2A/1A Lightweight Wrestler of the Year... Congrats to Eli Gabrielson!

South Carroll’s top-ranked sophomore Eli Gabrielson was virtually untouchable by 120-pound rivals this season, going 41-0 with 27 pins, eight technical falls and four major decisions.

A transfer from St. Mary’s Ryken in St. Mary’s County, Gabrielson earned Carroll County, Class 2A-1A North Region and Class 2A-1A state titles for the Cavaliers, whose coach, Bryan Hamper, points out that Gabrielson scored bonus points in all of the matches he actually wrestled, with four of his victories coming by way of forfeit.

“Eli’s an amazing young man,” said Hamper, a 2001 South Carroll graduate who was twice a state champion and twice placed fourth at the states. “His work ethic and commitment to improving his craft are top notch and had a big impact on our entire team this season. Eli is a fantastic teammate, and our school and community embraced him right away.”

Gabrielson went 6-1 with two each in first-period pins and two major decisions to go along with a medical forfeit and a decision at the National High School Coaches’ Association’s sophomore Nationals Tournament, where he finished as a runner-up following a 7-6 overtime rideout loss to Nevada’s state champion Abraham Coranado.

“I don’t wrestle for awards, but it feels good to be recognized by Legacy Wrestling. I appreciate this award, and I love this sport,” said Gabrielson, a 4.0 student. “I wrestle because I love to challenge myself, and I am grateful for all opportunities to get on the mat. I also want to thank all of the coaches, my family, and my teammates for getting me to where I am.”

Gabrielson dedicated his season to his grandmother, Kim Gabrielson, and his former junior league coach, Mike Knaly, each of whom passed away of cancer before the season.

“MawMaw and Big Mike were matside for most matches in my life,” said Gabrielson, who won a title in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, was a runner-up in the Maryland Private Schools States, and placed fourth in the National Preps tournament as a 106-pound freshman.

“Not having two of my biggest supporters during high school has been heartbreaking. I made a promise to MawMaw that I would become a state champion, and this season, I was also motivated to honor her and Big Mike by keeping that promising and winning a state title.”

Kim Gabrielson was 71 when she passed on March 20, 2024, even as she was matside taking photos of Gabrielson’s matches at private school states on the weekend of February 16-17 at Harford Community College in Bel Air, Maryland.

“For our family, the past two years have been difficult. We have been tested and felt a lot of pain. But Eli has inspired us to keep our faith. His face and ability to face adversity and make the most of the opportunities in front of him were inspiring and healing for all of us,” said Eli’s mother, Jill Gabrielson.

“We are a tight family, and we have watched Eli grow as a person and a wrestler during a time when many may have fallen. We are very proud of him and excited to see all that he will accomplish. Not only has Eli worked hard, but he remains humble and grateful for each of his opportunities. Earning this honor is a testament to his hard work, mindset and ultimately to his faith.”

Known by some as “The Matriarch Of Maryland Wrestling,” Kim was known for her tireless photographic prowess, whether shooting the Maryland public and private schools state tournaments, the National Preps and, beyond those, the NCAAs not to mention other collegiate, national and international events.

Kim’s extensive knowledge of wrestling came honestly: Her husband, Bruce, is a former Oregon State placewinner, Division II college wrestler and two-time AAU champ.

Furthermore, Kim’s eldest son, Jason, Eli’s father, was a state champion at Riverdale Baptist before winning a pair of MPSSAA crowns at Northern of Calvert County. Another son, Kevin, 41, won two each in private school state and National Preps crowns at DeMatha.

Jason’s other son, Clayton, was a champion wrestler who competed for McDonogh and St. Mary’s Ryken and is now a sophomore at the University of Maryland.

“Wrestling has been a part of our family for as long as I can remember. Both of my boys have grown up on a mat and have had a lot of success at the various stages they have encountered. Eli’s success is a direct result of all of the work that he puts into it,” Jason Gabrielson said.

“My Mom knew the value of hard work in this sport, so she would be happy to see how much effort Eli puts in day to day. As for our family’s winning legacy, we have an expectation in our house. Whether it’s sports, academics or a job, there is an expectation of effort and discipline. If you want to be successful, you have to give effort and be disciplined in your actions. Do that, and winning takes care of itself.”

Eli Gabrielson dominated the Carroll County, Class 2A-1A North Region and Class 2A-1A states, his record over the course of those tournaments being 9-0 on six first-period pins, two technical falls and an injury default.

Gabrielson had falls in 1:59 and 1:54 at counties, the latter dethroning Century junior Brayden Brassell, a two-time fourth-place regional finisher.

At regions, Gabrielson used a 62-second pin and an injury default victory to reach his title match, where he scored a 19-3 technical fall victory over eighth-ranked C. Milton Wright senior Kane Desch, an Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference champion who finished third at states.

Gabrielson’s state title run included pins in 62, 78 and 87 seconds, the latter against Damascus’ 24th-ranked sophomore Cooper Spoales, who is a two-time Montgomery County champion, winner of one regional crown in two title match berths, and who placed third at states as a freshman.

Gabrielson’s state title match was a 19-4 technical fall over fourth-ranked Northern-Garrett senior Matthew Beitzel, a repeat state finalist who entered with a record of 40-2.

A three-time Bi-County Tournament champion, Beitzel was a week away from having dethroned Spoales for his second straight regional crown by fall in 2:24 of their championship match.

Gabrielson was also a champion of the King Of The Rock Tournament in December, and the War On The Shore in January, winning the latter by 15-3 technical fall over Sussex Central senior Malachi Stratton, a four-time Delaware state champion.

Gabriel’s path to the War On The Shore finals comprised a forfeit, a 95-second pin, a 16-0 technical fall and a semifinal pin in 1:42 over Archbishop Spalding’s fifth-ranked sophomore Quentin Bailey, a private schools’ state runner-up this year.

“Eli can go as far as he wants to go with the sport of wrestling. He is truly one of those once-in-a-decade kids who gets it done in every facet of his life,” Hamper said. “From what he does on the mat, in the classroom, and respect for his teammates and teachers, Eli’s just a joy to coach, and it’s a real privilege for me to be able to sit in his corner.”

At NHSCA nationals, Gabrielson won his first match in the round of 128 by 41-second fall over Maine’s John Najarian before grinding out a 10-7 decision over North Carolina state titleist Aiden White in the round of 64.

Gabrielson won an 18-10 major decision over New Jersey’s Joseph Eboli in the round of 32, and led his round of 16 bout, 11-3, before winning by medical forfeit over Virginia state title winner Derek Bush.

In the quarterfinals, Gabrielson led, 3-0, before scoring a 74-second pin against South Dakota state champion, Brendon Oeheme, and won his semifinal by 14-6 major decision over two-time state champion Cael Floerchinger of Montana.

“The NHSCAs were an opportunity to wrestle great competition. I always love these postseason tournaments when I get to wrestle alongside other Maryland wrestlers as well as those from the surrounding areas who have become good friends over the years,” Gabrielson said. “Overall, I feel good about my performance, but I fell short in the finals. It sucks being that close to being a national champion, but that just means that I have some motivation to reach that goal next year and to keep working toward whatever’s next.”