| Wrestler of the Year
Deshawn Barrett Patterson, senior
The battle of unbeaten 215-pounders between Patterson’s lanky 4A-3A state champ Deshawn Barrett and Robinson (Va.)’s stocky state champ Brent Jones (48-0, 39 pins), the nation’s No. 2-ranked wrestler in the weight class, took place on March 13.
Most observers picked Jones to rout Barrett at the Maryland-Virginia dual meet classic, but Barrett won in just 4:14. Barrett turned him four times for 12 near-fall points in the first period. He led 16-4 entering the second period of a 23-8 technical fall victory.
“That’s the most amazing performance I’ve seen this year. [Barrett] is slick, athletic — just phenomenal,” Jones’ coach, Bryan Hazard, said of the 6-foot-3 Barrett, who earlier endured a physical, 18-9 victory over Virginia runner-up Matt Pellar of Colonial Forge.
“It seems I’ve been all over the world with Brent, and he’s never been beaten like that,” Hazard said.
Barrett, 36-0 with 31 pins this season and 67-2 with 59 pins the past two seasons, is rated No. 9 nationally in Amateur Wrestling News.
Barrett is a two-time city champ and also a regional champ after being second as a junior. He won states over Bowie’s Zak Adomanis, who trailed 9-2 before succumbing to a knee injury.
Barrett pinned Howard’s 2A-1A state champ Mingo Grant in 43 seconds, and St. Vincent Pallotti’s National Preps and two-time private schools champ Tim Jennings in 4:34. A second-team All-Metro tight end, Barrett is being recruited for football and wrestling.
Coach of the Year
Pedro Barbosa Hammond
Barbosa seems to thrive on being the underdog. He did so as an undersized heavyweight wrestler, winning the Howard County crown at Hammond in 1994, and he’s done so as a coach, turning last year’s 9-9 squad into one that went a school-record 26-0, sweeping the Howard County, Class 2A-1A South and 2A-1A state dual meet titles.
Hammond ended River Hill’s consecutive streak of county dual meet crowns at four and its streak of county tournament crowns at five. The Bears finished at No. 2 in The Sun’s poll, having defeated South Carroll for the program’s third 2A-1A state dual meet crown, a feat that tied a state record by Owings Mills.
Barbosa credits assistant coaches Ryan Mackin, a former state champion, and Jason Freiert, a former two-time county champion, for “helping the team to turn the corner.” The Bears excelled despite several late-season injuries to a team that included eight wrestlers who never competed before high school. Junior Bryce Harley lost just five times in 39 varsity matches despite being in his first season up from the junior varsity.
In Vince Taweel, Barbosa, 29, crowned his fifth individual champion in his five seasons. Hammond won dual meets over Anne Arundel County powers Old Mill and Arundel, and Harford County power Harford Tech. The Bears also won the 2A-1A South regional tournament and were second at the state tournament.
First team
Josh Asper Hereford, freshman
Asper, a 135-pounder, was third in Baltimore County, second at 2A-1A North regionals, and first at 2A-1A states. He had 19 pins and went 39-5. Asper is believed to be Hereford’s first freshman state champion. At states, Asper won three big matches in succession. He handed regional champ Latra Collick (Stephen Decatur) his second loss, 5-4; routed third-place state finisher Jeffers Frazier (Calvert) for his first loss, 13-4; and defeated heavily favored repeat finalist Chad Cotterman (Walkersville) for the state title, 6-2. Asper is The Sun’s No. 1-ranked 135-pounder.
Justin Bowser Arundel, junior
Bowser won his final 30 bouts, including his third straight Anne Arundel County and 4A-3A East regional titles. The 125-pounder earned his first 4A-3A state title after being fourth and third, respectively, at states at the end of his previous two seasons. The junior went 39-1 with 20 pins and six technical falls. He beat River Hill’s repeat state runner-up Taylor Green (twice) and Wheaton’s previously unbeaten Aljandro Zea, the latter after Zea had beaten state champ James Knox (Dulaney). Bowser’s only career losses were by decisions to three state champs and a state runner-up.
Joe Breen McDonogh, junior
The junior dominated at 125 and 130 pounds, with technical falls over two-time private schools champ Jon Kohler (Mount St. Joseph) and state runner-up Mike Long (Harford Tech). Breen (45-4) twice pinned Calvert Hall’s state runner-up Collin Goldsmith, and also decisioned Dulaney’s state champ James Knox. He nearly pinned Knox in the first period of their Mount Mat Madness title bout. The Sun’s No. 1-ranked 125-pounder won his second straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association crown and his first private schools crown, and was fourth at the National Preps for the second straight season.
Brandon Gervie Liberty, junior
Ranked No. 1 in The Sun at 189 pounds, Gervie swept the Carroll County, 2A-1A West regional and 2A-1A state titles after having placed third, second and fifth at each during his sophomore season. In going 36-0 with 27 pins, the junior became the fifth state champion in school history.
Gervie pinned Francis Scott Key’s Luke Schuster three times and major decisioned former junior league champ John Cross (Damascus).
At states, Gervie won an overtime semifinal, 3-1, over Hammond’s Steve Sessa. Gervie won his title, 1-0, over Brock Glotfelty (Northern-Garrett County).
Cam Hobin South Carroll, freshman
Hobin (33-0, 21 pins), a freshman, won Carroll County, 2A-1A West regional and 2A-1A state titles. The Sun’s top-ranked 103-pounder, Hobin was named The Sun’s Carroll County Wrestler of The Year.
North Caroline’s state runner-up Dave Puckett was 40-0 before losing, 8-1, to Hobin, who twice defeated Howard County and 2A-1A South region champ Danny Bichner of Glenelg. He also beat private schools runner-up Tyler Scarinzi of Archbishop Curley, and Century’s 112-pound state runner-up Alex Grassi.
Bryn Holmes McDonogh, junior
The junior repeated as Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and private schools state champ after being second in each as a freshman, and pinned his way to the National Preps tournament title. Holmes (42-3) pinned all five opponents at National Preps.
Holmes was effective at three different weights this season. At 152, Holmes pinned state runner-up Grady Gamble (Boys’ Latin); at 160, he major decisioned state runner-up Josh Taylor (Harford Tech); and at 171, he major decisioned private schools state champ Jake Bohn (Mount St. Joseph).
Matt Kahl Harford Tech, junior
Kahl (38-5) won the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference crown and his third regional title, and was second at 2A-1A states. The Sun’s’ No. 1 145-pounder pinned Walt Whitman’s 4A-3A state runner-up Erol Civan, major decisioned Owings Mill’s 140-pound state champ Eric Vinores, and also defeated state runners-up Brad Gabrish (Calvert Hall) and Grady Gamble (Boys’ Latin).
Kahl (96-15 career) beat regional champ Roger Torres (Poolesville), Carroll County champ Tyler Mullen (South Carroll) and county runners-up Jerry Lipscomb (Lansdowne) and Bobby Fouts (Hereford).
Mike Kessler Owings Mills, senior
Kessler (38-0, 14 technical falls, 10 pins) won his second Baltimore County, fourth 2A-1A regional and first 2A-1A state crowns at 152 pounds. The senior joined older siblings Kevin, Greg and Steve as state champions.
He beat Kenwood’s repeat 4A-3A titlist Mason Krumholtz (twice), Pennsylvania private schools state champ Don Lozzi of Germantown Academy and National Preps champ Bryn Holmes of McDonogh, a two-time private schools state champ. Kessler (150-8 career) pinned state runner-up Josh Taylor (Harford Tech) and major decisioned state runner-up Tom Wheeler (South Carroll).
Mason Krumholtz Kenwood, senior
The senior was this year’s Baltimore County runner-up at 152 pounds after previously winning the title on two occasions. He then won his third straight 4A-3A North regional crown and his second straight 4A-3A state title. Krumholtz (37-1) has a two-year mark of 73-1.
In defeating his four state tournament opponents by a combined 29-8, Krumholtz joined Bruce Malinowski, a state champ in 1977 and ’79, as Kenwood’s only repeat state titlists. Although his winning streak ended at 65 matches in his county final loss to Owings Mills’ Mike Kessler, Krumholtz had twice beaten Kessler.
Mack Lewnes Mount St. Joseph, junior
The Sun’s All-Metro Wrestler of The Year last season, the junior won his third straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and private schools state titles and reached the National Preps finals for the third straight year, finishing second. Lewnes, a National Preps champ last year, is The Sun’s No. 1-ranked 160-pounder.
Lewnes, who is rated No. 6 nationally by Amateur Wrestling News, had big wins over Ohio state champ Dave Rella (Walsh Jesuit) and two-time New Jersey runner-up Dave Rella (Camden Catholic).
Andrew Mulry South River, junior
The Sun’s Anne Arundel County Wrestler of The Year won his second county and 4A-3A East regional titles, and was first at 4A-3A states after being second last year. Mulry (37-1, 17 pins), a senior, won his last 31 bouts and is 123-17 in his career.
The 119-pounder won a class in which Chopticon’s Lucas Black, last year’s state champ, was fourth. Mulry beat two-time 2A-1A champ D.J. Scarponi (Hereford) by technical fall, and defeated state runner-up David Heckmann of River Hill and Northern of Calvert’s third-place state finisher Collin Leadbetter. Mulry and Gene Reid (1996) are South River’s only state champs.
D.J. Scarponi Hereford, senior
The three-time state finalist pinned his way to his first Baltimore County and 2A-1A North regional titles and his second 2A-1A state crown.
Scarponi (41-2, 22 pins), a 119-pound senior, pinned Hammond’s two-time state runner-up Ethan Cohen and Owings Mill’s third-place state finisher Tony Mack. He pinned district runner-up Paul Yungandreas (Edgewood) and beat Francis Scott Key’s two-time regional champ Reuben Gill.
Scarponi (128 career wins) is Hereford’s all-time winningest wrestler.
Vince Taweel Hammond, sophomore
The Sun’s Howard County Wrestler of The Year won his second consecutive county, 2A-1A South regional and 2A-1A state titles – the first county wrestler to do so.
The 130-pound sophomore set a school record by winning his first 28 matches. His 41-1 mark (17 pins, two technical falls) is one shy of the school’s single-season record for wins.
He beat state runners-up Ryan Lauer of River Hill, Anthonio Josiah of Oakland Mills and Collin Goldsmith of Calvert Hall.
Taweel (76-6 career) is on pace to join Matt Slutzky and Steve Kessler as a four-time state champ.
Eric Vinores Owings Mills, senior
Vinores went 37-2 with 17 pins and two technical falls and won his first Baltimore County crown after finishing twice as runner-up.
The senior also won his second 2A-1A North regional crown and his first 2A-1A state title.
The Sun’s top-ranked 140-pounder beat Eastern Tech’s two-time state runner-up Chris Clark (five times) and Mount St. Joseph’s private schools state runner-up Alex Ward. Vinores’ effort at states, along with his leadership, led the Eagles to their third straight Class 2A-1A state championship.
Danny Whitenak Mount St. Joseph, junior
The junior went 37-9, winning a Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament title and placing fourth at the National Preps tournament. Whitenak competed at 103 pounds early, defeating 4A-3A runner-up Greg Saumenig (Old Mill), private schools state champ Josh Fitch (McDonogh) and private schools state runner-up Jon Faringer (DeMatha).
Whitenak later rose to 112, where he defeated private schools state champ Chris Laidley (Archbishop Spalding) and MIAA runner-up Adam Palumbo (Annapolis Area Christian). Whitenak finished as The Sun’s top-ranked wrestler at 112 pounds.
Second team
Greg Saumenig, 103, Old Mill, sophomore
Chris Laidley, 112, Arch. Spalding, soph.
Ethan Cohen, 119, Hammond, senior
James Knox, 125, Dulaney, senior
Taylor Green, 125, River Hill, junior
Jon Kohler, 130, Mt. St. Joseph, junior
Shane Fraser, 135, Chesa.-AA, senior
Chris Clark, 140, Eastern Tech, senior
Alex Broadwater, 145, Catonsville, senior
Brandon Propst, 145, Mt. St. Joseph, senior
Tom Wheeler, 152, South Carroll, senior
Josh Taylor, 160, Harford Tech, senior
Jake Bohn, 171, Mt. St. Joseph, soph.
Kevin O’Connor, 189, Mt. St. Joseph, senior
Tim Jennings, 215, Pallotti, senior
John Hickox, 275, Southern, senior
Note: Teams selected by Lem Satterfield after consultation with The Sun staff and area coaches. |