This year's Brute Scholastic Showcase presented by the National Wrestling Coaches Association and the Delaware Wrestling Alliance has a familiar name expected to lead the charge for another team title.
Pennsylvania has owned the event in recent years, winning every year since the event moved from Battle Creek, Mich., to its current home in Delaware.
This year should see more of the same as a pair of Pennsylvania teams lead the 21-team field at the 2006 Scholastic Showcase to be held April 8-9, 2006 at Delaware State University's Memorial Hall in Dover. This is a USA Wrestling sanctioned event, and the participants are all USA Wrestling members.
With 39 state champions in the field and 146 state placewinners, the event will put the top underclassmen in the country up against each other in a state vs. state format. With four rosters still to be submitted, the numbers of state champions and state placewinners is expected to rise significantly.
With 21 teams in the field, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio and Virginia are bringing two each, while Colorado, Florida, Illinios, Michigan, and New York will also be fielding state teams.
"This event really has all the makings of a real wrestling spectacle," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "The Scholastic Showcase has traditionally been one of the best events an accomplished underclassman can compete in with his state."
"Each year, there are future NCAA Division I All-Americans meeting head to head in the event and this year should be more of the same," said Moyer.
Teams will be seeded one through eight and will compete in pool competition all day on Friday. The top two teams of each pool will advance to an eight-team bracket championship on Saturday to compete for the scholastic duals title.
Highlighting the field individually are a slew of nationally ranked state champions from around the country. Top-ranked 103-pounder Jordan Oliver will kickstart the PA Gold team and with him comes the return of Alex Meade, the talented state champion from Delaware now enrolled at Easton Area High School in Pennsylvania. Two-time state champion Tim Darling of Nazareth and state runner-up Tyler Nauman of Middletown anchor the PA Gold.
The PA Blue has its share of talented wrestlers, with Derry Area's two-time state champion Troy Dolan and Canon-McMillan's Colin Johnston leading the charge. Both are dominant lightweights. Beast of the East runner-up Mike Robinson is also in the field as well as fellow Beast placer Chris Heinrich of Germantown Academy, a National Prep runner-up.
Maryland's Gold team has eight state champions including three-time state champion Eren Civan of Walt Whitman High School. Civan is 120-0 in high school and last year in Fargo, won titles in both Cadet Freestyle and Cadet Greceo. Vince Taweel is also one to watch as the Hammond High School junior is a three-time state champion. National Prep runner-up Michael Bressler is also solid.
Colorado makes the farthest trip, bringing four state champions and 13 state placewinners.
Illinois comes with a diverse array of talent, highlighted by Mt. Carmel 215-pounder Christian Brantley, a very tough upper weight that finished second in the state this past year.
Massachusetts' A-Team brings five state champions with one hailing from Rhode Island – two-time state champion Cory Pelletier.
New York's team is primarily Long Island-based, but with it is state champion John Oschmann at 130 and Long Beach state champion Edquardo Delgado. Maciej Jochym, Cory Lemka and P.J. Gillespie are also state placewinners.
Virginia Blue boasts four state champions including three-timer Junior Pearman from Great Bridge. Beast placewinner Andrew Williams of Tabb High School in Yorktown, Va., bolsters a deep 108-pound weight class in the event. He finished third at the Beast of the East.
The weights are federation weights plus five pounds, so 103 is 108, 112 is 117 and so on.
ABOUT THE NWCA
The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a professional organization dedicated to serve and provide leadership for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on scholastic and collegiate programs. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling.
The NWCA, through its organizational structure, promotes communication, recognizes achievement, recommends rules and regulations, sponsors events, and serves as an educational and informational source. Additionally, the NWCA strives to foster the sportsmanship and integrity that are the cornerstones of athletic competition.
ABOUT THE DWA
"The Delaware Wrestling Alliance, Inc. is committed to promoting, enhancing, and developing through educational assistance, individual, and team building, moral character development, community spirit, and sportsmanship."
DWA is a non-profit, 501-C3 Tax Exempt corporation, and was formed in January of 1996 to promote the sport of wrestling in Delaware at all levels. Formerly named the Delaware Wrestling Booster's Association, the DWA is comprised of members from all facets of the Delaware wrestling community. Included in it's membership are representatives from: The Delaware Wrestling Officials Association, The Delaware Wrestling Coaches Association, high school booster clubs, youth groups, Delaware Wrestling USA, and fans of all ages.
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