Maryland National Rankings (Upper Weights)

The 2024/2025 rankings period concluded when the final whistle was blown at Fargo in July. It took a few weeks to digest all the fallout, but on July 31st, the High School rankings released its final update for this time frame and ten who competed for Maryland High Schools finished ranked in the nation with another two joining them on the list while participating for teams in other states.

The Upper Weights will be discussed in this portion.

Interestingly, the two highest ranked Marylanders, No. 6 Emmitt Sherlock (Gilman School) and No. 9 Salah Tsarni (Bullis School), are in the same weight class – 175 pounds. Ben Smith who competed at the New York Military Academy the last two years comes in as a honorable mention entry at 175, giving Maryland three in the rankings at that weight.

Emmitt Sherlock (Gilman School) No. 6 at 175 pounds

Sherlock’s ascension up the rankings began in the Spring of his junior campaign when he won double crowns at the U.S. Open and repped the USA in both Freestyle and Greco Roman at the 2024 U17 World Championships, where he placed fifth in Freestyle.

Sherlock, who will be at the University of Virginia this fall, kept a low profile over the spring and summer this year, only surfacing to try his hand in the U20 circuit at the U.S. Open for a taste of what the college life offers. Sherlock lost to two college grapplers there and did not place but did handle Indiana’s No. 12 Waylon Cressell, who will be a senior at Warren Central High School this year. Cressell placed third in Junior Freestyle at Fargo.

The graduated senior improved or equaled his performance at all the major events he hit during the season. Sherlock was third at Ironman this year after being seventh as a junior. The Greyhound famously won another Ray Oliver Tournament title over Tsarni, 1-0, which is why it is notable.

Sherlock placed fourth at the Beast of the East and second at National Preps just as he did a year ago. Sherlock’s MIS crown was won over nationally ranked No. 30 Sepanta Ahanj-Elias of Bullis by fall when he was up at 190 pounds to end the season.

Salah Tsarni (Bullis School) No. 9 at 175 pounds

Like Sherlock, Tsarni started turning heads during the FRECO season of 2024 when he was a Double All-American at Fargo in the 16U Division. Just ahead of his sophomore season, Tsarni fell to New Jersey’s No. 8 Jordan Chapman at the Waterway Duals, 7-5.

The Elite 8 Folkstyle Duals saw Tsarni participate at 165 pounds where he would stay until the spring when he moved up to 80 kilograms for the U17 U.S. Open. At Elite 8 in the preseason, Tsarni defeated No. 5 Bode Marlow of Pennsylvania and No. 13 Adrien Reyes (California).

Sherlock/Tsarni/Marlow created quite a rankings conundrum, of which we initially were honoring Tsarni’s win over Marlow. Marlow beat Sherlock in the third-place match at the Beast. If you go by the timeline and order of the wins, it leaves Marlow>Sherlock>Tsarni. The two matches involving Sherlock occurred during the regular season, which holds more weight than the preseason in addition to the order of the outcomes.

Tsarni was third at 165 pounds at Super 32, with wins over No. 16 Liam Carlin (Connecticut) and California’s Travis Grace (now No. 24 at 175 pounds). Tsarni won his second state title, which he will not be able to build on since he will be taking his considerable talents to New Jersey’s Blair Academy for his junior campaign.

Tsarni was a Beast of the East and National Prep runner-up to Lake Highland Prep’s Claudio Torres (No. 8 at 165 pounds). Tsarni won the NHSCA Nationals this year, beating Texas’ Honorable Mention Steel Meyers at 170 pounds, after finishing second as a freshman.

At the U.S. Open, Tsarni finished second to Illinois’ No. 7 Aaron Stewart. Tsarni won the first match of the best of three series then dropped two straight. Wins collected by Tsarni include two over honorable mention grapplers, Mario Hutcherson (Pennsylvania) and Zane Gerlach (Alaska), plus No. 15 Slava Shahbazyan of California.

Hutcherson won a 16U Freestyle crown at Fargo up at 190 pounds. Tasrni was still at 175 for Fargo, where he improved upon last year’s bronze with a silver after falling to Pennsylvania’s No. 17 Jayden O’Farrill, 5-4. O’Farrill remains behind Tsarni in the rankings despite that win based on their overall track record and hit list. Tsarni is ranked ahead of the Fargo Junior Freestyle champion, Nicholas Singer (Pennsylvania) because Singer was eighth in Tsarni’s U.S. Open bracket with losses to Hutcherson and Shahbazyan.

Tsarni announced at Fargo he would be headed to the Air Force Academy upon graduating in 2027.

Ben Smith (New York Military Academy) HM at 175 pounds

Inconsistency. That would be the best word to describe Smith’s senior season. A top ten win coupled with losses to unranked wrestlers shows the wide spectrum of Smith’s abilities and shortfalls.

At the Elite 8 Duals, one of Smith’s wins came over California’s Reyes. Super 32 provided the sides of both extremes with a win over No. 12 Jaelen Culp (South Carolina) followed by a loss to unranked Trae Rios of Oklahoma. Smith also lost to Carlin at Super 32.

The Bearcat Brawl finals resulted in Smith beating No. 28 Elliott Humphries (NMH, MA). Shortly after Humphries would reverse that outcome and beat Smith twice more at the New England Prep Qualifier and the National Prep Tournament.

The “Good Smith” was on display at the Beast where he placed sixth with a win over No. 8 Chapman. Smith’s Beast losses came to Marlow, Singer, and No. 1 William Henckel (Blair). Smith placed fifth at National Preps for the second consecutive year, being upset by Honorable Mention Brian Chamberlain (Wyoming Seminary) along the way.

At the U.S. Open in 20U Freestyle, Smith, who is headed to West Point to wrestle for Army, lost to No. 27 Peyton Westpfahl (Missouri) and No. 30 Bo Koedam of Iowa.

The 190-pounders: VMJ, Sepanta, Josey + Snyder

190 pounds is the second of three weights where at least two Marylanders appear in the report. But it’s different from the others as three 190-pounders who wrestled in Maryland landed in the rankings. The highest rated of them is Perry Hall’s Victor Marks-Jenkins at No. 22 with Ahanj-Elias sitting at No. 30, and Saint Frances Academy’s Elijah Josey joining them as part of the honorable mention section. Josey finished ranked at 215 pounds since that was his Fargo weight, but what earned him his spot on the report came at 190 pounds. Blair Academy’s Peter Snyder comes in at No. 27.

Victor Marks-Jenkins (Perry Hall) No. 22 at 190 pounds

Marks-Jenkins has been building to this since before his sophomore season in high school as he has become known as the “Traveling Gator” as you never know what part of the country he will turn up in next. VMJ has literally been everywhere, man!

After his freshman season, VMJ placed third at the U15 U.S. Open and has since locked down various USA Wrestling Regional Crowns from multiple locations, including Southeast Region victories in both styles in 2024 over Florida’s Lucas Boe, a 157-pound National Prep Champ, who is ranked 18th at 165 pounds.

In the fall of 2024, Marks-Jenkins competed at the Journeymen Fall Classic, where he placed third, pinning No. 10 Robert Kucharczk of Florida. The reason for their current rankings difference is because of Fargo where Kucharczk was fifth in Freestyle with wins over No. 16 John Murphy (Minnesota) and No. 11 Jimmy Mastny (Illinois), while VMJ did not place in Freestyle at Fargo.

VMJ is 1-2 versus Murphy, losing the Northern Plains Freestyle Final but winning the Greco crown over Murphy, and Murphy winning their Freestyle match at Fargo. VMJ fell to Mastny in Freestyle at the Central Regional. At the Central Regional, VMJ beat honorable mention Trey Craig of Missouri, 7-5, who returned the favor at Fargo, 5-4. Marks-Jenkins reached the Fargo podium in Greco Roman with a seventh-place finish that saw him fall to Mastny, 6-1.

For a glimpse at why Freestyle results need to be taken with a grain of salt, consider this: The 190-pound Junior Fargo Champ, Kentucky’s Lucas Ricketts, was third at the aforementioned Central Regional, losing to Craig 3-2. Craig did not place at Fargo, but beat VMJ, who he lost to previously.

The Journeymen Events certainly seem to be to VMJ’s liking as he shined in the Spring’s Journeymen World Classic with his only loss coming to Armenia’s Yopremyan Razmik. The runner-up performance included wins over U17 Freestyle World Bronze Medalist, No. 23 Tanner Hodgins (New Jersey) and No. 24 Maximus Konopka of Connecticut.

Lastly, congrats to George Mason University for signing this star. VMJ recently committed to wrestling for GMU.

Sepanta Ahanj-Elias (Bullis School) No. 30 at 190 pounds

Ahanj-Elias used his Journeymen Fall Classic championship run to blast onto the national scene by picking up wins over Kucharczk and New York’s No. 29 Greyson Meak. The graduated senior went to Super 32 at 190 pounds and fell to two guys who ended the year ranked at 215 pounds, No. 18 Elijah Brown (Pennsylvania) and Honorable Mention Conor McCloskey (Georgia).

An eighth place showing at the Beast of the East, Ahanj-Elias’ first time placing there, reinforced his national standing. Although he did not add any wins over ranked foes, his three losses were all to wrestlers who appear in the rankings, No. 2 Adam Waters (Pennsylvania), Hodgins, and Honorable Mention Isael Perez (New York Military Academy).

Kucharczk avenged his Journeymen loss at National Preps where Ahanj-Elias beat Josey for a fourth time (Beast, War on the Shore and MIS prior to preps). At Preps, Ahanj-Elias exacted revenge on Perez for the Beast loss with a 10-2 major decision on the way to a fifth-place finish.

Ahanj-Elias last stepped on the mat with a national ranking on the line at the NHSCA National Duals, where he encountered Meak again, this time, coming up short, losing by fall in 54 seconds.

Elijah Josey (Saint Frances Academy) HM at 190 & 215 pounds

Josey transferred to Saint Frances from Portsmouth High in New Hampshire where he was second at the New England Championships in 2024 to Konopka. It wasn’t until the National Prep Tournament that Josey was able to crack the national rankings with a win over New York Military’s Perez. Perez had beaten Josey at the Beast of the East.

Every loss Josey suffered during the rankings period was to a nationally ranked wrestler. Sherlock handled Josey twice as did Foard and No. 26 Reese Spiro (NMH). Josey was fourth at the NHSCA Nationals at 182 pounds, losing to two honorable mention entries, Perez and Alabama’s Cody Kirk.

Both of Josey’s Fargo losses at 215 pounds came against guys in the honorable mention section at 215, New York’s Devin Downes and Wisconsin’s Garrett Kawczynski.

Josey is now off to Clackamas College in Oregon to continue his wrestling career.

Peter Snyder (Blair Academy) No. 27 at 190 pounds

Snyder placed seventh in Junior Freestyle at 190 pounds in Fargo in 2024 and looked poised to build on his national standing after placing eighth at Ironman in December. At Ironman, Snyder took out No. 21 Adonis Bonar II (Nebraska), but fell to Foard, Mastny, and Ohio’s Matt Kowalski (now ranked 9th at 215 pounds).

Snyder bumped up to 215 pounds for the Beast of the East where he excelled by reaching the finals before succumbing to No. 19 Cash Colbert (Paul VI, VA). At the Beast, Snyder handled No. 21 Conor Delaney (New Jersey) and Lake Highland Prep’s No. 24 Alex Smith.

Smith avenged that loss at a tri-meet with Lake Highland and St. Edward of Ohio. After that, Snyder’s last appearance for Blair came in the Wyoming Seminary Dual Meet, where he fell 5-4 to post-grad Kendall Drake. Snyder did not finish the season, missing National Preps after previously winning it as a freshman and placing fifth as a sophomore.

Rumor is that Snyder has departed Blair and is coming home to take the mats for Stephen Decatur to complete his high school career.

Link to Full Rankings:

https://www.si.com/high-school/wrestling/2024-25-national-high-school-wrestling-rankings-final-post-season-update-seniors-set-to-exit-stars-rise-01k1g4m2fdrr

175

1-William Henckel (Blair Academy, NJ) SR

2-Ryan Burton (St. Joe Regional, NJ) SR

3-Tyler Eise (Gilroy, CA) SR

4-Asher Cunningham (State College, PA) SR

5-Bode Marlow (Thomas Jefferson, PA) SR

6-Emmitt Sherlock (Gilman, MD) SR

7-Aaron Stewart (Warren Township, IL) JR

8-Jordan Chapman (Cranford, NJ) SR

9-Salah Tsarni (Bullis, MD) SO

10-Nicholas Singer (Faith Christian Academy, PA) SO

11-Mason Ontiveros (John H Pitman, CA) JR

12-Waylon Cressell (Warren Central, IN) JR

13-Adrien Reyes (Clovis, CA) SR

14-Isai Fernandez (St. John Bosco, CA) FR

15-Slava Shahbazyan (Birmingham, CA) JR

16-Brian Heard (Abington Heights, PA) SR

17-Jayden O’Farrill (Bishop McCort, PA) FR

18-Ladd Holman (Juab, UT) SO

19-Eli Leonard (Mt. Horeb, WI) JR

20-Mario Carini (Poway, CA) SO

21-Maximus Norman (Baylor School, TN) SR

22-Jacob Helgeson (Johnston, IA) SR

23-Lincoln Jipp (Bettendorf, IA) JR

24-Travis Grace (Gilroy, CA) JR

25-Keenan Sheridan (O’Gorman, SD) SR

26-Brennan Warwick (Massillon Perry, OH) JR

27-Peyton Westpfahl (Liberty, MO) SR

28-Elliott Humphries (Northfield Mount Hermon, MA) SR

29-Bryce Burkett (Watertown, MN) SR

30-Bo Koedam (Sergeant Bluff-Luton, IA) SR

HM:

Gage Wentzel (Montoursville, PA) JR

Brady Collins (Clearfield, PA) SR

Kyle Scott (Tyrone, PA) JR

Zane Gerlach (South Anchorage, AK) SO

Ben Smith (New York Military Academy, NY) SR

Connor Wetzel (Shikellamy, PA) SR

Colt Campbell (Hickory Ridge, NC) SR

Aidan Costello (Hobart, IN) SR

Caleb Neal (Great Bridge, VA) SR

Anthony Vargas (Central, CA)

Blake Hostetter (Oxford Area, PA) SO

Xavier Smith (Fishers, IN) JR

Ethan Teague (Stillwater, OK) SR

Jackson Angelo (Frazier, PA) SR

Brody Kelly (IC Catholic Prep, IL) JR

Cody Kirk (Pike Road School, AL) SR

190

1-Harvey Ludington (Brick Memorial, NJ) SR

2-Adam Waters (Faith Christian Academy, PA) JR

3-Lane Foard (Benedictine Prep, VA) SR

4-Carson Thomas (La Salle, OH) SR

5-Ryder Wilder (Camden County, GA) JR

6-De’Alcapon Veazy (Ponderosa, CO) SR

7-Lucas Ricketts (Union County, KY) JR

8-Jarrett Wadsen (St. Michael-Albertville, MN) SR

9-Michael White (Lawrence North, IN) JR

10-Robert Kucharczk (Lake Highland Prep, FL) SR

11-Jimmy Mastny (Marian Central Catholic, IL) SO

12-Vincenzo Lavalle (Hanover Park, NJ) SR

13-Jaxon Penovich (Mt. Prospect, IL) JR

14-Carl “CJ” Betz (Delbarton, NJ) JR

15-Alexander Reyes (Holmdel, NJ) JR

16-John Murphy (St. Michael-Albertville, MN) JR

17-Jarrel Miller (St. Edward, OH) SR

18-Jonathan Rocha (Clovis North, CA) JR

19-Brokton Borelli (Los Banos, CA) SR

20-Sutton Kenning (St. Cloud Tech, MN) JR

21-Adonis Bonar II (Creighton Prep, NE) SR

22-Victor Marks-Jenkins (Perry Hall, MD) JR

23-Tanner Hodgins (Howell, NJ) SO

24-Maximus Konopka (Simsbury, CT) SO

25-Kaleb Jackson (St. Joseph Regional, NJ) JR

26-Reese Spiro (Northfield Mount Hermon, MA)

27-Peter Snyder (Blair Academy, NJ) JR

28-Gunner Henry (Brownsburg, IN) SR

29-Greyson Meak (Cold Spring Harbor, NY) SR

30-Sepanta Ahanj-Elias (Bullis, MD) SR

HM:

Ty Morrison (West Perry, PA) SR

Isael Perez (New York Military Academy, NY) SR

Tyrel Miller (St. Edward, OH) SR

Chris Mance III (Lovett School, GA) SR

Dominic Sumpolec (Notre Dame-Green Pond, PA) JR

Lincoln Carlson (East Lyme/Norwich Tech, CT) SR

Brandon Carr (Sun Valley, PA) SR

Brayden Zuercher (Nazareth, PA) JR

Anthony Bruscino (Wyoming Seminary, PA) SR

Mario Hutcherson (Kiski Area, PA) FR

Carter Temple (Kearney, MO) SO

Trey Craig (Christian Brothers College, MO) JR

Dante DeLuca (Don Bosco Prep, NJ) JR

Gavin Craner (Whitehall, MI) SR

215

1-Jude Correa (Wyoming Seminary, PA) SR

2-Angelo Posada (Poway, CA) SR

3-Cade Ziola (Omaha Skutt, NE) SR

4-Anthony Harris (St. Joseph Regional, NJ) SR

5-Austin Johnson (Muncy, PA) SR

6-Michael Boyle (Watterson, OH) SO

7-Kai Calcutt (Loyola Academy, IL) JR

8-Levi Bussey (Granite Bay, CA) SR

9-Matt Kowalski (Springboro, OH) SR

10-Noah Weaver (Rossville, IN) SR

11-Evan McGuire (Mahtomedi, MN) SR

12-Aidan Ysaguirre (Santa Cruz Valley Union, AZ) SR

13-Aiden Cooley (Allen, TX) JR

14-Charles Walker (Joliet Central, IL) SR

15-Landon Jobber-Spence (Staunton River, VA) SR

16-Rade Ostrander (Keller Timber Creek, TX) SR

17-Khale McDonnell (Fountain Valley, CA) SR

18-Elijah Brown (Belle Vernon, PA) JR

19-Cash Colbert (Paul VI, VA) JR

20-Tony Palmer (South Sioux City, NE) SR

21-Connor Delaney (Rumson-Fair Haven, NJ) SR

22-Will Adkins (Moeller, OH) SR

23-Riley McPherson (Brecksville, OH) SR

24-Alex Smith (Lake Highland Prep, FL) SR

25-Wyatt Bush (Grundy, VA) SR

26-Josh Hoffer (Washington, IL) JR

27-Daniel Moylan (Poway, CA) SO

28-Kal-El Fluckiger (Valiant Prep, AZ) JR

29-Myron Mendez (Southwest Miami, FL) SR

30-Kingston Daniells Silva (Green Farms Academy, CT) SR

HM:

Devin Downes (Plainedge, NY) JR

Leimana Fager (Corner Canyon, UT) SR

Ronan An (North Cobb, GA) SO

Sam Howard (Boonville, IN) SO

Wes Burford (Oakdale) JR

Blake Thiry (Prairie du Chien, WI) SR

Garrett Kawczynski (Port Washington, WI) JR

Jason Singer (Faith Christian Academy, PA) JR

Cooper Roscosky (Kiski Area, PA) JR

Roman Thompson (Pittsburg Central Catholic, PA) SO

Jake Conroy (Ringgold, PA) SR

Cason Howle (Greenwood, SC) SR

Conor McCloskey (Buford, GA) SR

Elijah Josey (Saint Frances Academy, MD) SR

Caden Brewer (Brownsburg, IN) SR

William Ward (Moorhead, MN) JR