News & Events 2001-2002

Blair Wrestlers Win 22nd Consecutive National Prep Championship

Blair Academy captured its 22nd consecutive National Prep title this past weekend, and its 23rd overall, at Lehigh University’s Stabler Arena. The National Prep Tournament is the oldest high school wrestling tournament in the country.

Blair crowned nine individual champions: Robert Preston (‘03), Mark Bogart (‘04), Max Meltzer (‘02), Ryan Davis (‘03), Mark Perry (‘03), Zack Esposito (‘02), Matthew Palmer (‘02), Matthew Maciag (‘03), and Kurt Backes (‘02), tying the record set in 1996. Mark Perry was named Outstanding Wrestler as he pinned or teched every opponent over the two day competition. Blair’s 2002 Prep National team is the first composed of only high school wrestlers (no postgraduates) in recent memory. Meltzer, Esposito and Backes each captured their 3rd Prep National title while Palmer earned his second.

In total, Blair wrestlers placed in 13 of the 14 weight classes. Gregg Romano (‘04) and Matthew Veres (‘02) both took second place and Jay Giuricich (‘04) took 7th while Matthew Morris (‘03) placed 6th.

Blair Wrestling Pins Down Hunger

In an effort to raise money for the Blairstown community, Blair wrestlers accumulated 32 total pins at the National Prep Tournament for the Pin Down Hunger campaign. The purpose of the fundraiser was to couple Blair’s endeavors on the mats with a contribution back to the community by soliciting per pin pledges. The final amount raised is yet to be determined, but all contributions will benefit the Community Food Pantry, which operates year-round and sees to the needs of the residents of Blairstown and surrounding areas.

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