Coached Melrose wrestling to state title this season

Published in the March 24, 2017 edition

JAMES BLEILER coached the 2017 Div. 3 State Champ Melrose High wrestling team. Now he will receive the MA National Chapter of Wrestling Hall of Fame's Up & Coming High School Coach of the Year award. (file photo)

JAMES BLEILER coached the 2017 Div. 3 State Champ Melrose High wrestling team. Now he will receive the MA National Chapter of Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Up & Coming High School Coach of the Year award. (file photo)

DEDHAM, MA—The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is proud to host its annual MASS MAYHEM, “The Massachusetts Braggin’ Rights Classic” which will include an awards presentation, All-Star dual-meet and college fair. The day’s events will begin at 11:00 AM on Sunday, April 9th at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, MA. On tap is an honor to be bestowed upon Melrose High wrestling coach, James Bleiler.

The awards portion of the day will begin at 11:00 AM. At 12:30, we will be having a college wrestling fair, which will have 16 New England College Coaches in attendance to answer any questions about wrestling in college and we will host an All-Star dual meet between public and prep high school wrestlers. The Massachusetts Chapter is pleased to honor the best wrestlers, coaches and contributors of our state. We will pay tribute to the Massachusetts College Wrestler of the Year (Jeffrey Ott – Harvard University), the Public High School Wrestler of the Year (Jake Ferri – Shawsheen Tech), the Prep School Wrestler of the Year (Philip Conigliaro – Belmont Hill), the Public High School Coach of the Year (Doug Daponde – Minnechaug) and the Prep School Coach of the Year (Zachary Bates – Northfield Mount Hermon). In addition, we will present the Bay State Pride Award (Mike Stuer – MIWOA, New England Youth Wrestling), the Wrestler’s Heart Award (Matthew Freitas – Catholic Memorial), the Up & Coming High School Coach of the Year (James Bleiler – Melrose), the College Coach of the Year (Lonnie Morris – John & Wales University), and the Youth/Club Coach of the Year (Brian Conrad – CBC Wrestling Club).

The price for the day is $10 online (adult), $5 for students (Age 13 and under are free) and $15 (adults) at the door. Tickets may be purchased via https://ma-nwhof.ticketleap.com/ or contact Rene Canezin (Treasurer) at 617-721-9697 or rcanezin@gmail.com.

This event is a great opportunity to promote youth, high school and college wrestling and network with wrestling colleagues. For further information about the event, please contact Charles Danhof at cdanhof0f@nobles.edu or 603.661.7760.