MSJ edges out McDonogh

On Wednesday evening, the No. 3 Mt. St. Joseph wrestling team strode into No. 2 McDonogh’s house for a highly anticipated MIAA “A” Conference showdown that could’ve also been the defacto “dual championship match” given the final result that saw the Gaels head out the door as the victors, 37-30.

“Our focus is always on peaking at the Maryland Independent States and the National Preps,” said Mt. St. Joseph coach Harry Barnabae. "The challenge in this short week was that we only had two days of practice, going into back-to-back matches, against our toughest opponents of the season, McDonogh and Spalding. So, our preparation has really been over the last couple of weeks.”

St. Joe came into the dual looking to take down its second higher ranked opponent inside a week, following last weekend’s second place finish at War on the Shore, ahead of then No. 2 South Carroll. After being number four in the Legacy Team Rankings ahead of the War, the Gaels switched places with the Cavaliers in our team rankings ahead of Wednesday’s match.

McDonogh was at number two despite their dual win over No. 1 Archbishop Spalding in a meeting last week. Spalding outpaced them at Ray Oliver, so the Cavs held onto their top rating. Spalding captured the team crown at War on the Shore.

McDonogh now slides to #3 in the rankings so it sets up a No.1 vs No. 2 showdown on Wednesday afternoon at 4 P.M. at Mt. St. Joseph. A win there would set the Gaels up as the leaders for the MIAA “A” Conference Dual Championship. A Spalding win, while reinforcing their number one ranking, would muddy the MIAA Dual standings and champion scenarios.

For the Dual Meet crown it could be a three way tie with the potential scenario of McDonogh beating Spalding, Spalding beating MSJ, and MSJ beating McDonogh. Loyola could still jump in on the fun and upset someone or MSJ could take down Spalding tonight.

“We still have a lot of season ahead of us and our match against Spalding tomorrow will be another great challenge,” Barnabae said. “Spalding is solid from bottom to top so we will certainly have our hands full. The ultimate goal is to continue to improve week by week and capture the Maryland State Title.”

McDonogh had won four of the six initial contests and was holding an 18-11 advantage after No. 8 Mason Comegys’ 5-0 decision of No. 9 Ben Scheiner at 138 pounds as McDonogh pounced on the Gaels quickly on Wednesday night. The Eagles were sitting pretty at that point due to No. 11 Damian Manna’s dominate match that culminated in a second period pin of No. 5 CJ Votta, 2:44, at 126.

After that bit of fortune and wins achieved by No. 5 Braidyn Taby (106 pounds) and No. 2 Jacob Naylor (113), compounded with Comegys points, St. Joe was left in a tight spot.

“Momentum is very important in a dual meet, and it can change very quickly,” remarked Barnabae. “I felt that McDonogh came into the match well prepared. They won a couple early swing matches that certainly benefited them, but before the momentum could swing in their favor Jake Tamai came up with a huge fall against a very tough opponent, Wes Baumgartner at 132 pounds.”

The Gaels answered that challenge with a streak of five victories that contained four with bonus points, changing the course of the dual by the time it ended, and it ended dramatically.

No. 1 Tyler Stephens shined brightly when his team was most in need of some light and energized the Gaels with a dominate, 17-1 technical fall, in 3:39 against No. 6 Cole Genua at 144 pounds. Connor Allison, who Barnabae also weighed in at 150 for the Demolition Duals, is rated fourth at 157 pounds. Allison took to the mat at 150 here and worked to a 7-2 decision over Blake Taylor.

Allison’s win gave St. Joe its first lead, a status that it would retain for the duration. No. 1 Brooklyn Pickett, who is at 150 most of the time, tested the 157-pound waters at the Demolition Duals, and swam there again on Wednesday as he drowned No. 5 Domnic Manna in 38 seconds.

Pickett grew the Gaels lead to seven at 25-18 when two unranked foes went toe-to-toe, St. Joe’s Kayden Tyler versus Caden Gardner at 165 pounds. Gardner has been on a good run of late and may likely have worked his way into the rankings with the next update, so knowing that, Legacy would consider him the favorite in this one.

Things were going well for McDonogh as Gardener built a lead and was riding it through, winning the entire time, when one of those, “Man, you ain’t gonna believe this *$#@” moments occurred and Tyler stole a win from the Eagles by decking Gardner in the third period, 4:54.

A huge point swing was forced and the Gaels’ momentum not only sustained, but it also visibly built, and it grew into a tidal wave named Max Solis, an up-and-coming freshman who is ranked 17th at 175 pounds. It’s unknown by us if Solis knew he could seal the win, but that is exactly what his quick disposal of Jonathan Afolabi in 1:11 did for St. Joe.

“We are very, very strong in the middle weights, with seasoned and battle tested veterans, so we are always confident they will perform at the highest level,” Barnabae offered.

Up 37-18, with three bouts remaining, it was mathematically impossible for a comeback based on match results. At any time, disaster could have struck in the form of a deducted team point or two (it’s not like it has never happened). But alas, there would be no unforeseen circumstances derailing the win.

McDonogh sweeping the last three to close it out was a nice way to end it for the fans. Declan Vaughan defeated William Ennis, 11-8, at 190 pounds, No. 9 Giuseppe DiMonte received a forfeit at 215, and No. 15 Logan Brown closed it out in quadruple overtime by edging Jacob Condon, 3-2, at heavyweight.

In the early action, Taby pinned Alessandro Barrios and Naylor beat James Wright (score unavailable). The Gaels won two bouts at 120 pounds, No. 6 Nathan Matthis, and No. 2 Jake Tamai at 132. Matthis teched Reid Swirnow, 19-4 in 4:35. Tamai stuck No. 5 Wes Baumgartner.

Mt. St. Joseph 37, McDonogh 30

(match started at 106 pounds)

106-Braidyn Taby (MD) pinned Alessandro Barrios

113-Jacob Naylor (MD) dec James Wright

120-Nathan Matthis (MSJ) tech-fall Reid Swirnow, 19-4 (4:35)

126-Damian Manna (MD) pinned CJ Votta, 2:44

132-Jake Tamai (MSJ) pinned Wes Baumgartner

138-Mason Comegys (MD) dec Ben Scheiner, 5-0

144-Tyler Stephens (MSJ) tech-fall Cole Genua, 17-1 (3:39)

150-Connor Allison (MSJ) dec Blake Taylor, 7-2

157-Brooklyn Pickett (MSJ) pinned Dominic Manna, :38

165-Kayden Tyler (MSJ) pinned Caden Gardner, 4:54

175-Max Solis (MSJ) pinned Jonathan Afolabi, 1:11

190-Declan Vaughan (MD) dec William Ennis, 11-8

215-Giuseppe DiMonte (MD) won by forfeit

285-Logan Brown (MD) dec Jacob Condon, 3-2