June 10, 2008: The Wrestling Mall, High School News

23rd ASICS High School All-American Team Announced

(excerpt only)

Repeat selections Taylor, Meade, Welch Headline ASICS All-America First Team

Three-time state champions David Taylor (112) of St. Paris (Ohio) Graham High, Alex Meade (152) of Camden Wyoming (Del.) Caesar Rodney High and Jason Welch (160) of Walnut Creek (Calif.) Las Lomas High are repeat selections to the 14-member First Team as the 23rd annual ASICS All-America Wrestling Team was announced today.

The ASICS All-America Team, selected by a nationwide panel of wrestling experts, is the only national all-star team for which wrestlers enrolled in all four high-school grades are eligible. ASICS is a title sponsor of the ASICS Vaughan USA Wrestling Fargo Junior National Championships and is a major benefactor of the sport at all levels.

“This team represents the best of the best in our schools today,” said Neil Duncan and Nick Gallo of ASICS and TW Promotions, Inc. “We are proud to have these young men, with their talent and work ethic, representing us. They are clearly the World and Olympic champions of the future.”

Members of the First Team, as well as the ASICS Wrestler of the Year, will be honored prior to the finals of the ASICS Vaughan USA Wrestling Junior National Freestyle Championships in July at Fargo, N.D.

The ASICS All-America Team includes eight wrestlers at each of the 14 high school weight classes – the First, Second, and Third Teams and five Honorable Mention selections. Wrestlers are considered at the weight class at which they competed in their state tournament or the National Prep Championships this year.

Taylor, Meade and Welch are among nine First Team members to finish their careers with at least three state or National Prep titles. Joining them are Eric Grajales (130) of Brandon (Fla.) High, Collin Palmer (135) of Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward High, Michael Mangrum (145) of Auburn (Wash.) Riverside High, Ryland Geiger (189) of Scappoose (Ore.) High and Marcel Dubose (215) of Oak Park (Mich.) High, all three-time state champions, and Jason Chamberlain (140) of Springville (Utah) High, the lone four-time state champion to earn First Team honors.

2008 ASICS All-America Team

First Team

• 103 - Mark Rappo, Sr, Council Rock South HS, Holland, PA

• 112 - David Taylor*, Jr, Graham HS, St. Paris, OH

• 119 - Logan Stieber, So, Monroeville HS, Monroeville, OH

• 125 - Nate Moore, Sr, Iowa City West HS, Iowa City, IA

• 130 - Eric Grajales, Jr, Brandon HS, Brandon, FL

• 135 - Collin Palmer, Jr, St. Edward HS, Lakewood, OH

• 140 - Jason Chamberlain, Sr, Springville HS , Springville, UT

• 145 - Michael Mangrum, Sr, Riverside HS, Auburn, WA

• 152 - Alex Meade*, Sr, Caesar Rodney HS, Camden Wyoming, DE

• 160 - Jason Welch*, Sr, Las Lomas HS, Walnut Creek, CA

• 171 - Quentin Wright, Sr, Bald Eagle Area HS, Wingate, PA

• 189 - Ryland Geiger, Sr, Scappoose HS, Scappoose, OR

• 215 - Marcel Dubose, Sr, Oak Park HS, Oak Park, MI

• 285 - Eric Thompson, Sr, Waverly-Shell Rock HS, Waverly, IA

Honorable Mention

• 152: Jake Salazar, Sr, Wasatch HS, Heber City, UT.

• 160: Ethan Lofthouse, Jr, Mountain Crest HS, Hyrum, UT