Cooper is on a mission to be #1

Loyola's top-ranked freshman Charles Cooper has a record of 28-3 with six pins and eight technical falls after Saturday's 64-11 tri-meet loss at Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference at No. 2 Mount St. Joseph, and a 45-27 victory over ninth-ranked Archbishop Curley.

Coopered pinned the host Gaels' 13th-ranked freshman Alessandro Barrios for the second time this year, and earned an 18-3 technical fall over the Friars' 25th-ranked freshman Dominic Blocker.

Part of the Dons' solid lower weight lineup, the 106-pound Cooper not only embraces being the highest-rated wrestler in his Maryland weight class, he has higher aspirations.

"Being No. 1 in the state feels very good, but the mission is the same," Cooper said. "I'm shooting for being number one in the country. I want to push myself until I reach that goal, using my growth mindset. I believe that I am considered number one because of my hard work, dedication and love for the sport that shows in matches."

Cooper is joined by top-ranked sophomore teammate Tyler Verceles (120) and third-ranked senior Jayden Jackson (126). Verceles is a returning MIAA runner-up, private schools champion and fifth place National Prep finisher, and Jackson a returning MIAA and private schools state champion, who had consecutive eighth place finishes at National Preps as a freshman and sophomore.

"Tyler Verceles and I are really close, and he's one of my very good friends, but my practice partner is freshman Logan Myers," said Cooper, a 3.0 student. "Logan is the reason for a lot of my success this year. Logan helps a lot off the mat as well with schoolwork and etc. He is also having a good season."

Cooper has thrived on the mats since he was in kindergarten despite being a small competitor.

"I started wrestling as a 5-year-old because I wasn’t big enough for anything else. In junior league, I wrestled for the Warhawks Wrestling Club. They got me a lot better, and I would recommend this for little ones to come," Cooper said of the legendary program started by Dan Ricker. "Among my achievements in middle school were winning multiple Maryland state titles, and also receiving All-American honors three times."

Among this year's accomplishments, Cooper is a winner of The Ray Oliver Tournament at McDonogh, an eighth-place finisher at the Beast of the East, and a champion at the War On the Shore Tournament.

"My first tournament of the year was Ray Oliver, where I beat the wrestler who was ranked second in the state," Cooper said. "I also placed eighth at The Beast Of The East after losing in the second round and battling back."

Among Cooper's triumphs this year are those over second-ranked sophomore Damian DuChez of Bullis, third-ranked freshman Braidyn Taby of McDonogh, fourth-ranked freshman Lane Gowl of Archbishop Spalding, seventh-ranked sophomore Paul Fitzpatrick of Oakdale and 24th-ranked freshman Julian McCrimon of DeMatha.

"My wrestling style is definitely built on strategies, just based off the fact I watch lots of wrestling and study the sport so much. I know a lot of things to do, which makes me feel more comfortable in matches," Cooper said "Neutral is where I am the most comfortable just because my defense, counters, re-attacks and regular attacks are very good."

Cooper scored a 17-2 technical fall over Fitzpatrick in the War On the Shore semifinals before earning his championship 10-4 victory over DuChez.

DuChez transferred from Urbana, where he placed second, first and second in the Frederick County, Class 4A-3A West Region and Class 4A-3A state tournaments. Fitzpatrick finished third and fourth at last year’s Frederick County Class 4A-3A state tournaments.

Cooper also owns a 3-2 decision over seventh-ranked, 113-pound Miles Molina of Gilman, who transferred from Poly where he was a two-time Baltimore City champion, placed fourth and second at regions and fifth at states. Taby and McCrimon lost by technical falls by scores of 18-3, and 15-0. Cooper defeated Gowl, 17-9.

"There is no particular win against any opponent that sticks out to me," Cooper said. "I don't overlook anybody, because I know what it feels like to be overlooked and still win a match. I am only getting better."