Every few seasons, a wrestling program will go through a period most people will call a “re-building” year. At South River, it’s more like “re-loading”, as the Seahawks continue to stay at the top of the standings year-in and year-out in the Anne Arundel and 4A/3A East Regions.
This year, the Seahawks were headed into their final two matches of the regular season in second place in the county, behind Old Mill, and 4th in the 4A/3A East region, with the top four teams qualifying for the Regional Duals.
On senior night, Friday, the Seahawks did not disappoint the large crowd in Edgewater, topping competitors Northeast, 75-6, and Annapolis, 50-20.
In a senior-laden squad, the Seahawks were led by seven seniors, including Dale (103) and Nick Keith (125), Michael Groves (135), Patrick Owens (160), Mike Santini (171), Chris Novack (189) and Ron Masgay (215), as South River upped its record to 19-9.
The Seahawks’ seniors, honored on the mat before the match against Annapolis and Northeast, performed well, seeing two-win nights for two seniors, Dale Keith and Owens.
Keith notched an 11-3 major decision over Filipe DaSilva of Annapolis and received a forfeit in a match against Northeast, while the 160-pound Owens, went 2-0 on the night by winning his match against Northeast by way of a fall, and earning a second win with a 20-5 technical fall over his Annapolis opponent.
The Seahawks cruised to a 50-20 win over cross-town rivals Annapolis in the featured match of the night, but, earlier in the evening, the Seahawks put together a string of eight-straight wins to start the 75-6 win over the Northeast Eagles.
The “match of the night” took place when South River’s 130-pound Colin Alley went head-to-head with Northeast’s Macellus Flemming in a very fast paced, well wrestled match.
After falling behind in the match 2-0, Alley took control with a four-point second period, scoring a 4-3 lead with a reversal and tip-toe takedown, and held the lead by riding Flemming for the entire third period.
Nick Keith, wrestling above his natural weight at 125, lost by fall against his Annapolis opponent, C. Escoe , but received forfeit against Northeast, while Michael Groves won by way of a fall over Baraanovic of Northeast.
Mike Santini (171) decked his Northeast opponent, only to drop a 17-3 major decision to Annapolis’s Shuart, though the loss would bring with it a learning experience.
Shuart used his incredible upper-body strength and skill to outscore the senior with two upper-body throws in the first period, and not allowing the Seahawk grappler to regain momentum.
“I know not go upper body with that kid, he was amazing with his throws,” said Santini after the match. “I will do better at counties if I get another shot at that kid, but I have to give him credit, he was the better wrestler tonight.”
The Seahawks (19-9) will travel to Berlin, Md., Wednesday night, to take on Stephen Decatur High School in the first round of the 4A/3A East regional Duals.
South River 75, North East 6
125 N.Keith (SR) W- FFT (6-0)
130 C.Alley (SR) W Dec over M. Fleming (NE) 4-3 (9-0)
135 M.Groves (SR) Fall (1:15) over R. Baraanovic (NE) (15-0)
140 D.Murphy (SR) W Fall (1:08) over N. Barboza (NE) (21-0)
145 M. Circo (SR) W Forfeit (27-0)
152 L. Thompson (SR) W Fall over R. Cook (NE) (33-0)
160 P. Owens (SR) W Fall (:58) over Tarelton (NE) (39-0)
171 M. Santini (SR) W Fall (1:58) over D. Skiratko (NE) (45-0)
189 A. Rossi (SR) W Fall (3:49) Z. Wilkes (NE) (51-0)
215 T. Clow (SR) W Fall (1:10) A. Meirick (NE) (57-0)
285 D. Davis (NE) W Forfeit (57-6)
103 D. Keith (SR) W Forfeit (63-6)
112 A. Alley (SR) W Forfeit (69-6)
119 J. Perren (SR) W Forfeit (75-6)
South River 50, Annapolis 20
130 C. Alley (SR) W Maj dec 19-6 over P. Velasco (Ann) (4-0)
135 D. Murphy (SR) W Maj Dec 10-1 over J. Sears (NE) (8-0)
140 M. Circo (SR) W Fall 4:57 over Foer (Ann) (14-0)
145 K. Pastrana (Ann) W maj dec 12-4 over P. O’Neil (SR) (14-4)
152 L.Thompson (SR) W Fall 3:46 over K. Wiggins (Ann) (20-4)
160 P. Owens (SR) W Tech-Fall 20-5 over J. Gateau (Ann) (25-4)
171 R. Shuart (Ann) W maj dec 17-3 over M. Santini (SR) (25-8)
189 A. Rossi (SR) W dec 6-1 over Shams-Ward (Ann) (28-8)
215 T. Clow (SR) W Fall 1:26 over D. Patterson (Ann) (34-8)
285 J. Asselin (Ann) W Fall 5:57 over R. Masgay (SR) (34-14)
103 D. Keith (SR) W maj dec 11-3 over F. DaSilva (Ann) (38-14)
112 A. Alley (SR) W Fall :45 over Williams (Ann) (44-14)
119 J. Perren ((SR) W Fall :35 over H. Whitacre (Ann) (50-14)
125 C. Escoe (Ann) W Fall 4:39 N. Keith (SR) (50-20)
