������Ƶ

Top wrestlers continue their off-season successes

Blake Sloan. Photo courtesy Steve Vlcek

by Marsha Chartrand

Three weeks ago, high school wrestlers Blake Sloan and Sammy Stewart participated in the USA Freestyle Tournament, with Blake also competing in the the Greco-Roman tournament.

“Both wrestlers excelled,” said Coach Steve Vlcek. “Sammy had a great tournament, going 6–1 on the day and finishing in third place. Along the way, he defeated several highly ranked wrestlers who had placed at the High School Championships.” This placement also qualified Stewart for the Central Nationals.

“Blake had a great weekend,” Vlcek continued. “Not only did he win one Championship in Freestyle, going 5–0, but defeating a very good, highly ranked Dundee wrestler in the finals 5–3 also qualifies him for the Central tournament.”

He won the Greco-Roman tournament as well, defeating the same tough Dundee kid in the finals. What a great accomplishment, winning both State Titles! Great job, Blake!

The next weekend stakes were set much higher as wrestlers gathered from Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. All the wrestlers were trying to qualify for the biggest tournament in the Nation — Fargo.

“Sam wrestled great again and the competition was even at a different level than his State tournament; he went an impressive 6–2, coming up short one match away from placing,” Vlcek said. “Great job, though, considering there were more than 40 kids on his chart.

“Blake also had an amazing day, going 6–2 and also coming up just one match short in freestyle,” Vlcek said. “In Greco it was a different story as he tore through the first four kids. His first four matches were all technical falls to reach the finals, where he lost to a tough Ohio kid who won the TOC a few weeks earlier.

“Taking runner-up at this level is a great achievement against such tough wrestlers on a national stage. Blake is planning on wrestling out in Fargo.”

The wrestling family is very proud of these two wrestlers competing at such a high level and excelling all along the way. Congratulations!

by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.