Category: Loyola Blakefield

Loyola captures the team crown; Riveira pins Wagener; Filiaux shocks Josh Aybar (FULL VIDEO OF ALL FINALS HERE)

by Billy Loverocket

The 2018 Knightmare Invitational wrestling tournament at Parkville High School didn’t have a tight team race to captivate fans on Saturday, but it did have a finals card dotted with state ranked wrestlers, some even facing off with one another.

Loyola was ahead of C. Milton Wright by 29.5 points heading into the placement bouts, and won the crown by 25.5 points, 219.5-194.

“I thought overall we wrestled well,” Loyola coach Steve Truitt said. “We have some good seniors on the team and we have a nice group of underclassmen as well and they stepped up. They (C. Milton Wright) have a good team. They only have two seniors on their team so they have a bright future ahead of them too. They’re tough, especially Riveira, that kid’s really impressive.”

Julianne Moccia

The story of the tournament was John Carroll’s Julianne Moccia winning the 106lb title bout and becoming the first female to claim a Knightmare Tournament Championship. In doing so, Moccia, who was a Fargo All-American last summer (4th in freestyle), was named the tournament’s Outstanding Lightweight wrestler.

In the semifinals, the Patriot won a close battle, 7-5. with Loyola’s Jimmy Douglas (No. 14 at 106 in the Maryland State Rankings). Moccia took out Curley’s Bradley Lintz, 6-2, in the gold medal bout.

“It’s a normal thing,” Moccia continued. “It’s just like wrestling girls. They (the boys) are stronger but it’s the same thing. I have to work hard for both of them. I’m really happy that I did win and I’m grateful for the opportunity to do this. To be able to be on the varsity team and do it.

“I think I did good. I wish I didn’t get taken down first. I would like to have more takedowns, maybe more shots, but I think I did pretty good against them. I’m very proud that I did it and I’m grateful for everyone who voted for me for Outstanding Wrestler.”

No. 11 Matt Mitrega (138) and No. 10 CJ Polesovsky (160) also won titles for John Carroll, and both tallied first period falls in the finals.

Deshawn Strand (No. 5) was Loyola’s first finalist and the senior set the tone for his team with a strong effort en route to a 7-1 win over Gilman’s Andy Weinstein at 120lbs.

“It’s an honor (to be a leader for the team),” said Strand. “I came from looking up at my brother who was a captain, and now that I’m a captain it’s a cool experience. I wanted to set the tone for the other wrestlers in the finals, or any of the wrestlers. It was a good team win because we’re missing a few guys, had a couple people not make weight, a couple people out with injuries so the fact that we were still able to win is good.”

Jeremiah Aybar (145) is part of Loyola’s freshman crop this year. His high school debut was highly anticipated and Aybar did not disappoint, pinning all three of his opponents in the first period. In the finals, Aybar stuck Lansdowne’s Peyton Collins at the 1:04 mark. The effort earned him the Outstanding Middleweight award.

“I feel pretty good,” Aybar said. “I just did my normal stuff. I didn’t try too much new stuff. I just did what I normally do. There are a lot of good middleweights, a lot of good competition. It’s good to win.”

Jeremiah’s brother, Josh was second at 152, and James Conway also settled for silver at 160lbs. Jimmy Douglas (106), Matty Walsh (113), and Cole Myers (126) were third for Loyola. Kyree Day (138) and Bennett Traurig (285) placed fourth. Luke Amaral (132) wrestled to fifth place and Jake Wright (195) dropped to the sixth slot.

“I thought they wrestled hard,” Truitt added. “I thought they wrestled well. I was surprised by Josh’s result. I didn’t see that coming. That kid was very tough, very strong, and it gives Joshua something to work on. I think if they continue to work hard they can really do some good things this year.”

Rising Sun's Silas Filiaux (top) surprised many with his 12-0 domination of Loyola's Josh Aybar in the 152 final.

Josh Aybar (No. 4 at 145) ran into a buzzsaw from Rising Sun, Silas Filliaux (No. 7 at 138), in the 152lb final. Filliaux surprised the fans on hand with a dominating performance from the top position, posting a shutout, major-decision, 12-0.

“I know in the rankings, they usually favor private schools over publics,” Filliaux remarked. “Most of the time it is true. Usually private schools are better than public, but that’s not always the case obviously. It’s kinda just what it (the win) showed to be honest. I knew he had a good fireman’s dump so I was trying to avoid that. I adjust on the fly to be honest. I wish I would have turned him again for the tech, but he’s good, he’s tough.”

The 126lb match was considered by many to be the marquee bout of the slate. In one corner, you had C. Milton Wright’s defending 4A/3A state champion, James Riveira (No.3 at 120). In the other stood Eastern Tech’s Ryan Wagener (No.2), a 2A/1A state runner-up a season ago.

There was lots of action from the start with Wagener tossing Riveira to his back, but not able to settle and score points. Riveira recovered and set off his own fireworks slipping in a cradle, and planting Wagener in the first frame, 1:30.

In what was expected to be the marquee match of the finals, C. Milton Wright's James Riveira (left) pinned Eastern Tech's Ryan Wagener in the first period of their 126 final.

“I knew he was gonna be tough,” said Riveira. “I knew he was strong. I just wanted to keep in good position and keep wrestling, don’t stop till the ref tells me to stop. I snapped him down and he went to stand up and I saw that his head was close to his knee so I circled and it (the cradle) was there. I wasn’t really expecting that (the pin). I thought it was gonna go the full length but one move can change a match and that’s what just happened.”

Riveira was joined at the top of podium by teammates No. 7 Constantinos Gourgoulianis (113) and Teddy Stinson (182). Their efforts helped power the Mustangs second place finish. C.Milton Wright’s three champs tied John Carroll for the most of any team.

Coming up short in their title quests for the Mustangs were, Jake Blanchard (132), Logan Dvorak (170) and Sawyer Sturla (285). Sam Myers was fourth at 145, Juan Ortega placed fifth at 120 and Demetrios Gourgoulianis (106) landed in the six spot.

Edgewood’s Daviyon Johnson (No. 5 at 285) evened his rivalry with Sturla (No. 6) to three wins apiece with a first period fall right before the buzzer, 1:59. Johnson pinned all his adversaries and was named the Outstanding Heavyweight.

“Sawyer, I already knew how he wrestled,” Johnson elaborated. “I’ve been wrestling him for three years. Now we’re even, 3-3. I knew what he was gonna do. I knew how he was gonna roll me. He was gonna try and toss me. I just knew his moves so I was just trying to counter his moves and make sure I settled my weight when he tried to roll me. Even if the match would have went all the way through I still would have won.

“I didn’t expect it (the outstanding wrestler award). I feel good. It kinda made me happy. I didn’t think I was gonna get it. I just fought for first place, that’s what I was hoping for.”

Archbishop Curley was the third-place squad at the Knightmare. The Friars brought home one title, Tobi Majekdounmi (170), out of two finalists, with Lintz taking second at 106.

Ryan Becker (132), Will Riley (152), Garrett Butt (195) and Mike Vargas (220) were third for Curley, while Trevor Lintz (182) was fourth, and Adrain Triquero (126) was fifth.

The Greyhounds of Gilman walked away with two champions, Cam Ward (132) and Kevonte Beard (195)(No. 8 at 182). Calvert Hall’s Jarrell Mayo claimed the 220lb championship, pinning Gilman’s Mattheus Carroll in the third period, 5:35.

Pictured above: John Carroll's Julianne Moccia tilts Curley's Bradley Lintz during her 6-2 victory over him in the 106 final at Saturday's Knightmare Invitational at Parkville

Team Scores (Top 10)
1-Loyola 219.5
2-C. Milton Wright 194
3-Curley 170
4-Gilman 158.5
5-John Carroll 145
6-Lansdowne 140
7-Calvert Hall 84
8-Boys’ Latin 78
9-Edgewood 77
10-Eastern Tech 74

Championship
106 Julianne Moccia, John Carroll Dec Bradley Lintz, Curley, 6-2
113 Constantinos Gourgouli, C. Milton Wright Fall Riley Bozeman, Lansdowne, 0:34
120 Deshawn Strand, Loyola Dec Andy Weinstein, Gilman, 7-1
126 James Riveira, C. Milton Wright Fall Ryan Wagener, Eastern Tech, 1:30
132 Cam Ward, Gilman Dec Jake Blanchard, C. Milton Wright, 5-3
138 Matt Mitregra, John Carroll Fall Jacob Lipscomb, Lansdowne, 1:35
145 Jeremiah Aybar, Loyola Fall Peyton Collins, Lansdowne, 1:04
152 Silas Filiaux, Rising Sun M-Dec Josh Aybar, Loyola, 12-0
160 CJ Polesovsky, John Carroll Fall James Conway, Loyola, 1:48
170 Tobi Majekdounmi, Curley Dec Logan Dvorak, C. Milton Wright, 5-3
182 Teddy Stinson, C. Milton Wright M-Dec Cameron Gibson, John Carroll, 10-1
195 Kevonte Beard, Gilman Fall Michael Edwards, Calvert Hall, 5:13
220 Jarrell Mayo, Calvert Hall Fall Mattheus Carroll, Gilman, 5:35
285 Daviyon Johnson, Edgewood Fall Sawyer Sturla, C. Milton Wright, 1:59

Consolation
106 Jimmy Douglas, Loyola Dec William Bressner, Gilman, 3-2
113 Matty Walsh, Loyola Fall Cedric Tyson, Boys' Latin, 1:43
120 Alex Woltman, Langley (VA) Dec Colby Miller, Rising Sun, 6-5
126 Cole Myers, Loyola Fall Tyler Chung, Langley (VA), 0:19
132 Ryan Becker, Curley Fall Anthony Garcia, Patapsco, 3:55
138 Kyle Brown, Edgewood Fall Kyree Day, Loyola, 4:12
145 Dante Chavez, Gilman Fall Sam Myers, C. Milton Wright, 1:42
152 Will Riley, Curley Dec Liam Kammar, Calvert Hall, 12-6
160 Pace Schwarz, Friends Fall Syvil Blake, Patapsco, 2:44
170 Joseph Moundsour, Lansdowne Dec Sam Smith, John Carroll, 2-0
182 Jaden Porter, Chesapeake Fall Trevor Lintz, Curley, 0:59
195 Garrett Butt, Curley M-Dec Noah Borlie, Eastern Tech, 14-5
220 Mike Vargas, Curley Dec JT Morton, Boys' Latin, 5-3 SV
285 Demetrius Daniels, Parkville Frft Bennett Traurig, Loyola

5th Place
106 Matt Haines, Eastern Tech Fall Demetrios Gourgoulianis, C. Milton Wright, 1:36
113 Micah Thomas, Rising Sun Fall Zach O'Brocki, Calvert Hall, 4:36
120 Juan Ortega, C. Milton Wright Fall Ely Shilling, Boys' Latin, 1:40
126 Adrian Triquero, Curley Dec Idriss Zoutina, Lansdowne, 5-2
132 Luke Amaral, Loyola Frft Deshawn Childs, Lansdowne
138 Jackson Sayers, Langley (VA) Frft Mason Craig, Rising Sun
145 Denish Rana, Parkville Dec Logan Trombley, John Carroll, 7-3
152 Trae Hughes, Edgewood Fall Mason Alford-James, Boys' Latin, 2:17
160 Jackson Tacka, Gilman Frft Kayden LaForce, Potomac School (VA)
170 Anthony Sekulow, Parkville Dec Romero Jackson, Chesapeake, 9-6
182 Altaf Meraj, Lansdowne Fall Zion Foster, Parkville, 1:37
195 Brown Anglin, Potomac School (VA) Frft Jake Wright, Loyola
220 Dezmond Henderson, Patapsco Fall Mountaha Ndiaye, Lansdowne, 0:34
285 Brian Nguyen, Lansdowne Fall Bryce Hare, John Carroll, 2:14