There is a reason they call them student-athletes, and there is even more of a reason that the word “student” comes first.

And Archbishop’s Kvaunte Smith demonstrated some of the finer qualities of a student-athlete, Saturday, putting his SAT appointment before his Ray Oliver 189-pound semifinal appearance.

“Both were tough,” Smith laughed when asked which of his engagements was harder on him.  “With the SATs, I was real tired and had to focus on that, and after, I came straight here and had to wrestle.  I didn’t get a good chance to warm-up or get to eat anything, and just go straight to wrestling.”

The abbreviated warm-up didn’t hurt Smith much, as he went on to score a 12-5 decision over McDonogh’s Kevin Marvel at 189 to punch his ticket into the tournament finals.

“I just knew I had to wrestle like I like to wrestle,” Smith said.  “I am good on my feet, so I just stayed there and faked and shot, and when I saw a shot I liked, I would take it.”

Spalding’s perfection through the round led to the Cavaliers advancing all five of their wrestlers from the semis to the championship finals.

First placing lightweights Michael Still (103) and Logan Breitenbach (125) into the next round, Spalding’s Brady Gaynor pulled one over Curley’s Brett Przywara in a tight, 3-1, decision to head into the 135-pound final.

Two weightclasses later, Charlie Lynch added to the growing list of Cavalier wrestlers to move on, pinning Mark Wilson in 1:36, before Smith punched his tournament finals ticket with a 12-5 decision over McDonogh’s Kevin Marvel at 189.

With the semifinal success, Spalding leaped into first place over Caesar Rodney, leading by 20 points, and McDonogh still remained in the top five.  Ceasar Rodney advanced two wrestlers to the championship finals.

The finals are scheduled to start at 4 p.m. in the Field House at the McDonogh School.

Championship Finals

103-Michael Still, AS vs. Brent Fleetwood, SMY
112- John Archangelo, SMY vs. Micah Hight, CR
119- Chris Donaldson, SAL vs. Paul O`Neill, GON
125- Logan Breitenbach, AS vs. Matt Kibblehouse, SAL
130- Shane Arechiga, GC vs. Jack Clark, McD
135- John McClanahan, GB vs. Brady Gaynor, AS
140- Cody Broomall, SC vs. Michael Sprague, GP
145- Charlie Lynch, AS vs. Thomas Wilson, GP
152- Cody Combs, SC vs. Tyler Patrick, McD  
160- Issah Meade, CR vs. Ryan Wolfe, CA
171- Josh Snook, STM vs. Griffin Dulany, LNG
189- Michael Mauk, STM vs. Kvaunte Smith, AS
215- Joey Spicer, SC vs. Kyle Snyder, GC
285- Stephen Snyder, GC vs. Disco Schafferman, HVT