Some of the top Empire State wrestlers from the Class of 2012 committed to colleges during or before the early signing period in November of 2011, including Brian Realbuto (Cornell), Quinton Murphy (Indiana), Chris Nevinger (Buffalo) and Tony Lock (Buffalo).  However, in the past month, several more standouts have chosen where they will continue both their education and wrestling career next fall.   New York Wrestling News spoke to some of these grapplers and will post the articles throughout the week.  Yesterday, we shared the story of Ryan Fox.  Today, we discuss Eden High School’s Tom Page.

By Betsy Veysman

Tom Page considered staying in New York after graduation, looking at both Columbia and Buffalo.  But in the end, the Eden High School wrestler, who has moved up to 132 pounds this season, chose American after taking a trip to the Washington, DC based school.

“When I went on the visit down there, I felt like it was a great campus and I liked all the people I met,” he said. “I was really welcomed by the coaches and all the wrestlers on the team.”

The three-time state placewinner plans to focus in Pre-Medicine studies and expects to wrestle at either 133 or 141 pounds for head coach Teague Moore.

This season, the future Eagle has compiled a 41-1 record with 33 victories by bonus points.   He has made the podium on all of his previous trips to Albany, taking fifth as a freshman at 96 and third as a sophomore and junior at 112 and 119 pounds, respectively.  In each of the past two years, he lost to the eventual champion, then fought his way back in the consolation bracket.

Page doesn’t plan to be in the wrestlebacks this year.

“I feel like my season is going very well,” he said.  “I think I’ll be peaking at the right time.  I’ve been putting in all the extra workouts and I’m mentally focused.  I have what it takes to win the state title.”

Standing on the top of the podium on February 25 is most important to Page.  But when the campaign began, he had another goal in mind as well – reaching 200 career victories.  He currently stands less than 10 wins away.

Page’s road to 200 triumphs started back in first grade when he first tried wrestling.  For years, Page wrestled in the winter and played soccer in the fall and summer.   But when he reached seventh grade, he realized he wanted to focus on one sport.

“I feel like I grew into wrestling and started to realize that I loved it,” he said.  “I started to wrestle year round in seventh grade, including freestyle and Greco in the summer.”

He lists his freestyle victory at the Northeast Regional tournament the summer of tenth grade year as one of his most memorable results.  He also mentions his two bronze medal matches at the state tournament, but acknowledges that he wants to be on the biggest stage this year and has the opportunity because of several people who have aided him along the way.

“My dad [Thomas Senior, Eden High School’s head coach] has helped me so much with my wrestling for a long time.  I really want to thank my family for all of their support over the years.”