2009-2010 high school wrestling previews

Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009

Calvert

Head coach: Jeff Fowler (first season)

Last season: 15-5, 8-4 (fifth in SMAC)

Athletes to watch: 135 Paul

Johnson (So., All-County), 140 A.J. Moran (So., All-County), 145 Charles Hibbard (Sr.), 189 A.J. Armiger (So., All-County), 275 Jordan Bisser (Jr.)

Key personnel losses: 145 Lucas Hornick (All-County), 145 Johnny Denton (All-County), 160 Patrick Berry (All-County)

Strengths: Fowler likes his team's upperweights – from 145 pounds and higher - and said they are as solid as anyone's. His younger wrestlers are a year older so they have another year of experience and Fowler said Armiger is "poised to have an incredible year."

Though Fowler was out of the county the last few years, he still has extensive knowledge of the county teams and the conference and has been a fixture so there shouldn't be any growing pains usually associated with a new coach.

Moran claimed the Patriot Classic championship and added a third-place finish at the SMAC tournament his first year. Most likely his goals are much loftier this season.

Weaknesses: Working on endurance will be a focal point as the season opener comes into view. Fowler admitted the Cavaliers are lacking for a few lightweights and need to plug up some holes so he said he may go scout the hallways of the school for a few additions to his roster. Replacing Denton's 35 wins or Hornick's leadership from a year ago won't be easy nor will the loss of SMAC champion Berry.

Coach comments: "We need to be consistent week in and week out and stay healthy and just wrestling hard. If we do that, then things will be good for us. I'd like to win SMAC; I think that should be everyone's goal every year. We certainly have the talent enough to compete."

Key matches: Jan. 12 vs. Westlake at Patuxent; Feb. 2 vs. Northern

Michael Reid

Huntingtown

Head coach: Terry Green (sixth season, All-County COY)

Last year: 14-3, 10-2 (second in SMAC)

Athletes to watch: 125 Chris

Redding (Sr.), 135 Joey Rice (Jr.),

171 Hunter Rowe (Sr.), 275 Sammy Murphy (Sr., All-County)

Key personnel losses: 125 Tommy George (All-County), 130 Markus

Jarboe (All-County), 140 Danny

Hayden (All-County), 189 Peter Athens (All-County), 215 David Young (All-County)

Strengths: The Hurricanes are working hard and they're working together and after staggering losses that need to be refilled that is very important.

Green admitted there are no powerhouses on his team this season but they are getting better and the talent they do have is spread throughout the lineup, unlike previous seasons when the talent was bunched up.

Huntingtown is fairly solid at the higher weights with Murphy (17-10, sixth at Class 4A-3A South regionals) a good anchor and point producer.

Weaknesses: Huntingtown lost 75 wins with the graduation of Jarboe, Athens and George and replacing those victories will create more pressure for seasoned grapplers like Rice, Rowe and Murphy.

Green said he has a few new wrestlers at 103 to 112 and said his main directive this season will be to keep his wrestlers on the team, eligible to compete, healthy and positive so they will head in the right direction.

Coach's comments: "I'd like to get back to the regional duals. We also had a place-winner last year at states so I'd like to get a couple guys back there. I think it's the uncontrollables as coach; how to keep people working hard and how to get the most out of them as we can and keep a positive attitude through the entire season."

Key matches: Dec. 8 vs. Westlake and Huntingtown; Jan. 28 at Patuxent

Michael Reid

Northern

Head coach: Matt Smith (fourth season)

Last year: 9-10, 4-8 (eighth in SMAC)

Athletes to watch: 119 Quentin Leadbeter (Sr., All-SMAC MOP, All-County), 112 Eric Stubblefield (Sr.,

All-SMAC, All-County), 130 Randolph Clark (Sr.), 140 Eric Hoffman (Fr.)

Key personnel losses: 152 Jeff Williams (All-SMAC, All-County POY)

Strengths: Smith and his Patriots are ready for the season and pointed that the lower weight classes bring back experience and will be able to compete with anyone in the state.

With addition of freshman sensation Hoffman, Northern will have an array of talent that can make noise this winter. Leadbeter, Stubblefield and Clark will provide senior leadership to the younger guys and can help teach them how to handle high-level situations on the mat.

Weaknesses: According to Smith, the wrestlers in the higher weight classes will have to compete if Northern are going to be one of the top contenders in the state.

With a lot of experience the Patriots should have no problem being really competitive on the mat, while the younger guys will continue to develop as the season goes on.

Filling the void at the 152 spot with the loss of state champion Williams will be challenging, but with good up-and-coming wrestlers, the Patriots can possess a lot of potential on the mat.

Coach's comments: "Our goal is to get better every match. We just want to be competitive and make sure win or lose that when our wrestlers' opponent steps off the mat we want them to be like, ‘Wow that was a tough match."'

Key matches: Dec. 4 at Patuxent duals tournament, Dec. 8 vs. Huntingtown/Westlake

AJ MASON

Patuxent

Head coach: Mike Bartley (third season)

Last season: 13-8, 6-6 (sixth in SMAC)

Athletes to watch: Zack Pilkington (So.), Mason Mills (Sr., All-County).

Key personnel losses: 112 Josh Barrett (Sr., All-County), 171 Randy Farrell (All-County).

Strengths: Not available.

Weaknesses: The Panthers are extremely inexperienced at the varsity level. Losing Barrett (31-6, state qualifier) and Farrell (39-6, SMAC champion) will be tough and extremely difficult to replace.

Coach comments: "[We want] to work hard every day and exceed the level of expectations to rank up with the best teams in the SMAC and the state."

Key matches: Dec. 15 at Northern; Jan. 5 at La Plata; Jan. 12 vs. Westlake at Calvert

Michael Reid