Mount Anthony High School Going For Record 20th Straight State Title

[MassNole]

Burlington Free Press.com | Sports

Patriots pursue record title

Published: Friday, February 22, 2008
By John A. Fantino
Free Press Staff Writer

The Mount Anthony Union High School wrestling team is hotly pursuing its 20th consecutive Vermont high school state wrestling championship -- and a national record.

The milestone is expected to arrive Saturday at Rutland High School, where the top wrestlers from 22 schools across the state are gathering to compete for team and individual crowns. The event starts today and culminates with title bouts in 14 weight classes Saturday night at 6:15.

Mount Anthony is a heavy favorite to haul in another team trophy, which would provide the Patriots the longest string of state championships in the United States. Paulsboro has also won 19 straight, but the southern New Jersey program had its streak halted a few years ago.

The Patriots boast the top seeds in eight weight classes -- Mike Bradley, 103 pounds; Jacob Shortt, 119; Scott Le- gacy, 130; Dan Pierce, 135; Matt Parisi, 140; DJ Legacy 152; Matt McVay, 189; and Ethan Furlon, 285 -- and are all battle-hardened by a rugged schedule this winter that included trips to Ohio and Alabama.

With Mount Anthony a virtual lock for the team title, Vergennes, Mount Mansfield, Spaulding and Otter Valley are among the schools in the annual battle for second place.

Mount Anthony coach Steve Legacy said the competition for individual titles will be fierce.

"Vermont wrestling has come a long ways in the last couple of years," Legacy said. "Lot of good coaching and enthusiastic coaching out there, which in turn makes a great field. In each weight class there are kids that have really good records."

One of those kids is Robert Hamlin of Mount Mansfield, wrestling at 171 pounds and gunning for his fourth consecutive title.

Hamlin storms into the weekend with a 25-1 record, with his only loss -- the first since he was a sophomore -- coming while he grappled with an injured thumb in the final of a match in Shenendahoah, N.Y.

Essex's Jordan Grey (112) and Mount Mansfield's Travis Garrett (145) are the only other wrestlers from northern Vermont holding top seeds.

I don't care the state or level of competition, 20 straight state titles is just amazing.

[JiggidyJames]

Re: Mount Anthony High School Going For Record 20th Straight State Title

I don't care the state or level of competition, 20 straight state titles is just amazing.

Defenitly. That's cool. I would guess they have stabilty there, which is always important. Good luck to them.

[MassNole]

Re: Mount Anthony High School Going For Record 20th Straight State Title

This program is perennially ranked as one of America's best. It could very well be the best sports program in Vermont on a national level. It is just amazing to think this program has been winning state titles since before any team member was born.

On a side note, they came close to losing one year and may have actually lost, but a kid from another school was disqualified and allowed them to keep their title. That, or some kids winning streak was preserved because that happened.

[MassNole]

Re: Mount Anthony High School Going For Record 20th Straight State Title

And they pulled it off.

Milestones abound at wrestling states

Published: Sunday, February 24, 2008
By John A. Fantino
Free Press Staff Writer

RUTLAND -- Mount Mansfield's Robert Hamlin copped his fourth title and Mount Anthony broke a national record.

The 2008 Vermont high school wrestling championships, which wrapped up Saturday night, contained few surprises but served as a stage for several impressive milestones.

Mount Anthony extended its reign to 20 years, setting a national record for consecutive high school wrestling team championships. The Patriots piled up seven individual champions and 290.5 points, lapping the other 21 schools on hand.

Fueled by individual tiles from Hamlin and Travis Garrett, Mount Mansfield grabbed second place with 140 points, followed by Spaulding in third with 133.5.

A field of 158 wrestlers gathered at Keefe Gym for the two-day tournament, culminating with title bouts in 14 weight classes.

Hamlin climbed to a familiar place: the top of the podium.

He became just the seventh wrestler in Vermont to claim four state championships after rolling to a 17-2 decision over Fair Haven's Chris Davis in the 171-pound final, a performance that earned him tournament most valuable wrestler honors.

"I love it here in Vermont," said Hamlin, who wrapped up his Vermont career with a 168-3 record. "Not a lot of state tournaments that you can go to where everybody knows everybody. It's a great crowd. A lot of people put down Vermont because we are not the toughest state in the country, but I wouldn't want to come from any other state."

Hamlin, a two-time defending New England champion who will wrestle at Lehigh University, wasn't the only repeat winner.

Mount Anthony senior Scott Legacy picked up his third straight crown with a technical fall at 130 pounds, while teammates Jacob Short (119), D.J. Legacy (152) and Matt McVay (189) nabbing their second straight titles.

Jordan Gray of Essex followed in his brothers' footsteps as a back-to-back champion, edging Mount Anthony's Zech Burke at 103 pounds.

"I knew it would be a tough match coming in," said Gray, a junior. (Mount Anthony) has a tough team -- they've always been tough -- so it is pretty cool to be able to beat one of their kids in the finals. My goals were New England champ and state champ this year. I got one down."

Garrett, a Mount Mansfield junior, claimed the first title of his career, fending off Mount Anthony's Zak Randall for a 6-2 decision in the 145-pound bout.

"At the beginning of the year I faced (Randall) in the first event and I pinned him in the second period," Garrett said. "He really improved."

Ryan Fortune, wrestling at 215 for Vergennes, was the only other northern Vermont champion.
Contact John A. Fantino at 651-4851 or [email protected]

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