NO. 1 RANKED BLAIR ACADEMY OF NEW JERSEY AND NO. 2 RANKED ST. EDWARD OF OHIO READY TO DO BATTLE AT THE BLAIR SUPERQUAD HELD THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 14 AT EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY

TWO TOP NEW JERSEY TEAMS ALSO ON THE BILL

#1 National Ranking On The Line

East Stroudsburg, Pa. - Every year there are perennial favorites in all sports. UConn and Tennessee in women's basketball; Duke on the men's side on the hardwood, USC in football. In prep wrestling, however, it's been Blair Academy, St. Edward, St. Paris Graham (of Ohio) and a few others.   

Actually, it's been Blair Academy of Blairstown, New Jersey for the past five years. (Blair finished #1 in the national rankings for the past five years.) Can they make it six in a row?  

Find out this Saturday, January 14 at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania when Blair will face the No. 2-ranked team in America, St. Edward of Lakewood, Ohio.  At the end of the day the No. 1 ranking in high school wrestling will be determined. Will it be Blair again? Or, will St. Edwards travel back to Cleveland with the #1-ranking?  

"This will be an excellent weekend that is great for wrestling. Anytime you pit #1 vs. #2 (in any sport) it's special," said Jeff Buxton, Blair Academy Head Coach.  "We are also excited about Ocean Township and Bergen Catholic--two of the strongest teams in New Jersey."

***All individual rankings are from respected national rankings.

A LOOK AT ST. EDWARD:

St. Edward is led by #1-ranked Lance Palmer at 140 lbs. Palmer won the 2006 Beast of the East and is a multiple time Ohio State Champion, who will take his wrestling prowess to The Ohio State University. 2006 Ironman Champion and #5-ranked Sean Nemec will look for a big win at 145 lbs.  And, Keith Sulzer, also a 2006 Ironman Champion, will do battle at 125 lbs. Sulzer is ranked #8 in the USA. Rounding out St. Edward's top athletes is Collin Palmer, who carries a #7 national ranking. In all, St. Eds is a solid team capable of being #1. 

A GLANCE AT BLAIR ACADEMY:

Blair will enter the SuperQuad with seven athletes ranked in the top 12 in their respective weight classes. Leading the way will be #1-ranked Eric Medina, who won both the Beast of the East and Ironman.  Travis Blasco is ranked #2 and is headed to the University of Iowa. Blasco was a top-5 place finisher in Fargo this year and is also a three-time National Prep Champion.  Kellen Russell (#4 at 125 lbs.) is a Beast of East Champion and National Prep Champion; he is just a junior. Sophomore Mario Mason holds a #7 ranking at 140 lbs., and Max Shanaman is ranked #6 at 135 lbs.  Up top, Jared Platt is ranked #10 at 215 lbs. and Jim Powers is ranked #12 at Heavyweight.  Powers is headed to Virginia Tech. 

The action will take place inside Koehler Field House on the campus of East Stroudsburg Univ. There will be a $6 fee at the gate, which will gain you entrance for all the action. 

For directions email Angelo Borzio at aborzio@po-box.esu.edu or contact him via telephone at 570-422-3313. 

Directions to the Blair SuperQuad can be found at:
http://www3.esu.edu/admission/visit_directions.asp

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14:

1:00 P.M.  
St. Edward vs. Ocean Township
Blair Academy vs. Bergen Catholic

3:00 p.m.
Blair Academy vs. Ocean Township
St. Edward vs. Bergen Catholic

5:00 p.m.
Blair Academy vs. St. Edward
Ocean Township vs. Bergen Catholic