Blair Academy (N.J.), the 1997 high school wrestling national champion, came to Lakewood, Ohio, on Saturday with something to prove. It had been a long drought since Blair's last dual meet win against 10-time and defending national champion St. Edward High (Ohio). St. Edward had been undefeated against Blair at home since this rivalry started back in 1996, and St. Edward had only lost six matches at home dating back to 1977.

But that all changed this year, as No. 1 Blair took down No. 2 St. Edward, 37-20, on Saturday to stay on top of the national rankings and lock up its first national title in four years.

Blair came into the match with two huge trump cards to deal to St. Edward as the only team in the nation to have two No. 1-ranked wrestlers on its roster. Cory Cooperman is the nation's top-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds and is going for his fourth National Prep title this year. Only two other wrestlers in the history of the nation's oldest tournament have accomplished that feat.

Cooperman is undefeated for the second year in a row and would be tested by returning state champion Ryan Lang of St. Edward. But Cooperman did not let his team down, pinning Lang at 4:31 of the third period. This gave Blair the big spark it needed to drive through the rest of the match. At 145 pounds, Zach Esposito came up big for Blair with a pin of John Knoyesni in 3:42. Blair had won eight out of 13 matches going into the final match of the night.

Bringing up the rear for Blair was possibly the best closer in the history of the heavyweight class. Steve Mocco, the No. 1-ranked heavyweight in the nation, is a true man among boys on the mat and has gone undefeated since his freshman year. Mocco has come a long way since that freshman mistake and has been the most feared heavyweight in high school history.

"He is an automatic six points every time he steps on the mat," said Cooperman. "With Steve bringing up the rear, we never have anything to worry about."

Mocco came through as usual, even though the match and the national title were already secured before his match. He went out like a true champion and pinned Dan Wendolowski in 53 seconds.

Mocco is what some college coaches are calling the Holy Grail of high school wrestling this year. He has been offered scholarships to just about every school in the nation, but the inside word is that he will be attending Iowa next fall.

Blair will lose Cooperman, Mocco and Esposito to graduation this year but will bring back the rest of the team for a title defense. With 11 starters returning next year, Blair will be the odds-on favorite to repeat as national champions.

Results (Blair wrestlers on left):