ASICS High School All-American Team celebrates its 25th year of honoring excellence
Share:
by Gary Abbott
For 25 years, ASICS America Corporation has been recognizing the best prep wrestlers in the nation, with the selection of its ASICS High School All-American Team. For a quarter of a century, at the beginning of each summer, the award winners are announced, which is considered the top honor within high school wrestling.
What makes the ASICS Team so compelling is that athletes from all four high school grade levels are eligible for inclusion. Working from this vast pool of talent, a committee of wrestling experts meets annually to select the recipients. In each high school weight class, there are eight wrestlers honored - First Team, Second Team, Third Team and five Honorable Mention athletes.
Athletes are evaluated at the weight class where they competed in their high school state championship or Prep National championship. No athletes are moved around during the selection process. Wrestlers are judged on their achievements during the high school season and at national events in the post-season.
The first ASICS Team was selected in 1986, when founders Gary Abbott of Wrestling Masters magazine and Norm Palovcsik of the Pennsylvania Roundup met at a small restaurant in Eastern Pennsylvania to pick the nation's best wrestlers. The team was printed in the next issue of Wrestling Masters magazine and the results were announced at the ASICS Junior National Championships in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The first ASICS High School Wrestler of the Year was recognized at the 1986 ASICS Junior Nationals, the talented Laurence Jackson of California, a double champion at Junior Nationals and a top star within his state. Among the First Team members on that inaugural 1986 ASICS Team was a 105-pound junior from Sheldon High School in Iowa named Terry Brands, a future two-time World Champion and Olympic medalist.
The next year, the selection committee was expanded to three experts. The selection process is overseen by TW Promotions, the marketing arm for wrestling of the ASICS America Corporation. Over the years, the committee members have changed at times, but the ASICS commitment to accuracy and excellence has grown and evolved.
ASICS began producing a colorful poster of the team in 1987, which is mailed each fall to every high school program and USA Wrestling club in the nation. All of these posters, including both the boys teams and the girls teams, are prominently displayed at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. The posters are one of the most popular displays in the Hall.
ASICS decided in 2001 to team with USA Wrestling to add TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School All-American Team to the program, honoring the top prep female athletes. A new committee was formed, with the same format: First Team, Second Team, Third Team and Honorable Mention, as well as a Wrestler of the Year.
Since the National Federation of High School Athletic Associations (NFHS) has not set weight classes for girls wrestling, the girls are grouped based upon achievement, regardless of weight. A poster was also produced for the girls that year, and the winners are now also honored during the women's finals at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior Nationals. The Girls program now celebrates its 10th season.
It could take a fan many hours to review and evaluate the 25 years of ASICS Team members, something which is now possible. TheMat.com has posted all 25 Boys teams and 10 Girls team on the internet, for fans to read and enjoy.
All 25 ASICS Boys All-American teams and 10 Girls All-American Teams are posted for review at the following link:
ASICS High School All-American Team History website
A review of the ASICS High School Wrestlers of the Year features some of the best wrestlers in U.S. history. Included is Olympic champion Henry Cejudo, a prep star from Coloradn and Arizona. Olympians who were ASICS Wrestlers of the Year include Cary Kolat of Pennsylvania, Joe Williams of Illinois, Oscar Wood of Oregon and Steven Mocco of New Jersey on the boys side, and Toccara Montgomery of Ohio and Ali Bernard of Minnesota on the girls side.
The only athlete to win ASICS Wrestler of the Year twice was girls star Tatiana Padilla of California, the winner in 2007 and 2008. Padilla has since won a World bronze medal. No boys high school wrestler has ever been ASICS Wrestler of the Year twice.
Making the First Team is a tremendous achievement for a wrestler. A review of past First Team members include the Wrestlers of the Year listed above, plus another Olympic champion, Cael Sanderson of Utah.
Other ASICS First Teamers included Olympic medalists Sam Henson of Missouri, Dennis Hall of Wisconsin, Lincoln McIlravy of South Dakota, Brandon Paulson of Minnesota and Garrett Lowney of Wisconsin. Additional Olympic Team members from the ASICS First Team include Eric Guerrero of California, Mike Zadick of Montana, Les Gutches of Oregon, Kerry McCoy of New York and Jason Gleasman of New York.
World champions from the First Team include Henson, Hall and Gutches.
The only two four-time NCAA champions in history, Cael Sanderson of Utah and Pat Smith of Oklahoma, were also ASICS First Teamers. Sanderson wrestled for Iowa State and Smith wrestled for Oklahoma State.
There were numerous brothers who have been named to the ASICS First Team. The four Sanderson brothers from Utah, Cody, Cole, Cael and Kyler, were all ASICS First Team selections. The Short family from Minnesota had three brothers on the ASICS First Team, Chris, Willy and Wade.
Other brother combinations on the ASICS First Team include:
- The Alton brothers of Pennsylvania (Andrew and Dylan)
- The Hughes brothers of Pennsylvania (Russ and John)
- The Jantzen brothers of New York (Jesse and Corey)
- The Moore brothers of Pennsylvania (Ty and Teague)
- The Perry brothers of Oklahoma (Mark and Chris)
- The Schlatter brothers of Ohio (C.P. and Dustin)
- The Williams brothers of Illinois (Joe and T.J.)
- The Wood brothers of Oregon (Oscar and Isaac)
Sister combinations on the ASICS First Team include:
- The Delgado sisters from South Carolina (Brittany and Breanna)
- The Hutchison sisters from Alaska (Melina and Michaela)
If you look at the entire ASICS Team, including all levels of recognition, there have also been countless World Team members, NCAA champions, NCAA All-Americans and Junior World Team members on the team. Actually, they could be counted, and that may be a followup project for later this summer, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ASICS High School All-American Team program.
Let's tip our hats to the first 25 years of the ASICS High School All-American Team. We look forward to future, as our nation's best wrestlers continue to be honored.
ASICS High School Wrestler of the Year
1986 - Laurence Jackson, California
1987 - Dan Knight, Iowa
1988 - Alan Fried, Ohio
1989 - Adam Mariano, New York
1990 - Ray Brinzer, Pennsylvania
1991 - Scott Schluchter, Oklahoma
1992 - Cary Kolat, Pennsylvania
1993 - Joe Williams, Illinois
1994 - Oscar Wood, Oregon
1995 - Sean Hage, Georgia
1996 - David Kjeldgaard, Iowa
1997 - Kenny Cox, Oregon
1998 - T.J. Hill, Missouri
1999 - Damion Hahn, New Jersey
2000 - Jesse Jantzen, New York
2001 - Steven Mocco, New Jersey
2002 - Zack Esposito, New Jersey
2003 - Roger Kish, Michigan
2004 - Dustin Schlatter, Ohio
2005 - Troy Nickerson, New York
2006 - Henry Cejudo, Colorado
2007 - Cody Gardner, Virginia
2008 - Jason Chamberlain, Utah
2009 - David Taylor, Ohio
2010 - To be announced at ASICS Junior Nationals
TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year
2001 - Toccara Montgomery, Ohio
2002 - Brandy Rosenbrock, Michigan
2003 - Samantha Lang, Oregon
2004 - Ali Bernard, Minnesota
2005 - Deanna Rix, Maine
2006 - Jackie Cataline. California
2007 - Tatiana Padilla, California
2008 - Tatiana Padilla, California
2009 - Adeline Gray, Colorado
2010 - To be announced at ASICS Junior Nationals
What makes the ASICS Team so compelling is that athletes from all four high school grade levels are eligible for inclusion. Working from this vast pool of talent, a committee of wrestling experts meets annually to select the recipients. In each high school weight class, there are eight wrestlers honored - First Team, Second Team, Third Team and five Honorable Mention athletes.
Athletes are evaluated at the weight class where they competed in their high school state championship or Prep National championship. No athletes are moved around during the selection process. Wrestlers are judged on their achievements during the high school season and at national events in the post-season.
The first ASICS Team was selected in 1986, when founders Gary Abbott of Wrestling Masters magazine and Norm Palovcsik of the Pennsylvania Roundup met at a small restaurant in Eastern Pennsylvania to pick the nation's best wrestlers. The team was printed in the next issue of Wrestling Masters magazine and the results were announced at the ASICS Junior National Championships in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The first ASICS High School Wrestler of the Year was recognized at the 1986 ASICS Junior Nationals, the talented Laurence Jackson of California, a double champion at Junior Nationals and a top star within his state. Among the First Team members on that inaugural 1986 ASICS Team was a 105-pound junior from Sheldon High School in Iowa named Terry Brands, a future two-time World Champion and Olympic medalist.
The next year, the selection committee was expanded to three experts. The selection process is overseen by TW Promotions, the marketing arm for wrestling of the ASICS America Corporation. Over the years, the committee members have changed at times, but the ASICS commitment to accuracy and excellence has grown and evolved.
ASICS began producing a colorful poster of the team in 1987, which is mailed each fall to every high school program and USA Wrestling club in the nation. All of these posters, including both the boys teams and the girls teams, are prominently displayed at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. The posters are one of the most popular displays in the Hall.
ASICS decided in 2001 to team with USA Wrestling to add TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School All-American Team to the program, honoring the top prep female athletes. A new committee was formed, with the same format: First Team, Second Team, Third Team and Honorable Mention, as well as a Wrestler of the Year.
Since the National Federation of High School Athletic Associations (NFHS) has not set weight classes for girls wrestling, the girls are grouped based upon achievement, regardless of weight. A poster was also produced for the girls that year, and the winners are now also honored during the women's finals at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior Nationals. The Girls program now celebrates its 10th season.
It could take a fan many hours to review and evaluate the 25 years of ASICS Team members, something which is now possible. TheMat.com has posted all 25 Boys teams and 10 Girls team on the internet, for fans to read and enjoy.
All 25 ASICS Boys All-American teams and 10 Girls All-American Teams are posted for review at the following link:
ASICS High School All-American Team History website
A review of the ASICS High School Wrestlers of the Year features some of the best wrestlers in U.S. history. Included is Olympic champion Henry Cejudo, a prep star from Coloradn and Arizona. Olympians who were ASICS Wrestlers of the Year include Cary Kolat of Pennsylvania, Joe Williams of Illinois, Oscar Wood of Oregon and Steven Mocco of New Jersey on the boys side, and Toccara Montgomery of Ohio and Ali Bernard of Minnesota on the girls side.
The only athlete to win ASICS Wrestler of the Year twice was girls star Tatiana Padilla of California, the winner in 2007 and 2008. Padilla has since won a World bronze medal. No boys high school wrestler has ever been ASICS Wrestler of the Year twice.
Making the First Team is a tremendous achievement for a wrestler. A review of past First Team members include the Wrestlers of the Year listed above, plus another Olympic champion, Cael Sanderson of Utah.
Other ASICS First Teamers included Olympic medalists Sam Henson of Missouri, Dennis Hall of Wisconsin, Lincoln McIlravy of South Dakota, Brandon Paulson of Minnesota and Garrett Lowney of Wisconsin. Additional Olympic Team members from the ASICS First Team include Eric Guerrero of California, Mike Zadick of Montana, Les Gutches of Oregon, Kerry McCoy of New York and Jason Gleasman of New York.
World champions from the First Team include Henson, Hall and Gutches.
The only two four-time NCAA champions in history, Cael Sanderson of Utah and Pat Smith of Oklahoma, were also ASICS First Teamers. Sanderson wrestled for Iowa State and Smith wrestled for Oklahoma State.
There were numerous brothers who have been named to the ASICS First Team. The four Sanderson brothers from Utah, Cody, Cole, Cael and Kyler, were all ASICS First Team selections. The Short family from Minnesota had three brothers on the ASICS First Team, Chris, Willy and Wade.
Other brother combinations on the ASICS First Team include:
- The Alton brothers of Pennsylvania (Andrew and Dylan)
- The Hughes brothers of Pennsylvania (Russ and John)
- The Jantzen brothers of New York (Jesse and Corey)
- The Moore brothers of Pennsylvania (Ty and Teague)
- The Perry brothers of Oklahoma (Mark and Chris)
- The Schlatter brothers of Ohio (C.P. and Dustin)
- The Williams brothers of Illinois (Joe and T.J.)
- The Wood brothers of Oregon (Oscar and Isaac)
Sister combinations on the ASICS First Team include:
- The Delgado sisters from South Carolina (Brittany and Breanna)
- The Hutchison sisters from Alaska (Melina and Michaela)
If you look at the entire ASICS Team, including all levels of recognition, there have also been countless World Team members, NCAA champions, NCAA All-Americans and Junior World Team members on the team. Actually, they could be counted, and that may be a followup project for later this summer, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ASICS High School All-American Team program.
Let's tip our hats to the first 25 years of the ASICS High School All-American Team. We look forward to future, as our nation's best wrestlers continue to be honored.
ASICS High School Wrestler of the Year
1986 - Laurence Jackson, California
1987 - Dan Knight, Iowa
1988 - Alan Fried, Ohio
1989 - Adam Mariano, New York
1990 - Ray Brinzer, Pennsylvania
1991 - Scott Schluchter, Oklahoma
1992 - Cary Kolat, Pennsylvania
1993 - Joe Williams, Illinois
1994 - Oscar Wood, Oregon
1995 - Sean Hage, Georgia
1996 - David Kjeldgaard, Iowa
1997 - Kenny Cox, Oregon
1998 - T.J. Hill, Missouri
1999 - Damion Hahn, New Jersey
2000 - Jesse Jantzen, New York
2001 - Steven Mocco, New Jersey
2002 - Zack Esposito, New Jersey
2003 - Roger Kish, Michigan
2004 - Dustin Schlatter, Ohio
2005 - Troy Nickerson, New York
2006 - Henry Cejudo, Colorado
2007 - Cody Gardner, Virginia
2008 - Jason Chamberlain, Utah
2009 - David Taylor, Ohio
2010 - To be announced at ASICS Junior Nationals
TheMat.com/ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year
2001 - Toccara Montgomery, Ohio
2002 - Brandy Rosenbrock, Michigan
2003 - Samantha Lang, Oregon
2004 - Ali Bernard, Minnesota
2005 - Deanna Rix, Maine
2006 - Jackie Cataline. California
2007 - Tatiana Padilla, California
2008 - Tatiana Padilla, California
2009 - Adeline Gray, Colorado
2010 - To be announced at ASICS Junior Nationals
Read More#
Oklahoma State's Dean Hamiti wins Amateur Wrestling News' Hammer Award for winning most competitive NCAA weight class
Six Junior Girls repeat, Graber named OW at AFSW Folkstyle Nationals
Rodriguez, Jelacic, Lekas go back to back, Life wins team title at NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championships
Penn State leads team race, quarterfinals set after day one of 2025 NCAA Div. 1 Championships
