17th Annual Burt Builders Tournament

[Meigs_74]

What are the predictions for this ten team tournament?

[coal miner's son]

I would say Gallia or Meadowbrook based on numbers. Not only does Gallia have the numbers, but they are also pretty good. I'm basing my prediction on Meadowbrook from past years.

[warrengrappler/xcman]

I would say that St. Paris Grahams B team will win the team title.

[BlizzardMan]

I agree. Graham's B team could win most league titles in our area!

[coal miner's son]

I forgot about Graham's B team coming. Yeah, that changes my prediction.

[boogerred]

Some schools backups are great wrestlers. At Muskingum College in 1999, we had a kid who was a backup on ST. Edwards wrestling team, come in and beat (in wrestle offs) a three-year starter and also the kid beat two D-III returning National qualifiers in his freshman season.

[Mighty Mighty Devils]

The competion sounds great St. Paris Grahams B team will be very tough a good match for the teams of the southeast and good experiance for some of the kids in the southeast that need some tough matches see eveyone tommorow that going to show should be a great day of wrestling

[Mighty Mighty Devils]

Does anyone know if waterford is having a jr high tourney at the same time this weekend? I know last year they did it was a very good tourney with good competion would maybe like to run out for a few during a break if they are

[tsracer91]

Yes, the Waterford jh is having their tour. at the new gym.

[tsracer91]

Yes, the Waterford jh is having their tour. at the new gym.

[wrestlefan1]

grahams b team is no slouch, but they arent bigtime.. they will fill most of the14.. they were at miami traces varsity tourney last year.. chillicothe tied them filling 8 weight classes that day..
trace ussed to always run a reserve tourney at the same time.. we would put some of our youngsters in the reserve

[tric118]

No Slouch is for sure. I know a lot of the Graham kids from going over on Sudays in the past and watching my Junior High kids compete against coach Jordan's group. I gurantee he will be bringing some Very Very good kids. Look for Ryan Taylor at 103 he is a two time Junior High State Champ. This is the Graham forecast.

Falcon Forecast

The 2008-09 Graham wrestling team returns four seniors and a talented group of young wrestlers looking for their 9th consecutive State title and 2nd National title. Expectations are high this year as this team looks to continue the strong wrestling tradition that has been established by coach Jordan and his staff. This years projected line-up is as follows:

At 103 pounds we have two very accomplished wrestlers. Sophomore, Nick Brascetta returns to this weight class looking to improve on his 3rd place finish at the State tournament. Freshmen Junior High State champ Ryan Taylor, will also compete at this weight class, as this will be a tough battle between these two for the starting spot. Sophomore Devin McKeever, competed for the black team last year and will add solid experience at this weight class.

Coaches Comments: I feel confident that either of these two young men will serve as strong state title contenders for the team. The quality of these two wrestlers will help to make the 103-pound weight class strong throughout the season for the falcons. Devin will continue to work hard for the falcons this season.



At 112 pounds, Junior Bryce Faulk returns from his freshmen season where he gained experience as a black team member. Freshmen Junior High State champ Isaac Jordan, looks to make a solid impact for Graham at this weight. Isaac has been very successful at the National level throughout his Junior High career and is working hard to carry that success over to the High school level.

Coaches Comments: Isaac has had success in the past and I feel he is now ready to “make things happen” at the 112 pound weight class for the falcons. Bryce will add depth at this weight class and is looking forward to wrestling for the falcons again this season.



The 119-pound weight class has returning State champ, Zach Niebert coming back for his senior year. He has been busy this past summer winning the NHSCA Junior National tournament and training hard for his senior season. Junior, Sheldon Kegley, will challenge Zach for the starting job at 119. Sheldon is a tough competitor that has also trained hard for the upcoming season.

Coaches Comments: Unfortunately we have two very tough wrestlers at this weight class. Zach , of course, has established himself as the front-runner for the starting job after winning a state title last year. I know his goal is to finish his senior season with another state title. Sheldon will battle Zach throughout the season and will be ready to fill the weight class if necessary. I feel we have two boys here that can make a run at the state title, unfortunately only one of them can start for us but both are very accomplished wrestlers and will help us throughout the season.



The 125-pound weight class will also have another State champ returning to this weight. Junior Tucker Armstrong looks to continue his success from a stellar sophomore season that ended with him winning the state title at this weight. He has been working hard this off-season after finishing 4th this summer at Fargo in the Cadet National Freestyle championships. Sophomore Cole Bovey will also compete at this weight class after gaining valuable experience on the black team his freshmen year. Sophomore David Rider, is new to the team this year and is excited to represent the falcons on the mat.

Coaches Comments: I feel that Tucker can be the man to beat at this weight class throughout the state if he manages his weight properly and continues to work hard. He is focused on improving his consistency throughout the season and is looking to win his 2nd state title. Cole has quality wrestling experience and adds good depth at this weight class.



At 130 pounds freshmen Felipe Martinez looks to fill this weight class for the falcons. Felipe is a very talented wrestler that has won 3 junior high state titles. Felipe has the talent to establish himself as a front-runner for the state title at this weight class.

Coaches Comments: Felipe is an extraordinary talent. He is a wrestler that is very exciting to watch and has unbelievable scrambling ability I feel he will make an immediate impact at the State and National level for the falcons.



At 135 pounds Senior David Taylor moves up a few weight classes to fill this spot for the falcons. Ranked #1 in the country, David has won 3 Ironman titles, 2 Fargo Junior National titles, and 3 State titles. He is one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the country and looks to finish his senior season as a 4-time Ohio State champion. Senior, Jordan Bair, adds depth to this weight class as he has varsity experience after he filled-in for the team last season. He has worked hard this summer and is a solid competitor for the falcons at this weight class

Coaches Comments: I have coached many accomplished wrestlers here at Graham. David has the work ethic, skills, and determination that it will take to compete at the college level. He will be a solid wrestler at this weight class and looks to finish his career here at Graham with a fourth state title. Jordan will continue to work hard and push Taylor in the room. He has lettered three times for Graham in wrestling.



The 140 pound weight class looks to be filled with Sophomore Matt Stephens. Matt is tough on his feet and looks to improve on his 4th place finish at the state tournament last year. He has trained hard all summer and is looking forward to competing for the team this season.

Coaches Comments: Matt has a great desire to get better and improve on any weaknesses he may have. He has gotten a lot stronger over the summer with his intense weight training. I feel he will be a solid wrestler for us at this weight and can make a run at the state title this season.



At 145 pounds Senior Brian Stephens moves up to this weight class and looks to finish his Graham wrestling career with a state title. Brian struggled with his weight a little last year but feels better at the higher weight and wants his 3rd state placement to be at the top of the podium at the state tournament this season. Junior Josh Rowe, returns at this weight class after a productive year on the black team. He will add experience and depth to this weight class.

Coaches Comments: Brian has been a pleasure to work with throughout his career here at Graham. He always works hard and is very eager to do anything I have asked of him. If Brian stays focused on his goals I feel he can accomplish anything he sets out to do, and that includes winning a state title. Josh will continue to work hard and will be ready to compete when necessary.



At 152 pounds we have four wrestlers vying for the starting spot. Senior Dylan Bair started at 135 lbs last season as he and Mark Meyer were in a battle for the starting spot. Junior Joe Martinez will also look to make the team at this weight class. Joe was a Junior High State champ in 2006 and has the experience to fill this weight class for the falcons. Freshmen Two-time Junior High State champ, Huston Evans will also be included at this weight class. Huston has performed well at the Junior High level and looks forward to wrestling for the falcons this season. Sophomore Jonathan Bouffioux, comes back for a second season and will continue to improve every day.

Coaches Comments: As you can see we have a very talented group of wrestlers at this weight class. Last year it was at 160 and this year it is at 152. Who ever steps up and earns the starting spot will definitely be battled tested in the room and will benefit from the intense competition. I anticipate that Dylan Bair will make a strong run at the starting job at this weight class. Joe has been behind some very talented upper classmen in years past but looks to step up this year. And Huston cannot be over-looked as he is big and strong and comes off of a good Junior High season. Jonathan will add good solid depth at this weight class.



At 160 pounds Sophomore Kyle Ryan looks to fill this weight class. After being behind Coby Boyd and James Mannier last year, Ryan looks to establish himself as the starter at 160. Kyle was a 2-time Junior High State champ and won the NHSCA Freshmen National title this past summer in Virginia.

Coaches Comments: I am looking for big things from Kyle this year. He has trained hard this summer. If he keeps a positive attitude and a willingness to improve each day, I feel he has the tools it takes to be a state champion.



Senior James Mannier will fill the 171-pound weight class. After last years 3rd place finish at State, James is eager to get back on the mat and make a run at winning a state title. James has worked hard all summer and moves up a weight class where he might be projected as the favorite for the State title at this weight in Ohio.

Coaches Comments: James is finishing up his career here at Graham and in the three years he has started for my team he has worked hard and reached many of his goals. I know there is still one goal he has and that is to be a state champion. This year will be a great opportunity for him to reach that goal.



The 189 pound weight class has a few wrestlers also but none any bigger than Junior Max Thomusseit. Max has worked hard in the weight room this summer and has put on the size he lacked last year at the 189-pound class. Coming off a 3rd place finish at state last year, Max is looking to become a three-time state placer and a state champion all in the same year. Senior Jacob Welty competed as a black team member last year and looks to add solid depth to this weight class. Freshmen Darin Bovey moves up from the junior high to compete at this weight class.

Coaches Comments: We feel that Max will step it up this year and make a legitimate run at a state title. He has worked hard this summer to gain the strength and size he lacked last year at this weight. Jacob gives us quality experience as a senior letterman for the falcons and Darin will compete well at this weight class.


Junior Logan White will man the 215-weight class. Logan was a District qualifier for the falcons last season. He fell a little short of making it to the state tournament last year and has used that as motivation to work hard this summer and prepare for the year.

Coaches Comments: Logan has the potential to become one of the top 215 pounders in the state. He is an all-around good athlete that works hard and gives you 100% every time he steps on the mat. I feel this could be a very productive year for Logan.



Junior Lucas Williams will fill the Hwt. class. Lucas was a back up last season to state runner-up Adam Walls and now looks to take over the Hwt. class for the falcons. Also competing at this weight class will be Senior Alan Marrs who spent time wrestling on the black team last year. Senior Brandon Deel will add depth to this weight class.

Coaches Comment: The heavyweight class will be an interesting one to watch this season. We have three boys that I know will be very competitive this season. This weight class will be a good opportunity for one of these young men to make a name for themselves.

[wrestlefan1]

yea, sad to say we felt pretty good tieing them..
d2 around here is petty good and i think they left pretty upset

[tric118]

Tied them last year????

[tsracer91]

Tric, is Ryan at 103 for sure, or was this just the artical to start the season? This should be a great tournement. Does anyone know the complete list of teams?

[tric118]

I am sure he will be at 103 he is pretty small the way it is. He is a nice kid very tough. He may go 112 but I would guess 103. Faulk will be a good 112.

[coal miner's son]

Is it just me, but the article Tric just pasted makes me feel like we (here in SE OH) are on a different planet than this team. This reads like a press release for a a DI college team. I think it's safe to say that VERY few kids in SE Ohio could make THIS team. WOW!

[Mighty Mighty Devils]

anybody can be beat

[tric118]

You have to remember they have almost nobody on their team from the town of St. Paris. It is a team made up of kids from all over the southwest Ohio. No I am not saying they recuit. When it gets to where they are at it recuits itself. If my kid was as good as those on Grahams team I would want them involved with that type of team also. I agree with you anybody can be beat but right know nobody in the country can seem to beat Graham. You know a team is deep when Junior High state champs sit the bench. It is a good chance for southeast ohio to wrestle some great kids. Good Luck I hope you guys make a big impression.

[wrestlefan1]

yea, we tied them.. a 10 team tourney at miami trace and we both scored 103 points,, in a tie for 4th