103 Pounds
Top-seeded Nick Brascetta of St. Paris Graham held off freshman sensation Mark Grey, 4-3, to win the championship at 103. Brascetta countered an early takedown and added two escapes to win the first of several titles for the Graham Falcons. However, Grey bounced back with a vengeance, winning the Beast of the East over Cadet Nationals runner-up Joe Orecchio of Don Bosco Prep (New Jersey), 8-0. Grey scored a big five-point move early and later added another takedown later in the match. Dominic Malone of Wyoming Seminary also placed in both tournaments as well.
112 Pounds
National rankings in this weight class are certain to change after these two tournaments. Devin Carter of Christiansburg (Virginia) dominated defending Ironman champ Hunter Stieber of Monroeville (Ohio), 9-2, to win the Ironman. Carter demonstrated powerful leg attacks in beating Stieber. Carter was unable to win both tournaments though as he was knocked off in the finals by sleeper Evan Silver of Blair Academy (New Jersey). Silver defeated Cadet Nationals champ Zach Horan of Nazareth (Pennsylvania), 9-3, and defending Beast champ Sean Boylan, 3-2, before edging Carter, 3-2.
119 Pounds
Jaime Clark of St. Edward(Ohio) finally has earned an Ironman crown. After two years of being a placewinner, Clark edged Sean Boyle of Blair Academy (New Jersey), 6-4. Despite surrendering the first takedown, Clark remained composed and scored on a late takedown to break a deadlocked match. Boyle, rebounded by defending his 2007 Beast championship by winning the tournament again. Boyle was not challenged throughout the tournament, defeating Shane Gentry of Colonial Forge (Virginia) who placed fourth and second in the Ironman and Beast respectively.
125 Pounds
Sam White of Massillon Perry (Ohio) defeated Zach Neibert of St. Paris Graham in a wild overtime match to win the Ironman title at 125. White trailed until late in the second period when he scored on a double leg takedown. A controversial stalling call on White sent the match into overtime, where White scored soon after. Simon Kitzis of Wyoming Seminary seeded ninth was the champion at the Beast. Kitzis, who was knocked out of the Ironman, beat defending champ, Andrew Garafalo of Colonial Forge (Virginia) in the first of three over-time bouts on the day. Kitzis defeated Pat Owens of Germantown Academy (Pennsylvania) to win the championship. Garrett Frey of Blair Academy (New Jersey) placed third and sixth in the Ironman and Beast respectively.
130 Pounds
Chris Villalonga of Blair Academy (New Jersey) showed why he is among the nation's best wrestlers in winning both tournaments. Villalonga went through an incredible weight class at Ironman beating freshman sensation Felipe Martinez of St. Paris Graham in the finals. Martinez had knocked off previously No. 1-ranked Tony Ramos of Glenbard North (Illinois) in the semifinals. Villalonga went on to later defend his Beast championship, winning a double overtime decision over Sam Sherlock of West Mifflin (Pennsylvania). Sherlock struck first with an early takedown, but Villalonga escaped in double overtime and rode Sherlock in the final 30 seconds for the win.
135 Pounds
David Taylor of St. Paris Graham proved the doubters wrong. Taylor moved up four weight classes and still became the first four-time Ironman champ. There was a first round scare, but after that Taylor cruised to the championship majoring sleeper finalist Joe Waltko of North Allegheny (Pennsylvania). Junior National finalist Josh Kindig of Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania) was upset in the quarters, but wrestled back to third. Austin Ormsbee finished fourth at the Ironman, but rebounded to win the Beast. In the finals he met a familiar foe, Nicky Gordon of Wyoming Seminary (Pennsylvania). Ormsbee had defeated Gordon in two close bouts at the Ironman; the Beast final was not as close with Ormsbee winning, 6-2.
140 Pounds
Andrew Alton of Central Mountain (Pennsylvania) showed why he is the best at 140 pounds. Alton controlled defending champ Colin Palmer of St. Edward (Ohio). Alton dominated on his feet scoring numerous takedowns, and avoided Palmer's trademark power half. This was one of the premier matches at the Ironman. New Jersey state champ Anthony Baldasarro of Eastern Regional, a Beast Runner-up in 2007, moved up one spot this year. Baldasarro scored a late takedown to win the championship over Ryan Kemmerer of Boyertown (Pennsylvania).
145 Pounds
Dylan Alton of Central Mountain (Pennsylvania) was the champion at Ironman, defeating Brian Stephens of St. Paris Graham (Ohio). Alton was in control early, but Stephens score a late takedown to make it close. Joey Napoli of Cumberland Valley (Pennsylvania) was the Beast champ, but not without some drama. In the semifinals, Napoli scored a takedown over Cadet National finalist Blake Roulo of Motoaca (Virginia) with two seconds to win the bout. In the finals, unseeded finalist Bo Candelaria of Middletown (Pennsylvania) almost reversed Napoli, but referees said time had expired first thus giving Napoli the title.
152 Pounds
Brandon Rolnick of Lawrenville (New Jersey) was the champ at Ironman. Rolnick went through freshman sensation Jason Luster of Woodbury Forest (Virginia) in the semifinals before defeating Nick Sulzer of St. Edward(Ohio) in a close final bout. Rolnick scored a first period takedown, and added another one in the third to clinic the final. Marshall Peppleman of Central Dauphin (Pennsylvania) repeated as a Beast champ. Peppleman dominated on top with Central Dauphin's trademark Dauphin tilt. Adam Hogue of Blair Academy (New Jersey) wrestled Peppleman very tough, losing 3-2 in the finals. Peppleman scored on an early attack, and added a late escape. For those wondering who would win between the Beast and Ironman champ, Peppleman defeated Rolnick in the finals of Super 32.
160 Pounds
Ohio State Champion Zach Toal of Troy Christian (Ohio) won a wild finals match against Kyle Lang of Brecksville (Ohio). This bout was highly entertaining with numerous scrambles. Toal trailed early but pulled away late in the match. Dallas Bailey of Catoosa (OK) won the Beast championship and OW in a deep 160 weight class with numerous nationally ranked wrestlers. Bailey went though Pennsylvania state placewinner Jimmy Sheptock of Northampton (Pennsylvania) before he too faced Kyle Lang of Brecksville (Ohio). Lang upset defending champ Kenny Courts of Central Dauphin (Pennsylvania) in the semifinals.
171 Pounds
Ed Ruth of Blair Academy (New Jersey) won arguably the best weight class at the Ironman. Ruth defeated defending Ironman champion Chris Phillips of Monroeville (Ohio), 3-2, before beating Junior Nationals champion Ethan Lofthouse of Mountain Crest (Utah). In the finals, Ruth scored numerous takedowns proving he is one of the best in the nation. At the Beast, Ruth lost early. In the first round, he was up 10-0 before getting pinned. Ruth wrestled back to third, spoiling a chance for fans to see Ruth wrestle Beast champion Mike Evans of Cumberland Valley (Pennsylvania). Evans dominated from the top position scoring numerous near fall points in the finals against Mason Bailey of East Fairmont (WV).
189 Pounds
Max Huntley of Blair Academy accomplished the rare feat of winning both tournaments. After wrestling at Colonial Forge (Virginia) last season, Huntley enrolled at Blair, and it appears to be the difference-maker. Huntley defeated Max Thomusseit of St. Paris Graham (Ohio) to win the Ironman. Huntley scored from the neutral position in the first and final period. At the Beast, Huntley got a tough test from Joe Piro of Northampton (Pennsylvania) before rallying for the victory. In the finals, Huntley defeated Tony Dallago of Central Dauphin (Pennsylvania), 4-3, for the victory.
215Pounds
Joe McMullan of Wyoming Seminary (Pennsylvania) was the champion at the Ironman. McMullan defeated Ben Krakower of Blair Academy to win the title. At the Beast, however, Krakower returned the favor scoring a last second takedown to upset McMullan in the semifinals. Jon Weber of Christiansburg (Virginia) was the sleeper of the weight class as he defeated Krakower in the final. Weber scored a takedown with under five seconds to win the title.
285 Pounds
Jeremy Johnson of Brecksville (Ohio) had four falls on the way to winning the Ironman title. In the finals, he pinned Zach Cori of Central Mountain (Pennsylvania) in the first period to win the championship. However, at the Beast both Johnson and No. 1-ranked Andrew Miller of Bassett (Virginia) were upset. The final was fifth-seeded Karl Green of Mt. St. Josephs (Maryland) against 11th-seeded Bobby Telford of St. Marks (Delaware). In traditional heavyweight fashion, this bout was exciting and came down to the final seconds where Telford secured the victory.
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