Crowning three of their five finalists, the Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers beat out the rest of the field at the McDonogh School, Saturday, claiming the program’s first ever MIS State Championship.
Coming down to the wire, the McDonogh Eagles were within striking distance of the Eagles, and some crucial wins for each team made it an exciting finish to Spalding’s 268.5 and McDonogh’s 248.5
“It is exciting,” Spalding coach Mike Laidley said. “I am proud of the program and the kids and the family. These kids come from all different junior leagues and they just bond, and that what I like to see.”
Staring Spalding’s championship run, Will Switzer overcame last weekend’s loss to St. Paul’s Pete Galli, earning a 140-pound title before teammates Charlie Lynch and KK Smith won titles at 145 and 189, respectively.
Switzer, breaking a 0-0 tie in the second with an escape and quickly hitting a “merckle” to take a 3-0 lead in the match, earned another takedown to post a 5-1 lead into the third.
But Switzer’s work wasn’t done there, and the junior caught his opponent to earn another three near-fall points for an 8-3 decision win.
“That kid has wanted it for two years,” Laidley said of Switzer. “He lost a close one last year and a close one in the MIAAs, and he knew he had to wrestle a different match. I think everybody saw that it wasn’t a fluke, and Will took it to him and wasn’t going to let Galli score early and hold on.”
Switzer’s win came exactly one week after his last loss, which was to Galli in the MIAA Finals. Galli won the conference title with a 4-1 decision.
With a recently found 1-0 lead, Lynch found himself in the 145-pound final fighting for takedown in a scramble with Mount St. Joe’s Brady Massaro, and caught him on his back just long enough without getting control to earn the second period fall.
“Massaro is a great wrestler, and I know the close wins bothered Charlie and he wanted more,” Laidley said, acknowledging the two prior wins Lynch had over Massaro. “When Will pulled out the win in the way he did, Charlie was fired up. Will ignited it, and Charlie just put the exclamation point on it.”
Smith’s title almost never happened when, with a 14-4 lead in the third, he was called for illegally slamming McDonogh’s Kevin Marvel to end the 189-pound contest. But the Eagles wrestler was able to continue the match to its 14-5 finish.
Besides showing heart by not accepting an automatic win at 189, the McDonogh Eagles were able to claim two titles on the weekend.
Dropping to a quick 2-1 deficit in the first period, it seamed that Spalding’s Cole Gallagher was going to have minimal difficulty winning his second state title against McDonogh’s Logan Meister. But as the match progressed, that difficulty began to grow.
But the true move that decided the 112-pound final came in the third, when Meister caught Gallagher on his back, earning three near-fall points and leading to his 7-6 score with 30 seconds left in the match.
And with the final ticks, Meister fought-off the Gallagher shots, and earned a final point off a third caution for the 8-6 final.
Winning another takedown, Gallagher opted for an optional start to not give up looming caution points, but with each start came a McDonogh point.
Meister had one of the toughest paths to the MIS Finals, and upset both the number three and number two seeded wrestlers at 112 to get to the finals, and captured his gold as a six-seed when upsetting his top seeded opponent in the finals.
And for his efforts, Meister was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.
“It feels great,” Meister said of his 112-pound crown. “I had a great tournament beating three seniors, and, being the six seed, it feels good to come in and win it.
I never beat Cole before. The first time he pinned me and the second time it was a close match, so I just went out there and banged with him and came out on top.”
Jack Clark was able to mark his third victory over John Carroll’s George Weber in the 130-pound final, winning his first state title with an 8-2 decision.
St. Paul’s didn’t just hang with the “B” teams in the MIS Tournament, but finished the weekend in the number three slot, behind only Spalding and McDonogh.
“They did the schedule,” Crusader coach Jay Braunstein said. “It was a really tough schedule, so when they got into really tight, close matches, they were able to win a lot of them.”
Junior Eric Friedman earned his third MIS title at 112, taking his opponent down and working points to throughout his 11-2 major decision, and teammate Brad Mutchnik claimed his second crown, using a 6-5 decision at 152.
The MIAA saw other champions in Loyola’s David Mohler, avenging a double overtime loss in last week’s MIAA Finals when defeating St. Paul’s Jack Mutchnik for a 103-pound crown, Mount St. Joe’s Tyler Rill, earning a repeat win over Curley’s Brett Brigman at 160, and John Carroll’s Mathew Miller at 171.
Miller pinned his way through the 171-pound weightclass, with all his falls coming in the first period, including his finals fall in one minute and 27 seconds.
“It was pretty fun, but it was over pretty quickly,: Miller said of his 2011 MIS tournament, “so I didn’t get that adrenaline rush that I got last year. But it was still pretty great.”
Other top 10 finishing teams included, Curley, Mount. St. Joe, John Carroll and St. Vincent Pallotti, finishing sixth, seventh, eighth and 10th, respectively.
Spalding qualified 13 wrestlers for next weekend’s National Preps tournament, and Laildey says he and the boys are nore than ready to take their talents to the next level.
“We are looking forward to competing with Wyomong Seminary and the other teams,” Laidley said. “I know Blair is in a league of their own, but we will see what these kids can do. We are looking forward to the preps.”
Team Scores:
1.Archbishop Spalding (A)268.5
2.McDonogh School (A)248.5
3.Saint Paul`s (A)213.0
4.Good Counsel (A)179.5
5.Georgetown Prep (A)179.0
6.Archbishop Curley (A)148.0
7.Mount Saint Joseph (A)146.0
8.John Carroll (A)138.5
9.DeMatha Catholic (A)129.5
10.Saint Vincent Pallotti (A)102.0
11.Loyola Blakefield (A)94.0
12.Bullis School (A)81.5
13.Boys` Latin (A)54.0
14.Gilman School (A)52.5
15.Calvert Hall (A)51.0
16.Landon (A)35.0
MIS Finals Results:
103- David Mohler (LOY) dec 3-2 Jack Mutchnik (SP)
112- Logan Meister (McD) dec 8-6 Cole Gallagher (AS)
119- Eric Friedman (SP) maj dec 11-2 Xavi Ramos (McD)
125- Alfred Ban
nister (BMc) dec 3-2 Daniel Sanchez (GP)
130- Jack Clark (McD) dec 8-2 George Weber (JC)
135- Shane Arechiga (GC) dec 9-2 Brett Przywara (AC)
140- Will Switzer (AS) dec 8-3 Pete Galli (SP)
145- Charlie Lynch (AS) fall 3:41Brady Massaro (MSJ)
152- Brad Mutchnik (SP) dec 6-5 Bryce Pappas (STM)
160- Tyler Rill (MSJ) dec 7-2 Brett Brigman (AC)
171- Mathew Miller (JC) fall 1:27 Devaunje Smith (AS)
189 Kvaunte Smith (AS) maj dec 14-5 Kevin Marvel (McD)
215 Kyle Snyder (GC) dec 3-0 Dylan Devine (DM)
285 Stephen Snyder (GC) dec 6-4 Roman Braglio (McD)
Results by weightclass:
103:
1st Place Match
David Mohler (Loyola Blakefield (A)) 32-3, So. over Jack Mutchnik (Saint Paul`s (A)) 35-8, Fr. (Dec 3-2).
3rd Place Match
Michael Still (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 49-5, So. over Shane Wilson (DeMatha Catholic (A)) 39-16, Fr. (Pin 1:15).
5th Place Match
Artie Millner (John Carroll (A)) 34-14, So. over Matthew Fegan (Georgetown Prep (A)) 14-6, So. (Dec 7-3).
7th Place Match
Adam Whitesell (Good Counsel (A)) 30-18, Fr. over Clay Cosimano (Bullis School (A)) 17-14, Fr. (Dec 3-1).
112:
1st Place Match
Logan Meister (McDonogh School (A)) 22-14, So. over Cole Gallagher (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 33-8, Sr. (Dec 8-6).
3rd Place Match
Matt Laux (Georgetown Prep (A)) 42-7, Sr. over Vince Scarinzi (Archbishop Curley (A)) 40-9, Sr. (Dec 5-2).
5th Place Match
Chris Halkos (Saint Vincent Pallotti (A)) 3-2, . over Ben Prada (DeMatha Catholic (A)) 43-16, Fr. (Dec 10-4).
7th Place Match
Devin Davis (John Carroll (A)) 29-18, So. over Walter Johnson (Loyola Blakefield (A)) 30-11, Fr. (I-D).
119:
1st Place Match
Eric Friedman (Saint Paul`s (A)) 41-7, Jr. over Xavi Ramos (McDonogh School (A)) 31-12, So. (Maj 11-2).
3rd Place Match
This match has not been wrestled yet.
5th Place Match
Matt Pente (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 35-16, Fr. over Erik Simmons (Good Counsel (A)) 25-20, 2nd. (Dec 8-2).
7th Place Match
Nick Finnblade (Saint Vincent Pallotti (A)) 4-2, . over Andrew Stone (Bullis School (A)) 32-10, Jr. (Dec 11-5).
125:
1st Place Match
Alfred Bannister (Bishop McNamara (B)) 53-3, Fr. over Daniel Sanchez (Georgetown Prep (A)) 40-9, So. (Dec 3-2).
3rd Place Match
John Chenault (Saint Vincent Pallotti (A)) 5-1, . over Logan Breitenbach (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 43-9, Fr. (Dec 3-1).
5th Place Match
Bobby Twigg (McDonogh School (A)) 28-8, Fr. over Ben Smist (Loyola Blakefield (A)) 29-8, Jr. (Dec 3-0).
7th Place Match
Jordan Brigman (Archbishop Curley (A)) 26-21, So. over Brandon Cedar (Saint Mary`s Ryken (B)) 27-12, Sr. (Dec 10-6).
130:
1st Place Match
Jack Clark (McDonogh School (A)) 40-5, Fr. over George Weber (John Carroll (A)) 41-9, So. (Dec 8-2).
3rd Place Match
Kevin Johnson (Mount Saint Joseph (A)) 30-14, Sr. over Cole Graves (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 41-18, So. (Dec 5-3).
5th Place Match
James McCord (Georgetown Prep (A)) 30-11, So. over Dave Sandacz (Annapolis Area Christian (B)) 26-19, Sr. (TF 19-4).
7th Place Match
Connor Clayton (Saint Paul`s (A)) 27-17, Sr. over Fred Johnson (Archbishop Curley (A)) 13-26, Fr. (Dec 8-2).
135:
1st Place Match
Shane Arechiga (Good Counsel (A)) 51-5, Sr. over Brett Przywara (Archbishop Curley (A)) 28-7, Sr. (Dec 9-2).
3rd Place Match
Tito Onyekweli (DeMatha Catholic (A)) 46-7, Jr. over Max Smith (Unattached) 19-3, So. (Dec 17-13).
5th Place Match
Connor Wagh (Saint Paul`s (A)) 18-5, Fr. over Brady Gaynor (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 39-11, Sr. (I-D).
7th Place Match
Chris Fegan (Georgetown Prep (A)) 35-11, Sr. over Mitch Bode (McDonogh School (A)) 20-21, Sr. (Dec 7-1).
140:
1st Place Match
Will Switzer (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 51-2, Jr. over Pete Galli (Saint Paul`s (A)) 48-7, Jr. (Dec 8-3).
3rd Place Match
Toby Hague (McDonogh School (A)) 34-10, Fr. over Justin Murphy (Landon (A)) 14-4, Sr. (Pin 2:57).
5th Place Match
Michael Sprague (Georgetown Prep (A)) 37-13, Fr. over Erik Meyer (Archbishop Curley (A)) 28-26, So. (Dec 1-0).
7th Place Match
Joe Florenzo (Saint Vincent Pallotti (A)) 5-2, . over Joe Vitucci (John Carroll (A)) 39-13, Sr. (Dec 2-1).
145:
1st Place Match
Charlie Lynch (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 55-0, Sr. over Brady Massaro (Mount Saint Joseph (A)) 35-8, Sr. (Pin 3:41).
3rd Place Match
Ryan Garey (Bullis School (A)) 36-1, Sr. over Thomas Wilson (Georgetown Prep (A)) 33-12, Jr. (Dec 6-0).
5th Place Match
Nick Skudrna (Saint Paul`s (A)) 35-13, Sr. over Josh Couto (DeMatha Catholic (A)) 43-14, Sr. (Dec 5-2).
7th Place Match
Cal Riorda (Gilman School (A)) 29-13, Sr. over Matt Zafrir (McDonogh School (A)) 19-16, Sr. (Pin 4:10).
152:
1st Place Match
Brad Mutchnik (Saint Paul`s (A)) 42-9, Jr. over Bryce Pappas (Saint Mary`s (B)) 38-5, Fr. (Dec 7-6).
3rd Place Match
Tyler Patrick (McDonogh School (A)) 34-17, So. over Chuckie Blankenship (Archbishop Curley (A)) 30-20, So. (Dec 3-1).
5th Place Match
Connor Lane (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 32-16, Sr. over Amos Green (Bullis School (A)) 18-10, Sr. (Pin 4:02).
7th Place Match
Matt Foster (Good Counsel (A)) 32-14, Sr. over Joe Moreno (Loyola Blakefield (A)) 30-16, Jr. (Pin 2:07).
160:
1st Place Match
Tyler Rill (Mount Saint Joseph (A)) 38-8, Jr. over Brett Brigman (Archbishop Curley (A)) 45-12, Jr. (Dec 7-2).
3rd Place Match
Max Sataloff (McDonogh School (A)) 30-13, Sr. over Brandon Smith (Gilman School (A)) 26-15, Jr. (Maj 11-0).
5th Place Match
Zach Griffitt (Saint Mary`s Ryken (B)) 37-10, Sr. over Colin Mchale (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 24-21, Jr. (Dec 11-4).
7th Place Match
Greg Louzan (Saint Paul`s (A)) 26-17, So. over Aaron Green (Bullis School (A)) 20-14, Sr. (Dec 8-3).
171:
1st Place Match
Mathew Miller (John Carroll (A)) 49-4, Sr. over Devaunje Smith (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 37-7, Jr. (Pin 1:27).
3rd Place Match
Randall Hernandez (Bullis School (A)) 31-5, Sr. over Purnell Summers (Archbishop Curley (A)) 40-15, Jr. (Dec 6-5).
5th Place Match
Forrest Rutledge (Calvert Hall (A)) 30-12, Sr. over Sean Guy (Good Counsel (A)) 24-18, Sr. (Pin 3:44).
7th Place Match
Travis Wood (McDonogh School (A)) 17-13, So. over Coleman Delude (Severn School (B)) 23-19, Jr. (Dec 7-2).
189:
1st Place Match
Kvaunte Smith (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 42-1, Sr. over Kevin Marvel (McDonogh School (A)) 38-12, Jr. (Maj 14-5).
3rd Place Match
Spencer Neff (Good Counsel (A)) 39-11, So. over Mike Green (Saint Paul`s (A)) 45-8, Jr. (Dec 8-2).
5th Place Match
Shane Cockerille (DeMatha Catholic (A)) 46-11, So. over Matt Lucas (Mount Saint Joseph (A)) 21-17, Jr. (Dec 5-1).
7th Place Match
Ryan Smith (Georgetown Prep (A)) 30-16, Jr. over Ben Lesane (Mount Carmel (B)) 21-9, . (Dec 4-2).
215:
1st Place Match
Kyle Snyder (Good Counsel (A)) 50-0, Fr. over Dylan Devine (DeMatha Catholic (A)) 43-7, Jr. (Dec 3-0).
3rd Place Match
Matt Green (Saint Paul`s (A)) 40-6, So. over Tyler Tippett (Mount Saint Joseph (A)) 33-9, Sr. (Dec 3-1).
5th Place Match
Zachary Israel (Maryland School for the Deaf (B)) 27-5, Jr. over Collin Marshall (Loyola Blakefield (A)) 32-14, Sr. (Dec 7-4).
7th Place Match
Connor Crowley (Saint Mary`s (B)) 34-18, Sr. over Zach Abey (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 26-12, Fr. (Dec 12-9).
285:
1st Place Match
Stephen Snyder (Good Counsel (A)) 42-9, Sr. over Roman Braglio (McDonogh School (A)) 30-
5, Jr. (Dec 6-4).
3rd Place Match
Ryan Schneider (Georgetown Prep (A)) 35-12, Jr. over Derek Pittman (Saint Vincent Pallotti (A)) 3-2, . (Dec 6-0).
5th Place Match
Malik Johnson (Archbishop Spalding (A)) 38-19, Jr. over Keith Waddell (Mount Saint Joseph (A)) 21-17, Sr. (Dec 3-0).
7th Place Match
Eric Simmons (Boys` Latin (A)) 20-15, Jr. over Ramsey Amad (McLean (B)) 15-9, Jr. (Dec 2-0).
