About wrestling as the top seed but being an underdog in the last two matches:
"I put no pressure on myself coming into the event. My coaches just told me to wrestle the best I could and give it all I had. Just let my results (on the mat) do the talking."
Thoughts about winning the Beast of the East:
"It's the best Christmas present I could ever receive."
Evan Silver (Blair Academy, NJ) -- Junior, 112-Pound Champion
On his improvement from last week at the Ironman to this week at the Beast:
"I worked all week on riding my opponent better and not giving up quick escapes, and made opponents earn every point they got."
Thoughts about the performance in becoming a two-time Beast champion:
"It wasn't as dominant as I hoped, but I got it done, and that's what it's about."
Mark Grey (Blair Academy, NJ) -- Sophomore, 119-Pound Champion
This was a second title at the Beast of the East for Grey in as many seasons, and no wrestler has ever won four titles at the Beast of the East.
Any thoughts about becoming the first to ever win four titles at the Beast:
"Nothing yet. Just take it one match at a time, one tournament at a time. Maybe if I get the three-peat next year it will come into my mind."
On the difference between last week, taking sixth, and this weekend's title:
"Just tried to get more movement going on my feet, push the opponent to get them off balance, and capitalize for scores off their mistakes."
Devin Carter (Christiansburg, VA) -- Senior, 125-Pound Champion
About what was the most impressive aspect of his performance over the two days:
"I was always trying to score, regardless of the score. Everything was aggressive, no thoughts about holding on for wins."
On getting that elusive Beast title after two previous runner-up finishes:
"The previous two years I felt under-matched, and was just ‘happy to be there.' This time, I felt better about things and just wrestled my match."
Nick Schenk (St. Mark's, DE) -- Senior, 130-Pound Champion
This was also his third Beast of the East final and second title -- as he was champion at 103 pounds as a freshman, second at 119 as a sophomore, and third at 130 as a junior.
About wrestling during the tiebreaker:
"I just hit a 'quick sit' to get that reversal early in the first tiebreak. Then did what I had to do to ride out the (first tiebreak set and all but two seconds of the second tiebreak). (It was) all about heart, prayer, and confidence."
Jason Bastianelli -- Head Coach -- St. Mark's, DE
On the sudden victory period and Schenk's overall tournament:
"Nick just funked his way out of the Sherlock takedown attempt. The ref originally called it a takedown as an anticipatory reaction, but (correctly) waved it off. Beating two ranked wrestlers is a testament to his hard work, overall performance, and taking the next step."
Simon Kitzis (Wyoming Seminary, PA) -- Senior, 135-Pound Champion
On becoming a two-time champion at the Beast:
"I feel successful in my performance. It was the goal going into the weekend, and it was accomplished."
Coping with the physicality and superior strength of his finals opponent:
"I used my technique and overall knowledge of the sport to create advantages and opportunities."
Chris Villalonga (Blair Academy, NJ) -- Senior, 140-Pound Champion
Villalonga becomes the fifth wrestler to ever win three titles at the Beast of the East, and has not lost a scholastic match since very late December of his freshman year.
About wrestling with the high expectations that come with his successes to date:
"It's obviously an honor to win a third title in such a prestigious event. The results reflect my hard work, as well as growth and learning from previous matches.
On recovering from some early match struggles:
"Giving up the early scores serves as a wake-up call me. I'm just coming out for matches too tight, and I have to work on starting the matches like I wrestle in the second and third period. The good thing is that I get more confidence and rhythm as the match progresses.
Ben Dorsay (Cox, VA) -- Senior, 145-Pound Champion
About beating a defending champion, Anthony Baldosaro (Eastern Regional, NJ):
This was my first time I had ever wrestled him. I let it all hang out, and wanted to end my (Beast of the East) career with a boom."
Goals for the rest of the season:
"Just to keep on winning, this is one piece of the puzzle. I want to win a state title and possibly a national title on the back end of the year."
Jesse Shanaman (Blair Academy, NJ) -- Senior, 152-Pound Champion
The difference in performance from last year to this year:
"I'm down one weight from last year (wrestling at 160). I feel much stronger in this weight class, as opposed to last year."
About the continual improvement that comes with the Blair Academy program:
"I'm always growing as a wrestler, competing against the best. I'm closing out matches much better, and poaching the close victories (unlike last year)."
Marshall Peppelman (Central Dauphin, NJ) -- Senior, 160-Pound Champion
Peppelman joins Villalonga as a three-time Beast champion, the sixth in history; and like Villalonga, will be headed to Cornell in the fall of 2010.
On winning three Beast titles:
"It's really exciting, and took a lot of hard work to get there. While the match was a nail-biter, closer than I hoped, I'm still ecstatic."
About that crucial third period ride out:
Peppelman and Visicaro were tied at 2-2 after two periods with Visicaro scoring one takedown to two Peppelman escapes. "Honestly, I didn't think Visicaro would choose down. Then, I knew I had to either ride him out or turn him to win. Almost got the tilt, but couldn't finish. I also was able to resist the (Visicaro) stand up attempts."
Explaining the match winning takedown in overtime:
"I shot in on the hi-crotch, almost got it but he fended it off; though he then rolled right into a great re-score position for me. My concern was just making sure to stay in bounds because I wanted the match to end right there."
Kenny Courts (Central Dauphin, PA) -- Junior, 171-Pound Champion
Strategy for wrestling Tristan Warner (Cumberland Valley, PA) for the fourth time, and what could be four times after this:
"The last match, I was able to separate the margin a little bit. This match, just wanted to build off that and keep on the attack. I know what he does well, how to counter that, and the keys to winning the matches."
About battling varying injuries:
"Haven't really been able to wrestle as much (as desired) in the offseason. But I feel the healthiest I've felt in awhile right now. Just have to try and keep in shape, continue to improve, and finally get that elusive PIAA state title."
Michael Evans (Blair Academy, NJ) -- Senior, 189-Pound Champion
On repeating as Beast of the East champion:
"It's pretty sweet. Didn't dominate as much as hoped, but wins are wins."
Looking ahead to the Bethlehem Holiday Wrestling Classic:
There is potential for matches with Andrew Campolattano (Bound Brook, NJ) and/or Antonio Giorgio (Warwick, PA). Campolattano, a junior, is undefeated for his career; Giorgio hast not lost prior to the state tournament since his freshman year, but is currently recovering from injury.
"Just have to keep getting better, improving in neutral, and actually finishing (more of) my shots."
Matt Idelson (Garnet Valley, PA) -- Junior, 215-Pound Champion
He is the first unseeded wrestler ever to become champion in the 17-year history of the Beast of the East.
About being a rather obscure and unexpected champion:
"I just wanted to come here this weekend, wrestle the best I could, and see what happened."
Discussing the fact that the Beast of the East was his first ever high school tournament title:
"It feels great, and it's overwhelming."
Thoughts on the rest of the season:
"Just keep training hard, building upon this victory, and hoping to win many more."
Mike McMullan (Wyoming Seminary, PA) -- Senior, 285-Pound Champion
On beating two wrestlers ranked in the top four to win the title:
"I just took it to the opponent right from the start. I'm in it to win it."
About the last thirty second scramble and flurry to end the championship finals:
"I got the reversal with a merkle, just tried to hang on to the position. At the end, I didn't know if I won or lost. I'm thankful that the refs made the right call."
Winning the Most Outstanding Wrestler award:
"I've never been MOW before. I've got lots of hardware and woodwork to take home with me (also the Major Ray Mendoza Award for most team points scored in the tournament). It wasn't expected (not with Villalonga and Peppelman winning third titles), but I'm totally pumped but drained."
John Gordon -- Head Coach -- Wyoming Seminary, PA
"There's some good and bad. We don't train to finish in third place, but we also aren't afraid of facing this high level of competition. It's truly a privilege to be among the best and competing against the nation's best. We're growing as a team with the tough schedule. The younger kids (seven freshmen and sophomores in the lineup) are starting to come into their element, and the veterans (Kitzis, Moon, and McMullan in particular) stepped it up and were leaders this weekend."
Jeff Sweigard -- Head Coach -- Central Dauphin, PA
"I'm pretty happy overall, even though we came here to win a title. The tournament's a meat-grinder. Wins are wins, losses are losses; and we had more wins than losses with placing about half the lineup. We'll diversify the attacks overall, as we can't hide our (go-to moves) forever."
Jeff Buxton -- Head Coach -- Blair Academy, NJ
Jeff Buxton's quotes came from a Flowrestling.com interview following the finals.
"You get excited about each individual person. You try to perform at the highest level for each individual person. If they do their job, they're going to take care of the team. That's the one thing that we focus on ... You do your job and you'll take care of the team score."
"We have some great events coming up where I think the team is going to get challenged, so it's going to be important for our good guys to really step up. That's the one thing I'm going to focus on. "
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