Arundel coach Rob Connolly and assistant Jeff Blachly are hoping for a return to power for their alma mater, having wrestled as teammates for and become Class 4A-3A state champions under former Wildcats' coach Buddy Hepfer.
Connolly was an unbeaten 160-pound Class 4A-3A state champion at 35-0 as a senior in 1998, when the Wildcats earned the Class 4A-3A state tournament crown.
Blachly weighed just 195 as a runner-up at 275 pounds in '98, and only 212 in 1999 when earned the Class 4A-3A crown with an 8-4 decision over Magruder's Juan Reyna at 275 pounds.
"It's more about them than about us, but I think the kids are aware of our past, so they know where we're trying to take them," said Blachly, who finished with a record of 36-2 in his final high school season. "We don't make a big deal about it, but at the same time, we've been to the mountaintop, so we know the way."
The 43-year-old coaches received a Christmas gift with the arrival of the Brown brothers, freshman Matteo and junior Luca, who transferred from Mount St. Joseph.
"It must have been the week before Christmas, so they did the paperwork and were eligible on December 28 right before the South River Duals," Connolly said. "From the get-go, they brought a great chemistry in the room. Luca's a very calculated, methodical wrestler, whereas Matteo has more of a tendency to let it rip and let it all hang out."
Luca (138) and Matteo (144) were among Arundel's four individual champions at Saturday's 12-team Falcon Invitational tournament, being joined on the victory podium by senior Jada Chaves (106) and sophomore Anthony Allen (120) among eight wrestlers who finished within the top four of their weight classes for the victorious Wildcats.
Finishing third were seniors Yasir Maas (113) and Paeton Norsworthy (175), with fourth-place efforts from sophomores Manasseh Ojamo (190) and Pierce Read (215) as the Wildcats (190.5 points) overcame runner-up Francis Scott Key (176.5) of Carroll County and other contingents from Baltimore City as well as Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, Harford, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.
"Luca had a record of 10-5 going into the tournament, and he's had several close matches," said Connolly, listing those to second-ranked Class 2A-1A state champion sophomore Beau Schmidt of Northeast-Anne Arundel and fourth-ranked Class 4A-3A state champion junior Drew Montgomery of Northern-Calvert County. "Matteo had a record of 10-2 entering the tournament. One of those losses was to a ranked kid from South River, but he came back and pinned him in our dual meet match. His other loss was, 16-13, to [12th-ranked senior] Cavell Morris of Mead with five seconds left."
Luca used a 14-0 major decision and a 9-2 decision to reach the finals, where ground out a 2-1 decision over Patterson Mill senior Jeff Gessner.
"I feel really good winning the tournament title as well as getting the team victory," Luca Brown said. "As far as wrestling for Arundel, I feel great because I feel as if I'm making a difference in their program."
Matteo used a 9-4 decision and a fall in 2:44 over eventual third-place finishing junior Pat Mattingly of Francis Scott Key to reach the finals, where he earned a 10-3 decision over Winters Mill sophomore Landon Buchman.
“Winning the tournament was cool,” Matteo said. “I really like that I’m able to be on the varsity at Arundel and to get better matches.”
Chaves earned her 12th and 13th pins of the year in 62 seconds and 1:41, the latter against Frederick sophomore Amir Bakari to improve her record on the year to 22-4.
Chaves has placed fifth at the Anne Arundel County tournament against boys as well as second and third at the past two all-girls state tournaments.
Allen won by fall in 1:44 and 12-4 major decision to reach the finals, where he won a 9-7 decision over Eastern Tech junior Abhi Godar.
Third place Archbishop Curley crowned junior Dylan Fish (165), sophomore Bailen Boutz (190) and senior Brandon Lewis (215).
Boutz had falls in 3:20 as well as in 78 and 44 seconds, the latter for the title against Adam Knox of Francis Scott Key.
Lewis earned a 27-second fall in his first bout before winning his semifinal, 3-1, over eventual third-place finishing senior Leo Flores of Southern-Anne Arundel. Lewis decked Francis Scott Key senior Jacob Dell at the three-minute mark of their championship match. Fish outscored three opponents by a combined 31-10, including a semifinal 12-2 major decision and a 10-4 championship victory over Easter Tech senior Isaac Cabreja.
Junior Nate Taylor (132) was the lone champion for the runner-up Eagles, reaching the finals after a 27-second fall and 7-2 decision over eventual third-place finishing senior Carlos Rodriguez. Taylor pinned junior Daniel Wu of Montgomery Blair at 3:36 of their title match.
Severna Park crowned sophomore Michael Queen (126) and senior Nathan Kohler (175). Queen won consecutive decisions, 6-0, and 7-2, to reach the finals, where he pinned Eastern Tech sophomore Chase Ullman in 3:41.
Kohler pinned Norsworthy in 3:53 before winning his semifinal, 7-2. Kohler then decked Eastern Tech senior Anthony Gregory at the 3:57 mark of their title bout.
Other champions were junior Brayden Polly (113) of Eastern Tech, junior Chris Gaeng (150) of Winters Mill, senior A’Alil Coates (157) of Laurel and senior Keon Stewart (285) of Randallstown.
Polly pinned twice in 1:24 and 5:46 to reach the finals, where won a 9-1 major decision over Winters Mill sophomore Willis Kiler.
Gaeng used falls in 1:46 and 91 seconds to reach his title match, where he earned a 13-0 major decision shutout of Francis Scott Key senior Chris Thomas. Coates out-scored three opponents by a combined 30-12, including a major decision and a championship bout, 7-4, victory over senior Landon Pinnell of Eastern Tech. Stewart sandwiched a semifinal fall in 1:57 around a 4-3 quarterfinal decision and a 3-1 title bout victory over sophomore Kahlil Regan of Archbishop Curley.
Team Scores
Arundel (190.5)
Francis Scott Key (176.5)
Archbishop Curley (153.0)
Frederick (149.0)
Montgomery Blair (149.0)
Eastern Technical (144.0)
Winters Mill (130.0)
Severna Park (87.0)
Patterson Mill (86.0)
Southern-AA (64.0)
Laurel (46.0)
Randallstown (34.0)
106
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Jada Chaves of Arundel
2nd Place - Amir Bakari of Frederick
3rd Place - Hunter Mahoney of Southern (AA)
4th Place - James Kolb of Montgomery Blair
5th Place - Austin Nielsen of Patterson Mill
6th Place - Junior Topper of Francis Scott Key
1st Place Match
Jada Chaves (Arundel) 21-4, Sr. over Amir Bakari (Frederick ) 18-7, So. (Fall 1:41)
3rd Place Match
Hunter Mahoney (Southern (AA)) 24-8, Fr. over James Kolb (Montgomery Blair) 15-10, Jr. (Dec 6-3)
5th Place Match
Austin Nielsen (Patterson Mill) 15-10, So. over Junior Topper (Francis Scott Key) 13-10, Fr. (Dec 4-1)
113
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Brayden Polly of Eastern Tech
2nd Place - Willis Kiler of Winters Mill
3rd Place - Yasir Maas of Arundel
4th Place - Jackson Rilley of Francis Scott Key
5th Place - Bladimir Daniel of Montgomery Blair
6th Place - Jordan Jackson of Frederick
1st Place Match
Brayden Polly (Eastern Tech) 23-4, Jr. over Willis Kiler (Winters Mill) 23-5, So. (MD 9-1)
3rd Place Match
Yasir Maas (Arundel) 18-6, Sr. over Jackson Rilley (Francis Scott Key) 17-7, Jr. (TB-1 6-5)
5th Place Match
Bladimir Daniel (Montgomery Blair) 10-7, Jr. over Jordan Jackson (Frederick ) 11-8, Jr. (Fall 2:11)
120
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Anthony Allen of Arundel
2nd Place - Abhi Godar of Eastern Tech
3rd Place - Justin Seebach of Frederick
4th Place - Colton Wasmer of Winters Mill
5th Place - Jasper Baker of Patterson Mill
6th Place - Seven Rupp of Francis Scott Key
1st Place Match
Anthony Allen (Arundel) 13-7, So. over Abhi Godar (Eastern Tech) 21-7, Jr. (Dec 9-7)
3rd Place Match
Justin Seebach (Frederick ) 19-5, Sr. over Colton Wasmer (Winters Mill) 21-7, So. (Dec 13-6)
5th Place Match
Jasper Baker (Patterson Mill) 5-10, Sr. over Seven Rupp (Francis Scott Key) 6-8, Fr. (Fall 4:00)
126
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Michael Queen of Severna Park
2nd Place - Chase Ullmann of Eastern Tech
3rd Place - Oscar Davis of Arch Bishop Curley
4th Place - Jonah Chen of Montgomery Blair
5th Place - Brody Lockwood of Winters Mill
6th Place - Mason Carr of Francis Scott Key
1st Place Match
Michael Queen (Severna Park) 28-0, So. over Chase Ullmann (Eastern Tech) 18-7, So. (Fall 3:41)
3rd Place Match
Oscar Davis (Arch Bishop Curley) 27-9, Fr. over Jonah Chen (Montgomery Blair) 16-8, So. (Dec 4-2)
5th Place Match
Brody Lockwood (Winters Mill) 18-13, So. over Mason Carr (Francis Scott Key) 14-13, . (Dec 4-1)
132
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Nate Taylor of Francis Scott Key
2nd Place - Daniel Wu of Montgomery Blair
3rd Place - Carlos Rodriguez of Arch Bishop Curley
4th Place - Abraham Alkhatib of Patterson Mill
5th Place - Cole Figueroa of Arundel
6th Place - Luke Ruel of Southern (AA)
1st Place Match
Nate Taylor (Francis Scott Key) 22-1, Jr. over Daniel Wu (Montgomery Blair) 19-5, Jr. (Fall 3:36)
3rd Place Match
Carlos Rodriguez (Arch Bishop Curley) 23-7, Sr. over Abraham Alkhatib (Patterson Mill) 18-7, Sr. (Fall 2:57)
5th Place Match
Cole Figueroa (Arundel) 20-8, Jr. over Luke Ruel (Southern (AA)) 21-9, Sr. (SV-1 5-3)
138
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Luca Brown of Arundel
2nd Place - Jake Klingler of Montgomery Blair
3rd Place - Jeff Gessner of Patterson Mill
4th Place - Erick Coreas of Frederick
5th Place - Jesse Owings of Francis Scott Key
6th Place - Aidan Holly of Severna Park
1st Place Match
Luca Brown (Arundel) 13-4, Jr. over Jake Klingler (Montgomery Blair) 19-8, Sr. (Dec 2-1)
3rd Place Match
Jeff Gessner (Patterson Mill) 23-2, Sr. over Erick Coreas (Frederick ) 16-11, So. (Fall 3:19)
5th Place Match
Jesse Owings (Francis Scott Key) 18-7, Fr. over Aidan Holly (Severna Park) 19-12, So. (Dec 7-3)
144
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Matteo Brown of Arundel
2nd Place - Landon Buchman of Winters Mill
3rd Place - Pat Mattingly of Francis Scott Key
4th Place - Silvan Unger of Montgomery Blair
5th Place - John Mott of Frederick
6th Place - Gabriel Davison of Randallstown
1st Place Match
Matteo Brown (Arundel) 12-2, Fr. over Landon Buchman (Winters Mill) 23-6, So. (Dec 10-3)
3rd Place Match
Pat Mattingly (Francis Scott Key) 19-5, Jr. over Silvan Unger (Montgomery Blair) 20-8, Sr. (Dec 2-0)
5th Place Match
John Mott (Frederick ) 15-8, Jr. over Gabriel Davison (Randallstown) 20-9, Jr. (Fall 4:00)
150
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Chris Gaeng of Winters Mill
2nd Place - Chris Thomas of Francis Scott Key
3rd Place - Weston Paschane of Montgomery Blair
4th Place - Ian Evans of Eastern Tech
5th Place - Victor Guerra of Frederick
6th Place - Jonah Poole of Southern (AA)
1st Place Match
Chris Gaeng (Winters Mill) 26-2, Jr. over Chris Thomas (Francis Scott Key) 17-7, Sr. (MD 13-0)
3rd Place Match
Weston Paschane (Montgomery Blair) 16-11, Jr. over Ian Evans (Eastern Tech) 19-7, Sr. (Dec 7-5)
5th Place Match
Victor Guerra (Frederick ) 7-6, Fr. over Jonah Poole (Southern (AA)) 7-13, Jr. (Fall 2:45)
157
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - A`Alil Coates of Laurel
2nd Place - Landon Pinnell of Eastern Tech
3rd Place - Jaylin Edwards of Frederick
4th Place - Joshua O`Donnell of Severna Park
5th Place - Adeoluwa Adewuyi of Arch Bishop Curley
6th Place - Ben Lombroia of Francis Scott Key
1st Place Match
A`Alil Coates (Laurel) 20-3, Sr. over Landon Pinnell (Eastern Tech) 21-6, Sr. (Dec 7-4)
3rd Place Match
Jaylin Edwards (Frederick ) 16-7, Sr. over Joshua O`Donnell (Severna Park) 14-15, Sr. (Dec 9-5)
5th Place Match
Adeoluwa Adewuyi (Arch Bishop Curley) 21-14, So. over Ben Lombroia (Francis Scott Key) 11-14, Jr. (Fall 0:56)
165
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Dylan Fish of Arch Bishop Curley
2nd Place - Isaac Cabreja of Eastern Tech
3rd Place - Amzah Koroma of Laurel
4th Place - Ramon Espin of Frederick
5th Place - Hayden Brilhart of Winters Mill
6th Place - Aidan Johnson of Francis Scott Key
1st Place Match
Dylan Fish (Arch Bishop Curley) 35-7, Jr. over Isaac Cabreja (Eastern Tech) 8-14, Sr. (Dec 10-4)
3rd Place Match
Amzah Koroma (Laurel) 14-6, Sr. over Ramon Espin (Frederick ) 5-6, So. (Dec 11-8)
5th Place Match
Hayden Brilhart (Winters Mill) 6-11, Sr. over Aidan Johnson (Francis Scott Key) 8-18, Jr. (Fall 2:35)
175
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Nathan Kohler of Severna Park
2nd Place - Anthony Gregory of Eastern Tech
3rd Place - Paeton Norsworthy of Arundel
4th Place - Ian Tumi of Frederick
5th Place - Jonathan Fletcher of Patterson Mill
6th Place - Michael Finch of Laurel
1st Place Match
Nathan Kohler (Severna Park) 20-4, Sr. over Anthony Gregory (Eastern Tech) 21-4, Sr. (Fall 3:57)
3rd Place Match
Paeton Norsworthy (Arundel) 14-6, Sr. over Ian Tumi (Frederick ) 19-7, So. (Fall 4:48)
5th Place Match
Jonathan Fletcher (Patterson Mill) 18-7, So. over Michael Finch (Laurel) 12-6, Sr. (Dec 7-4)
190
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Bailen Boutz of Arch Bishop Curley
2nd Place - Adam Knox of Francis Scott Key
3rd Place - Leonel Kanwa of Montgomery Blair
4th Place - Manasseh Ojaomo of Arundel
5th Place - Ivan Tumi of Frederick
6th Place - Luke McCoy of Southern (AA)
1st Place Match
Bailen Boutz (Arch Bishop Curley) 36-3, So. over Adam Knox (Francis Scott Key) 20-4, . (Fall 0:44)
3rd Place Match
Leonel Kanwa (Montgomery Blair) 23-3, Sr. over Manasseh Ojaomo (Arundel) 15-8, So. (SV-1 7-5)
5th Place Match
Ivan Tumi (Frederick ) 14-13, Jr. over Luke McCoy (Southern (AA)) 22-6, Sr. (M. For.)
215
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Brandon Lewis of Arch Bishop Curley
2nd Place - Jacob Dell of Francis Scott Key
3rd Place - Leo Flores of Southern (AA)
4th Place - Pierce Read of Arundel
5th Place - Brett Gleisner of Severna Park
6th Place - Devin Danner of Montgomery Blair
1st Place Match
Brandon Lewis (Arch Bishop Curley) 27-6, Sr. over Jacob Dell (Francis Scott Key) 20-4, Sr. (Fall 3:00)
3rd Place Match
Leo Flores (Southern (AA)) 21-11, Sr. over Pierce Read (Arundel) 21-10, So. (Dec 7-2)
5th Place Match
Brett Gleisner (Severna Park) 7-14, Fr. over Devin Danner (Montgomery Blair) 5-9, Sr. (Dec 4-3)
285
Guaranteed Places
1st Place - Keon Stewart of Randallstown
2nd Place - Kahlil Regan of Arch Bishop Curley
3rd Place - Sam Richmond of Winters Mill
4th Place - Quinn Tyldesley of Montgomery Blair
5th Place - Craig Hardsock of Francis Scott Key
6th Place - Gavin Voelker of Patterson Mill
1st Place Match
Keon Stewart (Randallstown) 20-5, So. over Kahlil Regan (Arch Bishop Curley) 31-6, Jr. (SV-1 3-1)
3rd Place Match
Sam Richmond (Winters Mill) 21-8, Sr. over Quinn Tyldesley (Montgomery Blair) 16-10, Sr. (Dec 6-3)
5th Place Match
Craig Hardsock (Francis Scott Key) 10-12, Jr. over Gavin Voelker (Patterson Mill) 13-12, 1st. (Dec 3-1)
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