Pre-Tournament Press Release!

National High School Seniors Wrestling Championship

Cleveland, OH
April 2, 2004 - April 4, 2004

15TH ANNUAL NHSCA SENIORS WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR RETURN TO CLEVELAND’S PUBLIC HALL IN APRIL

EASTON, Pa. – Having evolved into one of the most anticipated annual wrestling events at any level, the National High School Coaches Association’s High School Seniors Wrestling Championships will return to Public Hall in Cleveland, Ohio, April 2-4, 2004. This marks the 15th year for the week-long NHSCA celebration, and organizers expect over 800 of the best high school wrestlers in America to compete.

“The growth of this tournament since its inaugural 1990 season with 262 wrestlers, to the 15th annual event with an expected 800 wrestlers demonstrates how greatly a tournament like this was needed,” said NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro. “While some wrestlers come here as the culmination to an outstanding high school career, others come with the hope of establishing themselves as a force to deal with at the next level. And for both, the NHSCA Seniors Championships has turned into the perfect stage.”

This year’s anticipated entry list includes wrestlers from 48 states, and among them will be numerous entries from the defending champion state of Ohio, several four-time state champions from across the nation, at least two wrestlers undefeated for their entire career and another competitor whose story in the world of wrestling is nearly unbelievable.

The state of Ohio, which has been on firm ground as host by winning each of the past two years in Cleveland, will no doubt enter another strong contingent. In the latest NHSCA senior rankings, the Buckeye state had 13 wrestlers ranked top eight in their respective weight class – second only to Pennsylvania with 15 ranked wrestlers. Ohio (seven times), California (three) and Minnesota are the only states to win a team title since 1993 when team scores were first kept.

At least three wrestlers who are undefeated for their entire career will be competing in this year’s event. Michael Sutton, a 135-pounder from Weaver High School in Alabama; Alexander Tsirtsis, a 140-pound entry, from Griffith (Ind.) High School and Chris Oliver, a 152-pounder from Creighton Prep in Nebraska are 251-0, 236-0 and 128-0 respectively.

Still, a 103-pounder from Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Ga., may be the story of this year’s championship. Kyle Maynard, who completed the 2003-04 wrestling season with a 35-16 record for coach Cliff Ramos, has received the state of Georgia’s wildcard entry after going 3-2 in his senior state championship effort - despite having no arms or legs. Maynard, who placed sixth in the NHSCA Preseason Wrestling Championships, appeared on HBO’s award-winning Real Sports program in January. Born with no legs, no hands and arms that end before the elbow joint, Maynard’s story has become an inspiration to thousands, and potentially millions, who have learned about his accomplishments in recent months. Both Maynard and Ramos will serve as banquet speakers at Thursday’s annual NHSCA evening gathering.

The tournament will begin on Friday at 9 a.m. with wrestling in championship rounds only, all the way to the round of 16. At 9 a.m. on Saturday, the round of 16 will be followed by the quarterfinals, multiple rounds of consolation and the semifinals. Wrestling will again begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday with more consolations and placement matches. The championship finals for first place will follow a parade of All-Americans slated for 6 p.m. Sunday evening.

The NHSCA selects Coaches and Senior Athletes of the Year in 20 boys’ and girls’ sports, and sponsors 11 national championship events in the sports of wrestling, golf, and soccer. The 14th annual National High School Seniors Wrestling Championships attracted 798 entries from 46 states to Cleveland, Ohio in April 2003. The NHSCA also sponsors the National Open High School Wrestling Championships in July at Norfolk, Va. For a complete list of this year’s events, visit the NHSCA’s web site at http://www.nhsca.com. The National High School Coaches Association is a not-for-profit 501c3 service organization founded in 1988 to provide support and leadership programs for the nation’s 500,000 high school coaches.