Results: 2A-1A South Region Championships

Patuxent's top-ranked Jahkiye Dixon won a battle of senior 285-pound behemoths by 4-1 decision over LaPlata's second-ranked Sima Saavedra in Saturday's Class 2A-1A South Regional title match at McDonough in Charles County.

Dixon used pins in 1:57 and 2:29 to reach the finals against Saavedra, who still has a 5-4 lead in their series against one another.

"Sima is a great wrestler, but when it comes down to it, I put in too much work to lose," said Dixon, whose stands 6-foot-3, weighs 270 pounds, and improved his record on the year to 30-2 with 12 pins and one technical fall. "I've worked at this sport for years trying to improve my craft every day toward completing my goals. Nobody will get in the way of that. Not Sima, not anybody."

Dixon was a week removed from a 10-2 major decision victory over Saavedra in their title match of the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference, where Saavedra was second a year ago and Dixon, third.

A third-year wrestler who was fourth at regions as a sophomore, Dixon was decked in 2:33 of last year's regional finals by Saavedra.

But from there, Dixon ended the year as a Class 2A-1A state runner-up following 2-0 championship loss to Milford Mill senior Amory Hills, while Saavedra placed fourth at states.

Dixon is coached by Huntingtown graduate Gino Sita, who won two SMAC crowns in four title match berths, three regional championships, and placed fourth, third, second and ultimately first at states as a senior in 2017.

"Jahkiye went 0-3 against Sima as a sophomore, being pinned all three times. He went 1-2 against him as a junior, with Sima pinning Jahkiye twice, and Jahkiye pinning him once," Sita said. "But Jahkiye has gone 3-0 against Sima this year, pinning him once, winning by major and then by regular decision. I have all of the faith in the world that Jahkiye has the abilities to take it all the way."

Dixon was joined on the regional victory podium by 10th-ranked freshman Giovanni Barone (120) and junior Angelo Ciriaco (138), who improved on their second- and third-place finishes at the SMAC Tournament.

Barone decked all three opponents in 2:56, 37 second and 80 seconds, the last being Howard senior Bennett Custodio, who was runner-up for the second straight year. Ciriaco's run comprised decisions of 12-6, 10-3 and 17-9, the latter in his title match with Patterson Mill junior Cole Christian.

Lackey crowned a tournament-high four champions in fourth-ranked junior Ethan Vayro (175), ninth-ranked senior William Chism (165) and juniors Luke Baldwin (106) and James Kunz (144).

Vayro followed a 20-2 technical fall with consecutive pins in 16 seconds, the last in his title match with Howard junior Garrett McGrail. Vayro is a two-time champion on the SMAC and regional tournaments who will pursue his second consecutive Class 2A-1A state crown this weekend.

Chism added his regional crown to the SMAC title earned a week earlier thanks to a 99-second pin, another in 2:36 and an 8-4 decision over Havre de Grace junior Slayton Samuels, who was a week removed from winning an Upper Chesapeake Athletic Conference (UCBAC) title.

Kunz improved on the previous week's third place finish at SMAC, doing so after an injury default victory and a fall in 1:42 of his semifinal bout with Hammond's Howard County champion senior Zach Terry. Kunz won his title march with a 4-2 decision over Havre de Grace senior Vincent Kirby, who was a week removed from winning the UCBACs.

Baldwin ran the table with a 66-second pin and consecutive technical falls of 15-0, the last over Havre de Grace freshman Austin Nielsen.

LaPlata's trio of title-winners comprised 10th-ranked senior Brett Wilkinson (157), 11th-ranked sophomore Owen Hannah (150) and senior Deegan Woomer (132).

Hannah decked all three opponents in 2:06, 1:45 and 1:57, the last being Hammond senior Connor McGovern. Woomer earned a 17-2 technical fall, a 16-2 major decision and a pin at 3:13 of his title bout with Havre de Grace junior Brendon Brown, who was runner-up at the UCBAC.

Wilkerson used an 11-0 major decision, a 7-4 decision and a 19-1 technical fall in his championship bout with Frederick Douglas senior Gerlad Carter. Hannah added regionals to his SMAC title, Woomer improved on his runner-up finish, and Wilkerson, his third-place effort.

Other champions were Hammond's seventh-ranked senior Xavier Nichols (215), Harford Tech's 23rd-ranked junior Cameron Moore (126), Havre de Grace freshman Isaiah Chase Washington (113) and Patterson Mill senior Jonathan Fletcher (190).

Nichols improved his record on the year to 34-2 following a 54-second pin and a 19-3 technical fall before decking 14th-ranked McDonough senior Kaosisochu Ukiwe at 3:48 of their title match. Nichols is now a two-time Howard County and regional champion who placed sixth at states, ending last season with a record of 42-5.

Moore added the regional crown to his UCBAC championship with a 63-second pin, a 15-8 decision and a title match 14-9 decision over LaPlata sophomore Manny Mendoza, who was runner-up at SMAC.

A runner-up at the previous week's Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference, Fletcher earned decisions of 8-4, 14-8 and 14-9, the latter in his title match Hammond’s 14th-ranked senior Jaden Assah-Timothy, who has placed first once, and second twice at counties.

Washington improved on last week's runner-up finish at UCBACs in dominant fashion on a 41-second pin, a 17-2 technical fall and by flattening Harford Tech senior Brayden Pruski in 2:55 of their championship match.

Class 2A-1A South Regional Results

106

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Luke Baldwin of Henry E. Lackey

2nd Place - Austin Nielsen of Patterson Mill

3rd Place - Luca Tucciarella of Harford Technical

4th Place - Von Hargrove of Patuxent

5th Place - Adam James of Hammond

6th Place - Justin Oh of Howard

1st Place Match

Luke Baldwin (Henry E. Lackey) 36-5, Jr. over Austin Nielsen (Patterson Mill) 28-9, Sr. (TF-1.5 3:52 (15-0))

3rd Place Match

Luca Tucciarella (Harford Technical) 26-7, Jr. over Von Hargrove (Patuxent) 40-6, Fr. (TF-1.5 4:48 (20-3))

5th Place Match

Adam James (Hammond) 15-11, Fr. over Justin Oh (Howard) 23-18, Fr. (Fall 4:23)

113

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Isaiah Chase Washington of Havre de Grace

2nd Place - Brayden Pruski of Harford Technical

3rd Place - Ander Acevedo of Howard

4th Place - Gavin Jones of Patterson Mill

5th Place - Forfeit Forfeit of Unattached

6th Place - Nathan Raley of La Plata

6th Place - Kayden Blair of Joppatowne

1st Place Match

Isaiah Chase Washington (Havre de Grace) 31-8, Fr. over Brayden Pruski (Harford Technical) 21-14, Sr. (Fall 2:55)

3rd Place Match

Ander Acevedo (Howard) 29-12, Fr. over Gavin Jones (Patterson Mill) 16-12, Fr. (Fall 1:51)

5th Place Match

Nathan Raley (La Plata) 16-26, Jr. over Kayden Blair (Joppatowne) 1-2, . (DFF)

120

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Giovanni Barone of Patuxent

2nd Place - Bennett Custodio of Howard

3rd Place - Michael Kunz of Henry E. Lackey

4th Place - Owen Vallowe of Patterson Mill

5th Place - Elijah Reimers of Fallston

6th Place - Omar Asfari of Hammond

1st Place Match

Giovanni Barone (Patuxent) 41-2, Fr. over Bennett Custodio (Howard) 29-5, Sr. (Fall 1:20)

3rd Place Match

Michael Kunz (Henry E. Lackey) 30-10, So. over Owen Vallowe (Patterson Mill) 25-14, So. (Dec 16-9)

5th Place Match

Elijah Reimers (Fallston) 20-9, . over Omar Asfari (Hammond) 20-13, Jr. (Dec 3-1)

126

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Cameron Moore of Harford Technical

2nd Place - Manny Mendoza of La Plata

3rd Place - Carter Benzon of Havre de Grace

4th Place - Jeshua Shultz of Patuxent

5th Place - Gabriel Filling of Patterson Mill

6th Place - Joseph Lutz of Fallston

1st Place Match

Cameron Moore (Harford Technical) 28-6, Jr. over Manny Mendoza (La Plata) 29-9, So. (Dec 14-9)

3rd Place Match

Carter Benzon (Havre de Grace) 27-15, Sr. over Jeshua Shultz (Patuxent) 27-16, Fr. (Dec 9-4)

5th Place Match

Gabriel Filling (Patterson Mill) 14-19, Sr. over Joseph Lutz (Fallston) 20-11, . (Fall 1:29)

132

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Deegan Woomer of La Plata

2nd Place - Brendon Brown of Havre de Grace

3rd Place - Tyshon Little of Harford Technical

4th Place - Hunter McGrail of Howard

5th Place - Jackson Cosola of Fallston

6th Place - Jeremiah Jackson of Hammond

1st Place Match

Deegan Woomer (La Plata) 37-6, Sr. over Brendon Brown (Havre de Grace) 26-13, Jr. (Fall 3:13)

3rd Place Match

Tyshon Little (Harford Technical) 22-15, Jr. over Hunter McGrail (Howard) 23-21, Fr. (Dec 10-6)

5th Place Match

Jackson Cosola (Fallston) 18-9, . over Jeremiah Jackson (Hammond) 18-15, Jr. (M. For.)

138

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Angelo Ciriaco of Patuxent

2nd Place - Cole Christian of Patterson Mill

3rd Place - Lucas Fongemie of Havre de Grace

4th Place - Braylon Pippins of Frederick Douglass-PG

5th Place - Owen Barratt of Harford Technical

6th Place - Eli Murphy of Hammond

1st Place Match

Angelo Ciriaco (Patuxent) 37-9, Jr. over Cole Christian (Patterson Mill) 33-4, Jr. (MD 17-9)

3rd Place Match

Lucas Fongemie (Havre de Grace) 34-8, Sr. over Braylon Pippins (Frederick Douglass-PG) 29-6, Sr. (Fall 3:39)

5th Place Match

Owen Barratt (Harford Technical) 22-16, So. over Eli Murphy (Hammond) 15-9, Jr. (MD 12-4)

144

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - James Kunz of Henry E. Lackey

2nd Place - Vincent Kirby of Havre de Grace

3rd Place - Christian Donlick of Harford Technical

4th Place - Robbie Asten of Patuxent

5th Place - Zachary Terry of Hammond

6th Place - Liam Watson of Fallston

1st Place Match

James Kunz (Henry E. Lackey) 37-6, Jr. over Vincent Kirby (Havre de Grace) 36-3, Jr. (Dec 4-2)

3rd Place Match

Christian Donlick (Harford Technical) 26-11, Sr. over Robbie Asten (Patuxent) 31-12, So. (Fall 3:57)

5th Place Match

Zachary Terry (Hammond) 30-6, Sr. over Liam Watson (Fallston) 19-11, . (TF-1.5 3:41 (21-5))

150

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Owen Hannah of La Plata

2nd Place - Connor McGovern of Hammond

3rd Place - Owen Houseman of Havre de Grace

4th Place - Brock Dreyer of Harford Technical

5th Place - Bayshawn Matthews of Surrattsville

6th Place - Russell White of Patuxent

1st Place Match

Owen Hannah (La Plata) 35-5, So. over Connor McGovern (Hammond) 29-8, Sr. (Fall 1:57)

3rd Place Match

Owen Houseman (Havre de Grace) 19-12, Fr. over Brock Dreyer (Harford Technical) 12-9, Fr. (M. For.)

5th Place Match

Bayshawn Matthews (Surrattsville) 23-8, So. over Russell White (Patuxent) 18-13, Jr. (For.)

157

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Brett Wilkinson of La Plata

2nd Place - Gerlad Carter of Frederick Douglass-PG

3rd Place - Hunter Lark of Harford Technical

4th Place - Will Grimm of Havre de Grace

5th Place - John Louie of Hammond

6th Place - Amir Lawrence of Friendly

1st Place Match

Brett Wilkinson (La Plata) 38-4, Sr. over Gerlad Carter (Frederick Douglass-PG) 26-11, Sr. (TF-1.5 4:39 (19-1))

3rd Place Match

Hunter Lark (Harford Technical) 25-12, So. over Will Grimm (Havre de Grace) 30-11, Sr. (Dec 8-5)

5th Place Match

John Louie (Hammond) 24-10, Sr. over Amir Lawrence (Friendly) 17-8, Sr. (Fall 4:26)

165

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - William Chism of Henry E. Lackey

2nd Place - Slayton Samuels of Havre de Grace

3rd Place - Max Meiser of La Plata

4th Place - Nicholas Gibson of Harford Technical

5th Place - Mischael Saint Vil of Hammond

6th Place - John Loss of Fallston

1st Place Match

William Chism (Henry E. Lackey) 39-2, Sr. over Slayton Samuels (Havre de Grace) 35-4, Jr. (Dec 8-4)

3rd Place Match

Max Meiser (La Plata) 40-7, Sr. over Nicholas Gibson (Harford Technical) 24-11, So. (Fall 2:36)

5th Place Match

Mischael Saint Vil (Hammond) 24-12, Sr. over John Loss (Fallston) 19-11, . (Fall 0:29)

175

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Ethan Vayro of Henry E. Lackey

2nd Place - Garrett McGrail of Howard

3rd Place - Darius El Amin of Westlake

4th Place - Charlie Barron of Fallston

5th Place - Uriel Marsh of Patuxent

6th Place - Kennard Pollock of Surrattsville

1st Place Match

Ethan Vayro (Henry E. Lackey) 40-0, Jr. over Garrett McGrail (Howard) 31-11, Jr. (Fall 0:16)

3rd Place Match

Darius El Amin (Westlake) 13-6, Jr. over Charlie Barron (Fallston) 19-10, . (Dec 6-0)

5th Place Match

Uriel Marsh (Patuxent) 18-26, Sr. over Kennard Pollock (Surrattsville) 18-12, So. (Dec 8-6)

190

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Jonathan Fletcher of Patterson Mill

2nd Place - Jaden Asaah-Timothy of Hammond

3rd Place - Parker Sweeney of Harford Technical

4th Place - Jack Whitley of La Plata

5th Place - John Edwards of Patuxent

6th Place - Charles Steele III of Surrattsville

1st Place Match

Jonathan Fletcher (Patterson Mill) 21-4, Sr. over Jaden Asaah-Timothy (Hammond) 33-3, Sr. (Dec 14-9)

3rd Place Match

Parker Sweeney (Harford Technical) 24-12, Sr. over Jack Whitley (La Plata) 28-19, Sr. (MD 10-1)

5th Place Match

John Edwards (Patuxent) 25-11, Sr. over Charles Steele III (Surrattsville) 12-7, Sr. (Fall 2:19)

215

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Xavier Nichols of Hammond

2nd Place - Kaosisochukwu Ukiwe of Maurice J. McDonough

3rd Place - Brett Semple of Havre de Grace

4th Place - Christian Bryant of Henry E. Lackey

5th Place - Gavin Voelker of Patterson Mill

6th Place - Elijah Terry of Harford Technical

1st Place Match

Xavier Nichols (Hammond) 34-2, Sr. over Kaosisochukwu Ukiwe (Maurice J. McDonough) 23-3, Sr. (Fall 3:48)

3rd Place Match

Brett Semple (Havre de Grace) 33-8, Sr. over Christian Bryant (Henry E. Lackey) 23-17, Jr. (Fall 4:36)

5th Place Match

Gavin Voelker (Patterson Mill) 21-16, Sr. over Elijah Terry (Harford Technical) 19-15, Jr. (Dec 4-3)

285

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Jahkiye Dixon of Patuxent

2nd Place - Sima Saavedra of La Plata

3rd Place - James Seifert of Harford Technical

4th Place - Jayden Hardy of Maurice J. McDonough

5th Place - Israel Hall of Henry E. Lackey

6th Place - Zeke Funmilayo of Howard

1st Place Match

Jahkiye Dixon (Patuxent) 30-2, Sr. over Sima Saavedra (La Plata) 22-4, Sr. (Dec 4-1)

3rd Place Match

James Seifert (Harford Technical) 20-14, Jr. over Jayden Hardy (Maurice J. McDonough) 16-12, Jr. (Fall 0:00)

5th Place Match

Israel Hall (Henry E. Lackey) 9-5, Jr. over Zeke Funmilayo (Howard) 15-8, So. (M. For.)