The Cavaliers set sights on 5th team championship

A "Cavalier Attitude" means having or showing a lack of concern for what is important or serious, often with an air of arrogance or disdain.

But the only contempt South Carroll’s Cavaliers have is that of losing, so they don’t – at least not very often.

The second-ranked Cavaliers, of 13th-year coach Bryan Hamper, enter this season in pursuit of their sixth straight Carroll County Tournament title as well as their fifth consecutive Class 1A state dual meet championship.

Coming off a 25-1 record of a year ago and led by seven returning state place winners, the Cavaliers will be after their 16th consecutive dual meet victory at Calvert Hall on Dec. 10th.

South Carroll finished at 33-1 two years ago in 2023, winning their second straight state dual meet crown. In 2024, the Cavaliers finished with a record of 27-0 for their third consecutive Class 1A state duals title with their 34th dual meet win in a row.

Howard County stalwart Glenelg was the last Maryland public school to defeat South Carroll, doing so in Class 1A regional finals in February, 2020. The Cavaliers then posted consecutive undefeated seasons at 12-0, in 2021, and 26-0 in 2022.

South Carroll’s last loss to a private school was on Feb. 2, 2023, to Maryland Interstate Athletic Association power Mount St. Joseph, currently ranked third by Legacy Wrestling. The Cavaliers suffered their lone defeat of last season in January against state champion Grassfield High of Chesapeake, Virginia.

“We have very heavy competition during the month of December where we’ll see multiple state championship teams from other states,” said Hamper, whose Cavaliers will receive a stiff test during the Jan. 9-11 War On The Shore Tournament at 16th-ranked Stephen Decatur in Ocean City.

“December will be a great gauge to see where we are heading into the War On the Shore. We’re very excited about this year’s team. We have four senior state champions who have embraced their leadership roles and have set a very high standard for our wrestling room.”

This year’s lineup features top-ranked Cavaliers' senior Jo Jo Gigliotti (144), second-ranked seniors Anthony Rodrigues (175) and Landon Hamper (190), and sixth-ranked senior Grayson Barnhill (120), all of whom are Class 1A state champions.

Gigliotti and Hamper are bound for the University of Maryland.

Gigliotti is chasing his school-record fourth straight Class 1A state championship to go with as many Carroll County and regional crowns. Hamper is after his third straight county and state titles, having finished second and first in the past two regional tournaments.

"The team is coming together really well," Gigliotti said. "We have a strong group of seniors who are pushing hard to repeat as both team and individual state champions. It's going to be a great year."

Also returning are seventh-ranked sophomore Jake Simione (113), seventh-ranked junior Davy Snyder (165) and eighth-ranked junior Brody Henry (138).

Top-ranked state champion junior Eli Gabrielson (126) has transferred to top-ranked Archbishop Spalding, which tied sixth-ranked Gilman for last year’s Maryland Independent Schools state championship.

"Jo Jo and Landon are committed to the University of Maryland," Bryan Hamper said. "Anthony and Grayson are currently undecided, but they are talking with multiple schools."

A three-time county and regional champion, Barnhill has placed second, first and fifth in the past three state tournaments. Known for his pinning prowess, Barnhill has 99 career falls.

"I'm really excited to be competing this year," Barnhill said. "Individually, I want to get my 100th career pin and to chase down another state title. As a team, we're trying to make it five straight dual meet championships."

Rodrigues returns after missing all of last season due to a back injury and having earned county, regional and state titles as a sophomore.

"I'm excited to be back on the mats after a year away," Rodrigues said. "We have a great group of seniors and some talented underclassmen who were looking to make their marks right away."

Henry has earned a pair of county and regional titles and placed fifth and fourth at states, Snyder is a two-time county champion who has placed first and fourth at regions and fifth and third at states, and Simione was first at counties, second at regions and third at states.

Seventh-ranked freshman Jacob Endzel (215) is among three incoming underclassmen who should make an impact, given his pedigree of having earned a combined nine junior league state titles. Freshman Quin Regnier (150) and sophomore Alexander Littler (157) are former junior league state place winners.

Hamper enters his 13th season during a career in which he has spent the other 13 years as an assistant with a cemented legacy as among Maryland's all-time greatest coaches. Hamper has personally guided 32 of South Carroll's Maryland public school-leading 45 individual state champion wrestlers.

A 2001 South Carroll graduate, Hamper was twice a state champion and twice placed fourth at the states. Hamper coached his alma mater to Class 2A-1A state tournament titles in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 before the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association ceased scoring the state tournament in 2018.

Having joined his father by becoming a two-time state champion for the Cavaliers, Landon Hamper can surpass his Dad by winning his third.

"My goals for this season are to win my third straight state title as well as leading our team to a five-peat in the state dual meet championships," Landon Hamper said. "As a senior this year, I've stepped into a bigger leadership role by setting an example with a high standard of dedication and determination in the room. I'm really excited about the team we have this year, and, especially about becoming the best role model I can be for my teammates. Go Cavs!"

Gigliotti and Rodrigues are also the sons of former state champions. Gigliotti's father, Anthony Gigliotti, is a former Class 4A-3A state champion at Sherwood in 1999.

Rodrigues' father, Tony was a private schools' state champion as 125-pound freshman at DeMatha Catholic High in Hyattsville, Maryland, of Prince George’s County in 1997, and a Class 4A-3A state title winner as a 125-pound sophomore at Seneca Valley High of Montgomery County in 1998.

Rodrigues' elder brother, A.J. Rodrigues was a three-time state champion at South Carroll before graduating in 2023, and elder sibling, Manny, a state runner-up as a sophomore in 2023.

"My goal this year as a senior on this team is to try to win another state title," Rodrigues said. "I also want to mentor the young kids on this team."

South Carroll’s Three-time State Champions

• Mike Chenoweth

• Michael Pizzuto

• AJ Rodrigues

• Joey Thomas

• Jamar Williams

• JoJo Gigliotti

South Carroll’s two-time state champions

• JoJo Gigliotti

• Bryan Hamper

• Cam Hobin

• Gage Owen

• Landon Hamper

South Carroll’s 41 individual state champions

1981- Hank Burke

1994- Mike Chenoweth

1995- Mike Chenoweth

1996- Charlie Conaway

1996- Mike Chenoweth

2000- Bryan Hamper

2001- Bryan Hamper

2004- Andrew Winfield

2004- Tim Ferguson

2005- Cam Hobin

2008- Cam Hobin

2008- Zac Stavish

2008- Tyler Mullen

2010- Sam Wright

2011- Chris Wampler

2012- Willie Reiter

2013- Steven Schmitz

2014- Jake Pooton

2015- Joey Thomas

2015- Tim Null

2015- Jamar Williams

2016- Joey Thomas

2016- Shane Conners

2016- Jamar Williams

2017- Joey Thomas

2017- Travis Crawford

2017- Jamar Williams

2020- Michael Pizzuto

2020- Gage Owen

2020- AJ Rodrigues

2022- Michael Pizzuto

2022- Gage Owen

2022- AJ Rodrigues

2023- JoJo Gigliotti

2023- Michael Pizzuto

2023- AJ Rodrigues

2023- Rylan Moose

2024- Grayson Barnhill

2024- JoJo Gigliotti

2024- Landon Hamper

2024- Anthony Rodrigues

2025 Eli Gabrielson

2025 JoJo Gigliotti

2025 Landon Hamper

2025 Evan Owen

Note: Bryan Hamper has been a head coach of five three-time champions Joey Thomas, Jamar Williams, AJ Rodrigues, Michael Pizzuto and JoJo Gigliotti. Hamper has coached Gage Owen and his son, Landon Hamper, to a pair of state titles, and individual title winners

Sam Wright, Chris Wampler, Willie Reiter, Steven Schmitz, Jake Pooton, Tim Null, Shane Conners, Travis Crawford, Rylan Moose, Grayson Barnhill, Landon Hamper, Anthony Rodrigues, Eli Gabrielson and Evan Owen. (32 Total Titles)