NHSCA High School Wrestling Festival (1/14/06)

by Joe Boardwine, Associate Executive Director

Posted on January 16, 2006

Allentown, PA
January 14, 2006

NORTHAMPTON, FRANKLIN, MENDHAM IMPRESSIVE AT NHSCA HS WRESTLING FESTIVAL

EASTON, Pa. – 28 teams from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts descended upon the Salisbury High School gym in Allentown, Pennsylvania for a tremendous day of interstate team competition.

The NHSCA High School Wrestling Festival allows teams choose to wrestle one, two or three varsity dual meets. The teams are divided into three divisions. Each coach can select the level of competition he wishes for his team, from staying in the same division throughout the day to even competing against one team from each division. Each school also may enter its junior varsity team, which would compete against other junior varsity squads.

Six mats were used throughout the event that featured a number of exciting team rivalries and individual talent.

“You could tell from the time the first team arrived this morning that it was going to be a great day of wrestling,” said Steve Pados NHSCA assistant director. “The energy and pulse in that gym picked up immediately. You could feel the anticipation and excitement of a great day of competition.”

Several programs established themselves as excellent dual meets teams. Northampton (PA) came into the event with a young team (starting 7 freshmen) but proved they will be a threat on the national level once again in a short period of time. The Konkrete Kids opened with a big 43-17 win over the very tough Brick Memorial Team (NJ), who was undefeated on the day aside from the Northampton loss. Each weight class was hard-fought in a dual meet that lasted 2 full hours. Northampton then handled Mifflinburg (PA) 62-12 and dominated a very good Watchung Hills (NJ) team, 50-16. Watchung Hills had been impressive in defeating Emmaus (PA) and Jim Thorpe (PA) by lop-sided scores prior to the match.

Franklin (MA) High School was also very impressive on the day with three big wins over their competitors. The Franklin squad, which has won a number of state titles in Massachusetts, was dominant in wins over Salisbury (PA), Bayonne (NJ) and East Stroudsburg North (PA).

“This is a tremendous event,” said Franklin assistant coach, David Breen. “It was great for our program. We plan to be back every year and we are looking to challenge some of the top teams in Pennsylvania and New Jersey at this event in the future.”

Mendham High School (NJ) was also very impressive. The strong new jersey team rattled off three wins in a row in successive rounds over Pennsylvania teams in Emmaus, East Stroudsburg North, and Stroudsburg.

A team also to mention that looks to be on the upswing is Catasauqua (PA). Led by coach Mike Conners, “Catty” went undefeated on the day. They opened with a win over Dieruff (PA), then followed that up with a solid victory over Bayonne (NJ). The Rough Riders completed their day of wrestling by upending the East-Side Ghosts from Patterson, New Jersey.

In JV action, Easton (PA), Nazareth (PA) and Franklin (MA) proved to have the most wrestlers ready to make a big impact at the varsity level next season. Easton was very impressive and unchallenged in 3 matches against traditional powers Council Rock South (PA), State College (PA), and Mendham (NJ). Nazareth went 4-0 on the day, including a convincing win over Franklin (MA), who had gone 3-0 in dominant fashion up to that point.

“The NHSCA HS Wrestling Festival has turned into a really exciting day of competition for wrestling fans,” NHSCA associate executive director Joe Boardwine said. “This event is growing in leaps and bounds and allows programs to stay in the event every year… whether they are ranked nationally or young and in a rebuilding phase. Bringing teams together from various states helps everybody because you see some different styles. The coaches like the way this prepares them for the post-season.”

The 2007 High School Wrestling Festival is expected to fill up quickly, with a 40-team field. Contact the NHSCA at nhsca@nhsca.com or call 610-923-0900 for more information about entering your high school team to next year’s event.

The NHSCA selects Coaches and Senior Athletes of the Year in 20 boys and girls sports, and sponsors more than two dozen national championship events in 11 sports. The 16th annual National High School Seniors Wrestling Championships attracted nearly 800 entries from 47 states and three European countries to Cleveland, Ohio in April, and the NHSCA conducted 16 championship events in Virginia Beach, Va. this summer. The NHSCA, in partnership with the NFL Coaches Association, conducted the National High School Football Coaches Convention in conjunction with U.S. Army All-American Bowl All-Star Game and recently completed a fabulously successful inaugural National High School Talent Search competition to rave reviews. For a complete list of this year’s programs and events, visit the NHSCA’s web site at www.nhsca.com.

Founded in 1989, the National High School Coaches Association is a not-for-profit 501c3 service organization providing support and leadership programs for the nation’s 500,000 high school coaches and 10 million high school athletes.


3276 Nazareth Road · Easton, PA 18045 · (610) 923-0900 · Fax (610) 923-0800 ·

E-mail: nhsca@nhsca.com · Web: www.nhsca.com

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