Wrestling: Blair on pace to shatter RBHS records
When it comes to his current classroom curriculum at Rancho Bernardo High, Chasen Blair is partial to history.
“I enjoy history because it shows how you can learn from your past mistakes,” Blair said. “It’s kind of like wrestling in that way.”
Appropriate considering that Blair is making his own history for the Broncos on the wrestling mat while quickly becoming one of the most dominant grapplers in the San Diego Section. Just a junior, Blair already has a national championship on his résumé and is continuing the momentum of his breakthrough season of a year ago.
“He’s going to break every school record as a junior,” said longtime Rancho Bernardo wrestling coach Joe Eddie Terribilini, who has been mentoring Blair since he was in seventh grade. “As a coach, you want to notice the fight and that winning drive to get better, and with Chasen that was something you noticed right away.
“You never have to worry about a kid like him, and that comes from the great support system that he has with his parents.”
Following in the footsteps of his father, James, a former high school wrestler at San Juan High in the Sacramento area, and receiving continual support from mother Sharon, Blair has taken a rocket ride since taking up the sport as a fourth-grader.
In May, he earned All-America status by winning the 182-pound crown in the sophomore division at the National High School Coaches Association Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, Va. He won all five of his bouts during the tournament, capping a remarkable 52-8 season that also included a San Diego Section Masters championship.
Two weeks prior to the national tournament, Blair had a fifth-place finish at the state championships, the highest placing for a Rancho Bernardo wrestler at state in 11 seasons.
“Having a couple weeks after state was a big help when it came to nationals,” said Blair. “I was able to work on some stuff, fix some errors. I felt like I did improve in some areas.”
Already among the top-10 leaders in career wins for Rancho Bernardo after setting the school season record with his 52 wins last season, Blair has a record of 21-2 for the current season while continuing to wrestle at 182 pounds. He has already earned tournament championships at the El Cajon Invitational and the Sierra Nevada Classic in Reno and is currently ranked No. 2 in the state at 182 pounds.
His only two losses both came at the prestigious Walsh Ironman Invitational last month in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where Blair earned a fifth-place finish.
“The Walsh Ironman is one of the toughest tournaments in the nation,” Terribilini said.
Blair knew wrestling was the sport for him when he first tried it.
“It was hard when I first started, but I enjoyed the challenge,” he said. “It was completely different from everything else.
“The first time I had my hand raised, it was a great feeling. The adrenaline rush that goes with this sport is just awesome.”
A co-captain of this year’s Broncos squad along with Chaz Franchina and Erik Salcido, Blair has a simple plan for continued success.
“Just keep doing what I’m doing,” he said, “and stay sound in mind, body and spirit.”
Hoff is a freelance writer.