National Prep Champion Eric Hong Commits to UPenn
5x Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling State Champion and 2014 National Prep Champion Eric Hong (Kiski Prep) has committed to continue his academic and wrestling career at the University of Pennsylvania. The junior will join head coach Alex Tirapelle and the Quakers following his senior year at Kiski Prep.
In his rookie season of high school competition Eric stormed onto the National Prep wresting scene when he entered the National Prep Tournament as the third seed at 120 lbs. Advancing into the finals Hong defeated top seeded Charles Tucker (Blair Academy) to win his first National Prep Championship (3-1).
Moving up to 132 lbs. in his sophomore season Eric entered as the top seed and again faced Blair Academy’s Charles Tucker in the National Prep Finals. Although the score was the same this time around Tucker came away with a (3-1) win in sudden victory to defeat Hong who finished as the National Runner-up.
After spending two seasons in Maryland attending Georgetown Prep Eric Hong returned home to Pennsylvania to attend Kiski Prep. It didn’t take long for Hong to find success as he won the 2015 Beast of the East Championship at 152 lbs. Eric dropped to 145 lbs. and at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Tournament he faced stud Jarod Verkleeren (Belle Vernon Area) in the semifinals. Verkleeren struck early and held on to defeat Hong (5-1) who would go on to finish third. The two met a week later in the 2016 Escape the Rock Finals at 145 lbs. and this time around the two battled into overtime. Tied up (4-4) after three periods Verkleeren was again able to pull out the win with a takedown in sudden victory (6-4 SV).
In his first post-season at Kiski Prep the junior competed in the competitive PAISWT Championships at 145 lbs. which serves as a Regional Tournament for National Preps. Hong picked up two first period falls to advance into the finals where he faced Wyoming Seminary’s Jake Hendricks. The two Pennsylvania Natives were evenly matched but Hong came away with a tight (1-0) win and his first PAISWT State Championship.
For the second year in a row Hong entered the National Prep Tournament as the top seeded wrestler. For the first time in his three trips to Nationals Hong left without securing a top eight finish. After finishing as the Champion his rookie season and Runner-up his sophomore year Hong was upset in the Championship quarterfinals by Blair Academy’s eighth seed Andrew Merola (Hanover Park, NJ) in ultimate tie-breaker (2-1 UTB). Merola went on to win the National Championship while Hong was upset in his next match by sixth seed Jon Errico (Brunswick, CT). It was the first time in his career Hong did not appear in the National Prep Finals or earn All-American status.
Despite the set back in the 2016 National Prep Tournament Eric Hong is still one of the top juniors in Pennsylvania and the Nation. He will continue to improve on the mat and excel in the classroom.
Eric, who plans to enter Penn’s Wharton Business School, predicts to be a 157 lbs. wrestler in college and has a bright future ahead!