This month the Western Reserve Academy wrestling team finished a very successful 2003-2004 season with two more impressive performances. During the first weekend in February, the team traveled to Buffalo, N.Y to compete in the Nichols School Duel Meet. Reserve finished in first place by defeating a solid Canisius High team 40-25, then winning substantial victories over both St. Mary's of Lancaster (66-14) and host team Nichols School (67-12).

The following weekend, WRA wrestlers traveled to Washington, D.C. to compete in the prestigious St. Alban's Tournament. The 30-team event is one of the oldest continuously running wrestling tournaments in the country and features many of the best eastern preparatory school teams, including several that compete locally in the Ironman at Walsh and the Top Gun Tournament in Alliance. The Reserve matmen proved their metal in the early rounds of the tournament by advancing 11 wrestlers into the second day while clinging to a fifth place spot in the rankings. At that point, the battle against top-seeded wrestlers began to take its toll until only three Reserve grapplers remained for the medal round.

"We're a blue collar team," varsity wrestling coach Lee Blankenship noted at the tournament's close. "We don't have the superstars many of the other teams have. We simply work hard and wrestle with dedication. Our performance in this tournament was truly memorable."

The Pioneer squad finished in 10th place overall. Senior co-captain Matt Kerns led the way with a sixth place at 152 lbs., while junior Tae-Yoon Lee placed eighth at 130 lbs. and freshman Tom Williams won two one-point squeakers to place seventh at 119 lbs.