Field Set For Final Four Of High School Wrestling
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NHSCA ()
10/16/2002
EASTON, Pa. - Four of the top high school programs in America, Blair Academy of Blairstown, N.J., Easton High School of Easton, Pa., Great Bridge High School of Chesapeake, Va., and Edmond North High School of Edmond, Okla., will compete in the third annual Final Four of High School Wrestling, to be held January 18, 2003 at Easton High School. It is the best field to date in the event's young history, and includes what are widely considered to be the top three teams in the nation last year - Blair Academy, Easton, and Great Bridge - as well as in pre-season rankings this year. Edmond North, with one of its best teams ever despite the graduation of four-time unbeaten Oklahoma state champion Teyon Ware, has been ranked as high as No. 10 in some polls. "This is the best field we have ever assembled for the Final Four, and we are very excited about this year's event," NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. "All four teams consider it a distinct honor to be invited to the Final Four of High School Wrestling. Wrestling fans in this area will be treated to a great event, and the competition and the events we have planned for these young men will make it a memorable experience for them." National team rankings will be on the line. All four teams are expected to be ranked highly in the vast majority of national high school wrestling polls, including the rankings published by the NHSCA. For true wrestling fans, these four teams need no introduction. Blair Academy has won the team title in the National Prep Championships for 21 consecutive years, a national record, and defeated Easton 38-18 in the final match of the inaugural Final Four of High School Wrestling last January. The Bucs boast five returning National Prep champions. Seniors Rob Preston (112 last year) and Ryan Davis (140) are two-time National Prep champions, and seniors Mark Perry (145) and Matt Maciag (189) and junior Mark Bogart (119) also were National Prep titlists. Despite some graduation losses, Easton returns junior state champion Mike Rogers (135) and senior Matt Lear (152), third in state last year. Great Bridge also has an impressive group of returnees with five state champions in its lineup: three-time state champion Daniel Friskhorn (130), two-time state champion Ajay Foreman (160), junior Hunter Davenport (140), and sophomore Patrick Bond (189), along with senior transfer Donnie Ooton (145), a two-time state champion. Edmond North, which finished just 1.5 points out of the top spot in Oklahoma's Class 5A individual state tournament a year ago, is led by senior state champion Charles Jones (152). His brother Chris, a junior, finished third in state last year at 140. Seniors Kyle Evans (112) and Brett Behenna (130) and sophomore Colby Robinson (119) also finished third in state. Following is the competition schedule for the Final Four of High School Wrestling: Saturday, January 18 10 a.m. Blair Academy vs. Great Bridge Easton vs. Edmond North 2 p.m. Blair Academy vs. Edmond North Easton vs. Great Bridge 6 p.m. Edmond North vs. Great Bridge 8 p.m. Easton vs. Blair Academy