News Summary

ST. PARIS — Veteran Graham wrestling head coach Jeff Jordan is usually pretty guarded about what he says in the media. But not this time.

Jordan thinks the nation's top-ranked prep wrestling team, Blair Academy of New Jersey, might be ducking a rematch with his young, talented, second-ranked Falcons.

"Right now, it is all in Blair's hands," said Jordan, in his eighth year at the helm.

It seems that Blair coach Jeff Buxton was on such an emotional high after handling the runner-up Falcons at the annual prep season-opening Ironman Invitational at Walsh Jesuit High School that he issued an all-inclusive challenge.

Graham scored just six points less than 2007, when they won it. But Blair amassed 90 more and dismantled the talented field with nearly 300 points.

"He said after the Ironman that they'd wrestle anybody, any place, anywhere," said Jordan. "Now he's kind of back-pedaling a little bit."

The Falcons hope to make a dual meet between Blair and Lakewood St. Edward a tri-meet, thus getting a shot at Blair and arch-rival St. Ed the same day.

"We want to go to St. Edward's on Jan. 31," he said. "Things could open up, if they agree to what they said they wanted to do. This week we'll be working on that."

The reason Jordan's so anxious to meet Blair again might be the improvement of his three freshman starters. Isaac Jordan (112 pounds), Felipe Martinez (130) and Huston Evans (152) all won tough weight classes at the Greater Miami Valley Wrestling Association Holiday Tournament over the weekend.

Isaac Jordan beat a state placer and two state qualifiers. Martinez's weight class had two returning state qualifiers not even make it to the quarterfinals, and one didn't make it to the second day of the tournament. And Evans beat Tecumseh's returning Division I state runner-up T.J. Rigel in overtime on his way to a title.

"A week and half ago, Huston had a bad attitude and a bad practice and I kicked him out of the room," said Jordan. "He came back refocused. That happens. Our room is really tough, especially for a freshman.

"The freshman year is so up and down. I just hope they are up at the end of the year."

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0364 or krowe@coxohio.com.