As Legacy Wrestling takes a look at the team rankings landscape, we feel we need to leave last year’s No. 1 in that spot until someone dethrones them, so Gilman will begin the year as the top ranked team in the state. The Greyhounds won all the important titles last year (MIAA Dual and Tournament + MIS Tournament) and looked poised to do so again this year.
The big shake up is the continuing ascent of South Carroll, who not only appears to be the best public-school team in Maryland, but the No. 2 team in the pecking order.
Unfortunately, these two teams will not face off at any point this season. So, if they both run the table, there may be no changes at the top. Maybe the coaches can add a match if the rankings stay consistent!? If so, we'll show up with cameras and our notepads.
Loyola is the next squad on our list, and they will see both teams above them during the season. The No. 1 ranking is there for the taking for the Dons. They will see Gilman multiple times and South Carroll at the Iron Horse Duals and War on the Shore.
Comparing the lineups for Archbishop Spalding and Mt. St. Joseph leads us to believe these two teams will be tied closely together all year. Spalding for now, looks to have the upper hand as they match up well with the Gaels in the lightweights and seem to be stronger in the upper weights.
The Cavaliers have been cursed by the injury bug in recent seasons, so maintaining health will be key to staying ahead of St. Joe. In fact, Spalding has already been hit with the loss of the would be top ranked heavyweight in the state, Delmar White, to a football injury.
St. Frances Academy has added some sneaky good pickups including two from the New England Area, Colby MacIntosh and Elijah Josey. If things fall into place for St. Frances, they could easily move up the ranks and definitely settle into the top five.
Huntingtown could be under ranked at No. 7, but this feels like a good starting point. They certainly seem to be the cream of the Southern Maryland crop, and much like St. Frances, if things fall into place, they could be a riser as the season unfolds.
I don’t think there is one team in the state that gets the most out of their athletes the way that Stephen Decatur does. A No. 8 ranking could also be too low for them, but they do have some holes this year due to graduation. But this team knows how to peak when it matters most, so another state title run would surprise no one.
Landon is another squad that lost some top tier guys. They have a flock of junior leaguers coming in and if they pan out, Landon could be climbing these rankings. Bullis is right behind them at No. 10, and their studs will definitely make them a formidable tournament team. If they can field a complete team and compete well in dual meets, they too could be on the rise.
Northern Garrett sits in the No. 11 position. They always have some wrestlers flying under the radar, so it will be interesting to see how things play out in the early going for them. Rising Sun at No. 12 could be just right, or we could be off one way or another. Legacy Wrestling did not receive a lineup for them, so we have speculated with the placement of the Tigers.
Middletown always seems to field a strong team and it’s not until the state tournament series that we see the talent that lineup holds. They are another team we did not see a lineup for but know it’s a fool’s errand to underestimate the Frederick County powerhouse.
Linganore comes in at No. 14 and despite pocketing another state dual meet title last year, they played second fiddle to Middletown when it came to county affairs, falling to their rivals in a dual meet and the county tournament.
After a few years in the wilderness, Pete Welch began to turn McDonogh back into a state power last year. After a deemphasis on athletics changed the landscape at McDonogh, the Eagles tumbled for a few years and fell out of the state rankings. But much like Mt. St. Joe’s return from obscurity, the tide is changing in Owings Mills and the No. 15 spot may prove to be too low for the Eagles.
St. Mary’s Ryken lost a lot of top talent due to transfers after a change in the head coaching position from Jason Gabrielson to Austin Kraisser. But the cupboard is not left bare as the Knights had a slew of talented backups that will move to the starting lineup.
Manchester Valley is another squad that gets their wrestlers to overachieve on a regular basis. Year after year, they always end up ranked higher than expected. We are starting them out at No. 17 but will not be surprised if they move up once the action gets underway.
C. Milton Wright has been on the upswing ever since John Thornton took over the reins of the program. It took a while to supersede Bel Air as the big team in Harford County, but they have been the better team lately in more seasons than not. No. 18 is where the Mustangs begin the year.
Rounding out the top 20 is Leonardtown and Chesapeake of Anne Arundel County. Leonardtown consistently puts a competitive team on the mat, but they are another team the injury bug seems to enjoy visiting frequently. It would be nice to see them have a full season of health.
Chesapeake picked up a few transfers and has a slew of junior leaguers filling in at the lower weights. With graduation taking studs from Old Mill and South River, the Cougars looked poised to be the top team in the county this season. But counting out South River or Old Mill would not be wise. Especially South River, who is our No. 25 team, as John Klessinger is a motivational expert who always gets his team ready for the end of the year when the stakes are highest. Old Mill is just outside of the top 30.
Check out the rankings here!
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