Schlatter, Escobedo, Nickerson head Asics All-America Wrestling First Team
Rob Sherrill/Center Mat Press
Troy Nickerson (125) of Binghamton (N.Y.) Chenango Forks High, the first five-time state champion in New York history, and four-time state champions Angel Escobedo (135) of Griffith (Ind.) High and Dustin Schlatter (145) of Massillon (Ohio) Perry High were among 10 seniors named to the 14-member First Team as the 20th annual Asics All-America Wrestling Team was announced today.
The Asics All-America Team, selected by a nationwide panel of wrestling experts, is the only national all-star team for which wrestlers completing all four high-school grades are eligible. Asics is a title sponsor of the Asics Vaughan USA Wrestling Fargo Junior National Championships and is a major benefactor of the sport at all levels.
“This team represents the best of the best in our schools today,” said Neil Duncan, president of TW Promotions. “We are proud to have these young men, with their talent and work ethic, representing us. They are clearly the world and Olympic champions of the future.”
Members of the First Team, as well as the Asics Wrestler of the Year, will be honored prior to the finals of the Asics Tiger Junior National Freestyle Championships July 30 at Fargo, N.D.
The Asics All-America Team includes eight wrestlers at each of the 14 high school weight classes “the First, Second, and Third Teams and five Honorable Mention selections. Wrestlers are considered at the weight class at which they competed in their state tournament or the National Prep Championships this year.
Schlatter, also the 2004 Asics Wrestler of the Year and the only repeat member of the First Team, is one of three Ohio wrestlers voted to the First Team. The others: senior David Erwin (160) from St. Paris Graham High and senior Mike Pucillo (189) from Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit High. Escobedo and Matt Coughlin (152) from Evansville Mater Dei High made Indiana the only other state with two First Team selections. Two more Indiana wrestlers were named to the Second Team, making Indiana the only state with four selections to the top two teams.
Matt Kyler (103) of Clearfield (Pa.) High, Ben Ashmore (112) of Dallas (Texas) Bishop Lynch High, Henry Cejudo (119) of Colorado Springs (Colo.) Coronado High and David Craig (171) of Brandon (Fla.) High, all juniors, are the underclassmen on the First Team. Cejudo and Craig could become four-time state champions next season, and Ashmore, a two-time National Prep champion, is the first Texas wrestler to be voted to the First Team.
Rounding out the First Team: Cyler Sanderson (140) of Heber City (Utah) Wasatch High, the third member of his family to earn First Team honors; DeShawn Barrett (215) of Baltimore (Md.) Patterson High and Drake McCoy (275) of Fayetteville (Ga.) Fayette County High.
Blairstown (N.J.) Blair Academy had five wrestlers selected overall, led by First Team member Adam Frey (130). Brandon High, led by Craig, had four wrestlers selected and St. Paris Graham High, led by Erwin, had three wrestlers selected. Clearfield High, Coronado High, Walsh Jesuit High, Centerville (Iowa) High, Nazareth (Pa.) High, Endicott (N.Y.) Union-Endicott High and Parkersburg (W.Va.) High each had two wrestlers selected.
The 14 First Team members combined to post 35 state high school or National Prep championships, along with nine Junior National and 11 Cadet National titles. The Second and Third Teams are not far behind. The Second Team boasts 32 state titles, including three four-time champions, to go with five Junior National titles and two Cadet National titles. The Third Team boasts 25 combined titles “including two four-time champions “along with eight Cadet National and two Junior National crowns.
Pennsylvania placed 15 wrestlers on the overall squad, followed by New Jersey (11), which led all states with five top-three selections. Close behind were Illinois and Ohio (nine), New York (seven) and California and Iowa (six). The 112 wrestlers selected come from 30 states.
2005 ASICS ALL-AMERICAN WRESTLING TEAM
listed by weight, name, year in school, high school and city
First Team
103 – Matt Kyler, Jr, Clearfield HS, Clearfield, PA
112 – Ben Ashmore, Jr, Bishop Lynch HS, Dallas, TX
119 – Henry Cejudo, Jr, Coronado HS, Colorado Springs, CO
125 – Troy Nickerson, Sr, Chenango Forks HS, Binghamton, NY
130 – Adam Frey, Sr, Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ
135 – Angel Escobedo, Sr, Griffith HS, Griffith, IN
140 – Cyler Sanderson, Sr, Wasatch HS, Heber City, UT
145 – Dustin Schlatter, Sr, Perry HS, Massillon, OH
152 – Matt Coughlin, Sr, Mater Dei HS, Evansville, IN
160 – David Erwin, Sr, Graham HS, St. Paris, OH
171 – David Craig, Jr, Brandon HS, Brandon, FL
189 – Mike Pucillo, Sr, Walsh Jesuit HS, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
215 – DeShawn Barrett, Sr, Patterson HS, Baltimore, MD
275 – Drake McCoy, Sr, Fayette County HS, Fayetteville, GA
Second Team
103 – Matt McNaughton, Sr, Oak Lawn HS, Oak Lawn, IL
112 – Brian Moreno, Sr, Foothill HS, Bakersfield, CA
119 – Mike Grey , Jr, Delbarton HS, Morristown, NJ
125 – Jayson Ness, Sr, Kennedy HS, Bloomington, MN
130 – Reece Humphrey, Sr, Lawrence North HS, Indianapolis, IN
135 – Brandon Rader, Sr, Parkersburg HS, Parkersburg, WV
140 – Dan Vallimont, Sr, Jefferson Twp. HS, Oak Ridge, NJ
145 – Brent Metcalf, Sr, Davison HS, Davison, MI
152 – Ryan Morningstar, Sr, Lisbon HS , Lisbon, IA
160 – Travis Hammons, Sr, Gurdon Hubbard HS, Chicago, IL
171 – Chance Litton, Sr, Parkersburg HS, Parkersburg, WV
189 – Jake Varner, Sr, Bakersfield HS, Bakersfield, CA
215 – Jared Rosholt, Sr, Ponca City HS, Ponca City, OK
275 – Chris Kasten, Sr, Winamac HS, Winamac, IN
Third Team
103 – Connor McDonald, So, Sussex Central HS, Georgetown, DE
112 – Rollie Peterkin, Sr, Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ
119 – Brad Pataky, Sr, Clearfield HS, Clearfield, PA
125 – Nick Gallick, Sr, Sunnyside HS, Tucson, AZ
130 – Tim Darling, So, Nazareth HS, Nazareth, PA
135 – Zach Bailey, Jr, Oak Park HS, Kansas City, MO
140 – Mike Benefiel, So, Montini HS, Lombard, IL
145 – Gregor Gillespie, Sr, Schroeder HS, Webster, NY
152 – Andrew Flanagan, Sr, Bound Brook HS, Bound Brook, NJ
160 – Alton Lucas, Sr, West Babylon HS, West Babylon, NY
171 – Phillip Keddy, Sr, Uintah HS, Vernal, UT
189 – Max Askren, Sr, Arrowhead HS, Hartland, WI
215 – Brent Jones, Sr, Robinson HS, Fairfax, VA
275 – Bryan Reiss, Sr, Emmaus HS, Emmaus, PA
Honorable Mention (listed in alphabetical order)
103: Tyler Clark, So, Orion HS, Orion, IL; Marty Eng, Jr, Newberg HS, Newberg, OR; Tyler Graff, Fr, Loveland HS, Loveland, CO; Trevor Machado, Fr, Oakdale HS, Oakdale, CA; Anthony Valles, Fr, South Windsor HS, South Windsor, CT.
112: Gabe Burak, Sr, Coronado HS, Colorado Springs, CO; Pat McCaffrey, So, Centerville HS, Centerville, IA; Zach Sanders, So, Wabasha-Kellogg HS, Wabasha, MN; Josh Statum, Sr, Homewood HS, Homewood, AL; Terrance Young, Jr, Edison HS, Minneapolis, MN.
119: Nick Fanthorpe, Sr, Naperville North HS, Naperville, IL; Ross Gitomer, Sr, Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ; Franklin Gomez, Sr, Brandon HS, Brandon, FL; T.J. Sebolt, Jr, Centerville HS, Centerville, IA; Mike Thorn, Jr, St. Michael-Albertville HS, Albertville, MN.
125: Mark Andersen, Sr, Lemoore HS, Lemoore, CA; Cameron Doggett, Sr, Graham HS, St. Paris, OH; Matt Fisk, Sr, Wyalusing Valley HS, Wyalusing, PA; Jordan Frishkorn, Jr, Great Bridge HS, Chesapeake, VA; Lance Palmer, Jr, St. Edward HS, Lakewood, OH.
130: Darrion Caldwell, Jr, Rahway HS, Rahway, NJ; Ken Jordan, Sr, Mount Carmel HS, Chicago, IL; Billy Murphy, Jr, Hughson HS, Hughson, CA; Joey Slaton, Sr, Kennedy HS, Cedar Rapids, IA; Matt Vacanti, Jr, Papillion-LaVista HS, Papillion, NE.
135: Travis Blasco, Jr, Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ; Cesar Grajales, Sr, Brandon HS, Brandon, FL; Mike Rowe, Sr, DeMatha HS, Hyattsville, MD; Garrett Scott, Jr, Juniata Valley HS, Alexandria, PA; Brandon Shelton, Sr, El Reno HS, El Reno, OK.
140: Dan Burkholder, Sr, Trinity HS, Washington, PA; Josh Horne, Sr, Pickerington Central HS, Pickerington, OH; Jason Robbins, Sr, Oviedo HS, Oviedo, FL; Mitch Smith, Sr, Ripley HS, Ripley, WV; Albert White, So, St. Rita HS, Chicago, IL.
145: Joe Caramanica, Sr, Nazareth HS, Nazareth, PA; Joseph Cornejo, Sr, Haysville Campus HS, Wichita, KS; Tom Fazio, Sr, Lakeland HS, Wanaque, NJ; Danny Grater, Sr, Clay Center HS, Clay Center, KS; Chase Pami, Sr, Cimarron Memorial HS, Las Vegas, NV.
152: Matt Dragon, Sr, Lake Lehman HS, Lehman, PA; Joe Ecklof, Sr, Northampton HS, Northampton, PA; David Rella, Jr, Walsh Jesuit HS, Cuyahoga Falls, OH; Sean Reynolds, Sr, Providence HS, New Lenox, IL; Shane Vernon, Sr, Broken Arrow HS, Broken Arrow, OK.
160: Duke Burk, Sr, Notre Dame HS, Peoria, IL; Rocky Cozart, Sr, Brandon HS, Brandon, FL; Mike Miller, Sr, Lake HS, Uniontown, OH; Trevor Stewart, Sr, Detroit Catholic Central HS, Redford, MI; Ross Taplin, Sr, Abilene HS, Abilene, KS.
171: John Barone, Sr, William Floyd HS, Mastic Beach, NY; Chad Beatty, Sr, Wilton HS, Wilton, IA; Jay Borschel, Sr, Linn-Mar HS, Marion, IA; A.J. Graves, Sr, Jeannette HS, Jeannette, PA; Ricky Scott, Sr, Valley Central HS, Montgomery, NY.
189: Josh Arnone, Sr, Honesdale HS, Honesdale, PA; Patrick Bond, Sr, Great Bridge HS, Chesapeake, VA; Louis Caputo, Sr, Blue Springs HS, Blue Springs, MO; Jon Jones, Sr, Union-Endicott HS, Endicott, NY; Hudson Taylor, Jr, Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ.
215: Cody Gardner, So, Christiansburg HS, Christiansburg, VA; Dan Goetter, Sr, Pennridge HS, Perkasie, PA; Jason Marshall, Sr, Graham HS, St. Paris, OH; Colton Nichols, Sr, Poway HS, Poway, CA; Nate Sipes, Sr, Curwensville HS, Curwensville, PA.
275: Arthur Jones, Sr, Union-Endicott HS, Endicott, NY; Dennis Landolt, Sr, Holy Cross HS, Delran, NJ; Terry Tate, Sr, Tyrone HS, Tyrone, PA; Joey White, Sr, Tri-Valley HS, Colton, SD; Brady Wilson, Sr, Faribault HS, Faribault, MN.
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