatter is still on board helping mold Gophers into elite wrestlers.
Photos
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
St. Peter Chanel High School
“Everything is a preparation for the next level. Everything I did in high school was to prepare to win nationals in college.” -J Jaggers
“Everything is a preparation for the next level. Everything I did in high school was to prepare to win nationals in college.” -J Jaggers
J Jaggers
St. Peter Chanel High School
Impact Statement
“Everything is a preparation for the next level. Everything I did in high school was to prepare to win nationals in college.” -J Jaggers
Biography
In wrestling the NHSCA honoree is J. Jaggers of St. Peter Chanel High School in Bedford, Ohio. Jaggers capped an outstanding prep career in April with his dramatic run to the NHSCA National Senior Championship at 135 pounds, also winning the Jeff Reese Outstanding Wrestler Award.
Jaggers’ impressive effort at the tournament included defeating the nation’s best in his weight class by major decisions, technical falls and pins. Completing his career with a record of 172-3, the four-time Ohio state wrestling champion will move to Columbus to continue his academic and athletic careers at The Ohio State University.
Jaggers went on to be a 2x NCAA Champion and 3x All American finishing 7th his Sophomore year and 1st his Junior and Senior year for the Buckeyes. After graduation Jaggers stayed on to coach. After six seasons as an assistant coach, Jaggers was promoted to the Associate Head Coach, a position he still holds.
Photos
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Blair Academy
“If you want to be successful at anything you have to have a deep, deep passion for what you’re doing. You can’t be halfway in, halfway out. You have to live, breathe, eat it.”
“If you want to be successful at anything you have to have a deep, deep passion for what you’re doing. You can’t be halfway in, halfway out. You have to live, breathe, eat it.”
Mark Perry
Blair Academy
Impact Statement
“If you want to be successful at anything you have to have a deep, deep passion for what you’re doing. You can’t be halfway in, halfway out. You have to live, breathe, eat it.”
Biography
“In one of the stronger recruiting classes that we have seen in some time in the sport of wrestling, Mark Perry distinguished himself as the head of the class at the NHSCA Senior Nationals,” said NHSCA Executive Director Bob Ferraro. “The NHSCA is proud to recognize Mark Perry as the National High School Senior Wrestling Athlete of the Year.”
Perry, who won two national prep school titles and a junior national freestyle title after moving to Blair Academy from Stillwater, Oklahoma where he was a freshman state runner-up, won outstanding wrestler awards at three of the nation’s largest tournaments this past season. Those awards came at the Beast of the East tournament in Newark, New Jersey; the National Prep Championships at Lehigh University; and the NHSCA National High School Senior Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, Ohio.
Though a native of tradition-rich Oklahoma and the nephew of legendary coach John Smith, Perry has opted to attend rival Iowa University to further his academic and athlete careers.
Perry went on to have an illustrious career as a Hawkeye. He was a 4x All American and a 2x NCAA Champion placing 2nd as a Freshman, 3rd as a Sophomore and 1st as a Junior and Senior. Perry is one of the best college wrestlers of all time. He had a career record of 96-16.
Upon graduation Perry began his coaching career at Penn State for one season before moving on to Cal Poly. Perry was at Cal Poly from 2009 until 2011 when he took a position as the assistant at the University of Illinois. Perry helped build Illinois into one of the top Big 10 programs over the six seasons he was there.
Ultimately, Perry couldn’t stay away from Carver Hawkeye for long. In 2017 Perry was selected to take over the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. Perry is now a full time freestyle coach preparing his wrestlers for International events.
Perry has been nothing but successful in the center of the mat and from the coach’s chair in the corner.
Photos
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Choctaw High School
Coleman has led Choctaw to multiple State Championships, both as a team and individually.
Coleman has led Choctaw to multiple State Championships, both as a team and individually.
Benny Coleman
Choctaw High School
Impact Statement
Coleman has led Choctaw to multiple State Championships, both as a team and individually.
Biography
There aren’t many schools competing, but life on the wrestling mat may not be more competitive anywhere in the nation than in Oklahoma’s Class 5A. Oklahoma’s biggest enrollment division in wrestling includes less than 30 schools, but there are few easy marks among them. Broken Arrow, Midwest City, Del City, Muskogee, Lawton. The list goes on and on. Next year, traditional Class 4A powerhouse Tulsa East Central moves up to 5A to join them. And then there’s Choctaw.
Choctaw wasn’t always one of the state’s powerhouses. The traditional strength of the class lay in those other schools. Since Benny Coleman arrived, things at Choctaw have changed. Maybe it was the desire to bring the school that he attended into the state’s wrestling elite. In any case, a lot of things came together, and quickly. Choctaw won double Class 5A state team titles, both in the dual and the individual state tournaments in 1994 and 1997. Having guided his team from the pack into Oklahoma’s wrestling elite; Coleman says he’s just trying to survive in an extremely competitive atmosphere. “The coaches here are all very competitive,” Coleman said “There’s a lot of pride, and everybody is trying to do what’s best for their program. It keeps everybody on their toes and motivated to succeed at a high level. Many of the coaches are involved year round. We have a lot of tradition here in Oklahoma, but we don’t have a real population, so that’s one way our kids can stay at such a high level.”
Since being honored, Coleman has continued to lead Choctaw.
In 2016, Coleman’s team returned to the best of the state after winning the 6A State Championship, with some help from his Freshman son Zane who won his first title that evening.
Photos
Personal Honors
Blair Academy
“One of my goals is to not have a wrestler go undefeated.”
–Jeff Buxton
“One of my goals is to not have a wrestler go undefeated.”
–Jeff Buxton
Jeff Buxton
Blair Academy
Impact Statement
“One of my goals is to not have a wrestler go undefeated.”
–Jeff Buxton
Biography
Although his impact on Blair’s success and his place in the history of Blair’s rich 84 year-old tradition of wrestling are definitive, Buxton is better known around campus as a complete educator. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Buxton teaches three upper level math courses and is also an academic monitor for the postgraduate class. He has made it a hallmark of his coaching to emphasize not only excellence on the mat but in the classroom and the community as well. Currently, there are approximately 40 former Blair wrestlers who are competing in college. Even though Blair’s high school team has recently experienced several successes at the highest level, winning has never been at the center of Coach Buxton’s teaching.
Instead, he does everything he can to maximize the efforts of each individual as well as the opportunities available to each of his student-athletes; winning is simply a result of those efforts. Motivated by a true love of wrestling and kids, Buxton puts countless hours into his work outside of the “regular”? wrestling season. In the spring and summer, he works several camps and clinics in New Jersey as well as around the country. Another spring-time habit of his is to take van loads of wrestlers (both from Blair and other local athletes) around the northeast to compete in post season tournaments. Whether he is talking on the phone to parents or college coaches for hours at a time (it is widely believed that this is truly how he acquired cauliflower ear) or giving a student one-on-one instruction, Jeff Buxton does whatever he can to help the kids and the sport that he loves. Buxton’s first head coaching job was at Chariho High School in Rhode Island where his teams compiled a 24-5 record over two years.
In 1982, he came to Blair Academy as a math teacher, assistant wrestling coach to Bob Latessa and head lacrosse coach. In 1984, Buxton was named the first co-head coach in Blair wrestling’s history. He took over sole responsibility as the head coach in 1991 when Latessa moved on to become the assistant coach at Lehigh University. Since being named co-head coach 19 years ago, Buxton has led Blair to as many National Prep team championships, and coached 61 individual National Prep Champions to a total of 79 individual titles. Although he has maintained and expanded the opportunities for the college program that has long been established as a trademark of Blair wrestling, he has also broadened the scope of the high school team. The skill level of the athletes on the high school team this past year ranged from novice wrestlers to Prep National champions, and the success of the team has grown on all levels. Again, it is Buxton’s emphasis on opportunities for students within the sport that has made it possible to see to the needs of such a wide range of athletes.
Raised in Satellite Beach, Florida and later Hope, Rhode Island in a family of 6 brothers and 3 sisters, Buxton was an outstanding three-sport athlete at Providence Country Day School where he earned a total of 13 varsity letters in football, wrestling, and lacrosse. In 1975, he was a National Prep Champion in wrestling and was named the Rhode Island Athlete of the Year, capping four undefeated seasons as a wrestler. Recently, Buxton was recognized for his high school athletic achievements as he was inducted into Providence Country Day School’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Following high school, he matriculated to the University of Rhode Island on a full wrestling scholarship where he was a qualifier for the NCAA tournament on a team that was regularly in the top twenty of the country (Rhode Island has since dropped wrestling). Known for an unconventional and tenacious style, Buxton continued competing after college and was the Outstanding Wrestler in the 1980 Northeastern Regional Olympic Trials (he did not compete in the final trials). Jeff Buxton has two children; a son, Tony, and a daughter, Siena.
Buxton held the reigns of Blair Academy from 1982 until 2012. During his tenure, Blair became the most successful high school wrestling program in the country. Blair successfully won the National Prep team title all 30 years under Buxton. He coaches 162 National Prep Champs (individually). He also coached 10 individual NCAA crowns and 46 NCAA Division 1 All American place finishers.
Buxton is now the head coach of the Lehigh Valley Regional Training Center where Olympic hopefuls continue to wrestle and grow. In 2019, Buxton was named the US Men’s Freestyle Head Coach for the World Championships.
Photos
Videos
Professional Achievements
Easton Area High School
“I still bleed red, white and black.” –Steve Powell
“I still bleed red, white and black.” –Steve Powell
Steve Powell
Easton Area High School
Impact Statement
“I still bleed red, white and black.” –Steve Powell
Biography
Hold an election to determine the nation’s best area for high school wrestling, and it’s certain that Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley will get plenty of votes. Need proof? Just give Easton High wrestling Coach Steve Powell a call. His answering machine tells the story: ” School’s started, wrestling season is just around the corner”. Many teams have carried the banner for the Valley over the years. The last two years, it’s been Easton’s turn.
The strength of Easton wrestling is nothing new. After all, the school has crowned at least one district champion every year since the District 11 tournament was initiated in 1948. But the national strength of Easton wrestling is outstanding individuals and one of the nation’s toughest schedules, which has taken the Rovers to back-to-back Class AAA state team championships and earning top 5 finishes in the national rankings for the past two years. ” You can’t back off” Powell said. ” You always have to be focused on looking for ways to improve. We have a tough schedule, but even if we didn’t travel, our schedule would be great”.
When you look at the number of outstanding teams within a half hour’s drive of each other, each week there are some of the nations best teams competing against each other. And he has to do it with the heaviest teaching load he’s ever had on his shoulders in his 22 years of teaching. A Health and physical Education teacher, Powell is in the classroom seven out of the day’s eight periods, with more than 30 students in each class.
“As a coach, I do the same thing in a rebuilding situation that I did last year” he said. ” You gear your practices to your best kid. Our kids know what they have to do to compete at the next level. You’re not going to be at the top three or four in the nation every year in a public school, but our kids have great learning attitudes”. Powell was born in the Valley, but his father, who was in the US Navy, was transferred to the Philadelphia Navy Yards. There Steve attended high school and college, graduating from Henderson High School and later from West Chester State College. He has been back in the Valley ever since. It isn’t hard to see why. How big is wrestling in the Valley? It’s more than the best media coverage in the nation, where most major dual meets take place in front of cable television cameras and radio microphones, as well as plenty of print media. It’s more than the overflow crowds, which often result in closed-circuit television feeds to auditoriums or cafeterias when the gymnasium is full. It’s the ultimate family sport.
“Wrestling is ingrained in families here” Powell said. “This is a blue-collar community and there’s a strong work ethic. People live their entire lives in this area, and they grow up loyal to their team. People here have a lot of pride in high school athletics. You take the average wrestler on my team and chances are his brother, father, uncles, and all his buddies wrestled. And after he gets out of school, his sons will wrestle years from now. It just gets passed from generation to generation.” The pride also extends to the community. When Easton had a parade last summer to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Easton Fire Department, the wrestling team rode the fire truck that led the parade. What else would you expect from the Valley?
Powell’s success continued to flourish until his retirement in 2016. Powell coached Easton wrestlers to 19 PIAA individual championships and 74 District 11 titles, including at least one for 31 consecutive seasons. He also coaches 90 PIAA State Place finishers. On the next level, he coached wrestlers who won 27 NCAA All-America awards, 18 in Division I.
Powell also did not miss a match in his 40 years as a coach; 32 as head and 8 years as the assistant.
Photos
Articles
Records
Professional Achievements
State College
Galloway was a 3x PA State Champion and stayed “at home” to excel at Penn State University.
Galloway was a 3x PA State Champion and stayed “at home” to excel at Penn State University.
Nathan Galloway
State College
Impact Statement
Galloway was a 3x PA State Champion and stayed “at home” to excel at Penn State University.
Biography
“Athletes like Nathan Galloway are among the success stories produced in high school athletics today,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “He has worked extremely hard to develop his skills and has become one of the best wrestlers not only in the state of Pennsylvania, but the entire nation, and we are proud to be honoring him.”
Galloway was a three-time Class 3A state champion at State College High, winning titles at 140, 145, and 152 pounds to lead his team to a second-place state finish. He also was the Cadet National Greco-Roman and freestyle champion in 2000 and was a Junior National Greco-Roman All-American in 2001.
Galloway also won the 145-pound championship in the 13th annual NHSCA National High School Seniors Wrestling Championships in April at Cleveland, Ohio, and was voted the winner of the Jeff Reese Memorial Award as the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.
Galloway wrestled for the Nittany Lions for three years before transferring as a Senior to Rider University. He was a 4x NCAA National Qualifier
Photos
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Blair Academy
“There’s only one way to know who’s going to win; who did more.” -Steve Mocco
“There’s only one way to know who’s going to win; who did more.” -Steve Mocco
Steve Mocco
Blair Academy
Impact Statement
“There’s only one way to know who’s going to win; who did more.” -Steve Mocco
Biography
“Athletes like Steven Mocco are among the success stories produced in high school athletics today,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “He has worked extremely hard to develop his skills and has become one of the best wrestlers not only in the state of New Jersey, but the entire nation, and we are proud to be honoring him.”
Mocco won his fourth National Prep Championships title this year, making him the first wrestler in American high school history to win four state-level titles in the heavyweight division. He has won the Junior National Freestyle Championships the past two years without surrendering a single point. He was the Junior Hodge Trophy winner in 2001.
Mocco, who will attend the University of Iowa, also won the heavyweight championship in the NHSCA National High School Seniors Wrestling Championships last month at Newark, Delaware. He also became the first wrestler in the event’s 12-year history to win both individual awards, for the most falls in the least aggregate time and the Outstanding Wrestler award.
In college, Mocco went on to be a 2x NCAA Champion and a 2x NCAA Runner Up while competing two years for the University of Iowa (2002-2004) and Oklahoma State University (2004-2006). Mocco also represented the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games.
Photos
Articles
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Shoreham-Wading River High School
“I try to go to every tournament to gain more experience and learn by wrestling and observing.” – Jesse Jantzen
“I try to go to every tournament to gain more experience and learn by wrestling and observing.” – Jesse Jantzen
Jesse Jantzen
Shoreham-Wading River High School
Impact Statement
“I try to go to every tournament to gain more experience and learn by wrestling and observing.” – Jesse Jantzen
Biography
It is the first year the NHSCA has presented this award. Jantzen’s dominating performance at the 11th annual Senior National High School Wrestling Championships, held March 24-26 at the A.J. Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., resulted in his unanimous selection as this year’s award winner. This year’s Senior Nationals attracted a record 797 competitors from 48 states, including a total of 53 entries in the weight class at which Jantzen competed, 140 pounds (competitors received a three-pound weight allowance).
“Athletes like Jesse Jantzen are one of the reasons these Championships are so gratifying,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “He has worked extremely hard to develop his skills and has become one of the best wrestlers ever in New York State. We are extremely proud to be honoring him.”
No individual stood out from the rest nationally as the 1999-2000 wrestling season began, but Jantzen put himself in front of the pack by completing, at least statistically, the most dominating career in the history of New York State wrestling. By winning the 145-pound state title the first weekend of March in Syracuse, Jantzen won his fourth state championship after placing third in the state as a seventh- and eighth-grader. No wrestler had ever won four state titles or placed six times in the 37-year history of the New York state tournament, but Jantzen accomplished both. Also selected the state tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler as a junior and senior, Jantzen finished his senior season with a 41-0 record and a career record of 215-3.
Jantzen was just as dominating in the Senior Nationals, allowing only two points in six matches as he piled up three pins, a major decision, and two technical falls, including a title-match technical fall in just 3 minutes, 17 seconds over Ohio state champion Nate Yetzer of Mansfield. Jantzen was voted the winner of the Jeff Reese Memorial Award as the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.
Also an outstanding student, Jantzen earned a 3.2 grade-point average and scored 1110 on the SAT. He will attend Harvard University in the fall.
Photos
Articles
Videos
