U14 Team MD Shines in Greco

Maryland’s 14U National Team made the Southward trek to the National Duals in Wesley Chapel, FL. The mats started cooking on Tuesday morning with the early rounds of Pool Action that concluded in the afternoon with the Pool Finals.

Maryland’s Greco Roman team was assigned to Pool B and stormed through their side of the bracket with wins over Illinois, 47-25, in the semifinals, and North Carlina Blue in the quarterfinals with a 48-26 result. This set our local heroes up with Missouri to determine the winner of their pool.

THE FINAL DEAL WITH MISSOURI

Team Maryland enjoyed its easiest triumph of the day as they cruised to a 57-18 win that concluded with a seven-match win streak and a stretch where they won 11 of 13 matches.

“I thought the Kids wrestled extremely well in the final against Missouri,” said 14U Head Coach Jason Kiessling. “I thought we matched up well with them. We knew where they were strong and it just so happened we were strong in those weights as well. Great Team win!”

It wasn’t as easy as it may sound with a few of our guys mounting comebacks to gain their glory in the Missouri match. At 96 pounds, Caleb Tsikerdanos (ranked 9th nationally at 85 pounds in MatScouts MS Rankings) picked up the first of the final seven wins with an 11-0 technical fall in 2:44.

Next up was Edward Encarnacion III at 100 pounds and he found himself holding a slight lead versus Silas Sperry, 5-4, at the end of the first period. Encarnacion allowed four points late in that frame and Speery kept on the offensive, taking the lead on a throw plus exposure points to go up, 8-5.

Both grapplers were locking up and looking for a toss when Encarnacion won that battle and put Sperry to his back and ended up gaining the fall (a review confirmed Sperry was indeed, inbounds).

At 105 pounds, Logan Brickley pulled out some late magic to cap off his turning of the tables with a fall against Jacobie Robbins. Brickley was losing 6-4 with 16 seconds left when he hit Robbins with a headlock, which led to a planting in 3:57.

Three tech falls in that final run along with a 6-3 win from Leo Wheeler at 115 polished the victory off in style. The techs were posted by Logan Noonan (110), Esaias Perez (120), and Justin Wildy, Jr. (126). Perez is currently rated 7th at 105 pounds in those MS rankings, which haven’t been updated in months.

The two squads split the first four bouts to come to a 10-9 score in favor of Maryland. In the Olympic Style Duals, a team can lose a match and still gain a team point if their wrestler scored in a match that didn’t end with a pin. Pins/foreits are worth five points, a tech is four, and a decision is still three.

Brody Clemons won by a 10-1 tech to open at 132 pounds and Logan Hartzell followed that up with a 35 second fall at 140. Missouri took the next two (155 and 175), before Maryland saw Luca Wynn gain a tech at 225 pounds and Carter Townsend stick his foe with an arm bar at 75 pounds.

Declan Solito was up 3-0 on No. 2 at 70 pounds, Billy Roberts, in their 80-pound match before his rival stormed back to hand him a 7-5 loss. Ethan Encarnacion (84 pounds) and No. 2 Korbin Kiessling (88) pushed the Maryland lead to 27-12. Encarnacion came out on smoke and put away Trace Core in 57 seconds with an 8-0 tech.

Kiessling was in control of his bout with Cayden Mango and hit a slick Japanese Whizzer at one point and tried it again later to no avail but added two more on a spin behind to raise his final score to 5-0.

Luke Briggs’ 92-pound match had a bonkers ending that was overturned on review. Kasen Karl (No. 5 at 85 pounds) was winning 5-4 as the seconds ticked off the clock when it appeared Brickley had pulled off a spin behind, or was it? Upon review, the two points were rescinded, and Karl was declared the victor.

Picking up two wins in the first two matches were Ethan Encarnacion, Kiessling, Briggs, Tsikerdanos, Brickley, Perez, and Wildy, Jr., Jayden Carter (155 pounds), and Wynn.

Solo wins versus Illinois were posted by Billy Tracey (80 pounds) and Edward Encarnacion. Encarnacion was tripped up, 7-5, by North Carolina’s Timothy Little in the opening round for Maryland. Singular wins gained against NC Blue were put forth by Townsend, Solito, and Clemons.

“Winning the pool is pretty special,” remarked Kiessling. “We knew this team had some serious potential and brought a ton of international style experience with it. We had very high hopes for this team and it’s cool to see it come to fruition. Job isn't done yet. We want to climb to the top. We told the kids during training that we had to come down here with the attitude that they are the best. Now it’s just up to them to keep proving it to themselves.”

ONE DOSE OF GOLD FOR THE NIGHT

Before they could rest their bones for the day, there was one final conquest. After being assigned to Pool B of the Gold/Silver Series, the Marylanders tangled with Pennsylvania Blue in the first round and were engrossed in wild dual that came down to the final whistle.

Maryland peeled off three straight wins twice during the dual with the first coming while they were in a 10-4 hole following back-to-back losses at 80 and 84 pounds. Townsend shocked the PA bench when he edged No. 3 at 70 pounds, Brock Taylor, 7-6, in the opening match at 75 pounds.

Joey Myers handled Tracey (80) and No. 8 Liam Reeves stuck Ethan Encarnacion in 3:45. Kiessling changed the flow for Maryland when he used a chin wrap to deck Maddox Plambeck in 1:45. Briggs and Tsikerdanos used shutout tech falls of 8-0 and 9-0 respectively to place Maryland back out front, 17-10.

Edward Encarnacion met a determined Nathan Kasak and returned from his 100-pound expedition reeling from an 8-0 tech. Brickley sent another ripple across the PA faithful when he left No. 9 at 100 pounds, Ryder Ascherl, holding a 5-1 loss at 105. Brickley built a 3-0 lead and never looked back.

Consecutive wins from PA (110 and 115) gave them a one-point edge (22-21) as Maryland started its next winning streak when Perez received a forfeit at 120. Wildy, Jr. snuffed out Hunter Kapitula in 35 seconds with a Hang Man at 126 pounds. Clemons provided a comeback win to give his squad a boost heading into the final bouts.

Clemons was trailing 6-4 while working a doble underhook when he was able to secure a takedown with about 30 seconds left. Clemons had the criteria but set that aside when he hit a Shrug-by for two with five seconds on the clock for an 8-6 decision.

At the worst possible time, Pennsylvania decided to go on a run and swept the next three bouts to leave us at a 35-35 tie with the heavyweights representing the final hopes. A tech, pin, and decision left us with the big boys deciding it.

Wynn did his best to hang, but Benjamin Corvin was a bigger rival, and his size difference was pivotal as he picked up most of his points on step outs. There was some offense from Corvin and only two step out points for Wynn that led to a heartbreaking, 8-2, match score, and a 38-36 PA team victory.

“I thought some of our guys wrestled with too much respect and took a back seat right off the "rip" in their matches,” observed Kiessling. “I think there is a mindset problem not just on our team but the way many people think about Pennsylvania. While I have all the respect for PA and how good they are, many people put that tradition in their brain, and it cripples performance.

“I told our guys after the match that they have got to always believe they are the best. I think that’s what the best guys are able to do. They don’t think they are going to lose. Unfortunately, today we had some guys already going into the match for whatever reason with a mindset already defeated.”

“With all that said we did have some good performances and some big-time wins. Carter Townsend started it off with a bang beating a very good wrestler (proud of him)!! Korbin answering back with a pin after we got pinned was good for morale during the dual and gave us some momentum with Caleb Tsikerdanos at 96 getting the tech, then Logan Brickley getting a big win over a tough opponent. JJ Wildy with big win was another exciting moment. Jayden Carter fought a really good kid and didn’t give up bonus points was huge!!! That kept us in the fight. Brody Clemons got a big win as well that kept us in the fight.”

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Maryland is not out of title contention just yet. Crazy ties happen all the time as these pools play out. They will face Washington in tomorrow’s first match and then conclude their pool activity with California Gold. Simply put, win those two and hope PA Blue gets beaten by one of the others, then see if a tiebreaker favors them.

If Maryland and PA blue win out, that would leave our boys wrestling for third. A second loss would relegate them to the fifth-place match. Lose two and they would go for seventh.

CA Gold defeated Washington in their opening round of the Gold Tier. CA Gold were the winners of their original pool. Pennsylvania Blue was second in their original pool after losing to Minnesota, who is situated in Pool A.

There are two pools containing four teams each in the Gold Bracket (1st & 2nd place teams from the four original pools). Our young bucks made it to the big stage! At the very worst, they are top eight in the nation. Tomorrow their final landing spot will be determined.

14U Greco-Roman Duals - Pool B: Missouri vs. Maryland

132

Brody Clemons, MARY over Bennett Seward, MISS (TF 10-1 (2:49) )

140

Logan Hartzell, MARY over Adam Sullivan, MISS (F 0:35 )

155

Clayton Chiles, MISS over Jayden Carter, MARY (TF 14-5 (2:17) )

175

Kody Doran, MISS over Nate Hart, MARY (TF 8-0 (0:27) )

225

Luca Wynn, MARY over James Johnston, MISS (TF 8-0 (0:30) )

75

Carter Townsend, MARY over Emerson Euliss, MISS (F 0:45 )

80

Billy Roberts, MISS over Declan Solito, MARY (Dec 7-5 )

84

Ethan Encarnacion, MARY over Trace Core, MISS (TF 8-0 (0:57) )

88

Korbin Kiessling, MARY over Cayden Mango, MISS (Dec 5-0 )

92

Kasen Karl, MISS over Luke Briggs, MARY (Dec 5-4 )

96

Caleb Tsikerdanos, MARY over Simon Sperry, MISS (TF 11-0 (2:44) )

100

Edward Encarnacion III, MARY over Silas Sperry, MISS (F 3:19 )

105

Logan Brickley, MARY over Jacobie Robbins, MISS (F 3:54 )

110

Logan Noonan, MARY over Laydon Knox, MISS (TF 9-1 (2:35))

115

Leo Wheeler, MARY over Hayden Wilson, MISS (Dec 6-3 )

120

Esaias Perez, MARY over Hawk Smith, MISS (TF 8-0 (0:31) )

126

Justin Wildy, Jr., MARY over Colt Frazier, MISS (TF 12-4 (1:03) )

Final Score 57-18

14U Greco-Roman Duals - Pool B: Illinois vs. Maryland

Dual

Weight Summary

120

Esaias Perez, MARY over Colton Zabinski, ILLI (TF 8-0 (0:58) )

126

Justin Wildy, Jr., MARY over William Zapf, ILLI (TF 9-0 (3:25) )

132

Kardiais Richardson, ILLI over Brody Clemons, MARY (TF 10-0 (1:13) )

140

Josiah Holmes, ILLI over Logan Hartzell, MARY (TF 8-0 (1:33))

155

Jayden Carter, MARY over Nicholas Kelleher, ILLI (TF 12-0 (2:39) )

175

Macklin Holford, ILLI over Nate Hart, MARY (F 1:35 )

225

Luca Wynn, MARY over Cailyn Robinson, ILLI (TF 8-0 (1:07) )

75

Greyson Goodwin, ILLI over Carter Townsend, MARY (Dec 3-2 )

80

Billy Tracey, MARY over Joshua Strode, ILLI (TF 10-1 (3:16) )

84

Ethan Encarnacion, MARY over Makai Steele, ILLI (Dec 4-1 )

88

Korbin Kiessling, MARY over Caden St Angelo, ILLI (F 1:32 )

92

Luke Briggs, MARY over Luke Sponsel, ILLI (TF 11-0 (2:42) )

96

Caleb Tsikerdanos, MARY over Kaden Joustra, ILLI (F 2:55 )

100

Edward Encarnacion III, MARY over Lazo Lovelace, ILLI (TF 8-0 (2:36) )

105

Logan Brickley, MARY over Zephaniah Powell, ILLI (Dec 3-2 )

110

Calvin Babcock, ILLI over Logan Noonan, MARY (Dec 4-1 )

115

Collin Haake, ILLI over Leo Wheeler, MARY (Dec 7-7 )

Final Score 47-25

14U Greco-Roman Duals - Pool B: North Carolina Blue vs. Maryland

Dual

Weight Summary

110

Abram Whitaker, NCB over Logan Noonan, MARY (F 0:46 )

115

Emmett Williams, NCB over Leo Wheeler, MARY (TF 12-3 (3:26) )

120

Esaias Perez, MARY over Yajpov Lor, NCB (TF 10-0 (0:31) )

126

Justin Wildy, Jr., MARY over Ethan Halstead, NCB (TF 10-2 (1:53) )

132

Brody Clemons, MARY over Bentley Weaver, NCB (Dec 23-21 )

140

William Moorehead, NCB over Logan Hartzell, MARY (TF 15-6 (2:56) )

155

Jayden Carter, MARY over Oscar Burleson, NCB (F 1:02 )

175

Mason Van Ness, NCB over Nate Hart, MARY (F 2:13 )

225

Luca Wynn, MARY over Clayton Dunlap, NCB (TF 8-0 (0:14) )

75

Carter Townsend, MARY over Jackson Wells, NCB (TF 10-0 (1:14) )

80

Declan Solito, MARY over Brooks Gilson, NCB (Dec 7-4 )

84

Ethan Encarnacion, MARY over Alex Strobl, NCB (TF 8-0 (1:11) )

88

Korbin Kiessling, MARY over Kiyan Bassiri, NCB (TF 9-0 (0:21) )

92

Luke Briggs, MARY over Benex Velasco, NCB (Dec 7-5 )

96

Caleb Tsikerdanos, MARY over Lukas Cala, NCB (Dec 7-7 )

100

Timothy Little, NCB over Edward Encarnacion III, MARY (Dec 7-5 )

105

Logan Brickley, MARY over Dalton Boehning, NCB (TF 8-0 (0:22) )

Final Score 48-26

14U Greco-Roman Duals - Gold/Silver: Maryland vs. Pennsylvania Blue

Dual

Weight Summary

75

Carter Townsend, MARY over Brock Taylor, PEBL (Dec 7-6 )

80

Joey Myers, PEBL over Billy Tracey, MARY (TF 10-2 (2:21) )

84

Liam Reeves, PEBL over Ethan Encarnacion, MARY (F 3:45 )

88

Korbin Kiessling, MARY over Maddox Plambeck, PEBL (F 1:45 )

92

Luke Briggs, MARY over Marco Plasner, PEBL (TF 8-0 (1:25) )

96

Caleb Tsikerdanos, MARY over Geno Carpino, PEBL (TF 9-0 (3:29) )

100

Nathan Kasak, PEBL over Edward Encarnacion III, MARY (TF 8-0 (3:09) )

105

Logan Brickley, MARY over Ryder Ascherl, PEBL (Dec 5-1 )

110

Evan Becker, PEBL over Logan Noonan, MARY (Dec 11-7 )

115

Brody Brown, PEBL over Leo Wheeler, MARY (TF 8-0 (1:20) )

120

Esaias Perez, MARY over Forfeit, PEBL (FF)

126

Justin Wildy, Jr., MARY over Hunter Kapitula, PEBL (F 0:35 )

132

Brody Clemons, MARY over Blake Kirby, PEBL (Dec 8-6 )

140

Cameron Lewis, PEBL over Logan Hartzell, MARY (TF 9-1 (2:18) )

155

Michael Brady, PEBL over Jayden Carter, MARY (Dec 6-0 )

175

Alan Radjabov, PEBL over Nate Hart, MARY (F 1:58 )

225

Benjamin Corvin, PEBL over Luca Wynn, MARY (Dec 8-2)

Final Score 38-36