Wrestling: The poll
1. Archbishop Spalding
Coach: Mike Laidley Last season: 18-4, ranked No. 10
Postseason: Third, Maryland Independent Schools state tournament
Outlook: Six strong competitors return to this year's squad, including MIAA champion and MIS place-winning seniors Cole Gallagher (112 pounds) and Charlie Lynch (145), who were MIAA and MIS titlists.
2. St. Paul's
Coach: Jay Braunstein Last season: 16-2, unranked
Postseason: Sixth, MIS
Outlook: The MIAA B Conference Crusaders had a fantastic season last year with three sophomores — Eric Friedman (119), Pete Galli (130) and Brad Mutchnik (145) — each winning state titles. Friedman and Galli return ranked in the top 10 nationally by Wrestling USA.
3. McDonogh
Coach: Pete Welch Last season: 20-9, No. 4
Postseason: Tied for fourth, MIS
Outlook: The Eagles have 10 returning starters, including Mitch Bode (145) and Max Sataloff (152), who were among their state place-winners. Jack Clark is projected as the best 125-pound wrestler in the state.
4. Glenelg
Coach: Christopher Rosas Last season: 24-3, No. 3
Postseason: Class 2A-1A state dual-meet champion; 2A-1A state runner-up
Outlook: Rosas, who moves up from the junior varsity, will be assisted by Rob Bowman, who was coach at Glenelg from 2001 to 2006. The Gladiators have five returning starters, including four seniors: Ryan Carter (112), Nick Caffrey (130), Jack Borkowski (145) and David Pruett (171).
5. Mount St. Joseph
Coach: Paul Triplett Last season: 15-0, No. 1
Postseason: MIS champion
Outlook: The two-time defending MIS champion Gaels go for three straight and another No. 1 ranking. Among those returning are senior anchors Kevin Johnson (125) and Brady Massaro (145) and junior Tyler Rill (160).
6. Archbishop Curley
Coach: Gregg Kessler Last season: 16-3, No. 11
Postseason: Ninth, MIS
Outlook: The Friars have a strong returning cast that includes state place-winners Brett Przywara (135), Avery Williams (189) and Vince Scarinzi (112).
7. Owings Mills
Coach: Guy Pritzker Last season: 21-1, No. 9
Postseason: Baltimore County, 2A-1A North regional and regional dual-meet champs
Outlook: The Golden Eagles' success rides on three regional champs: sophomore Demetrius Johnson (135), junior Taran Carr (152) and senior Larry Johnson (160).
8. Old Mill
Coach: Dan Youngblood Last season: 23-9, No. 15
Postseason: 13th, Class 4A-3A state tournament
Outlook: Two-time state champion Ron Vaughters (152) and state runner-up Salaman Riddell (145) provide the nucleus for the Anne Arundel County tournament champion.
9. Loyola
Coach: Steve Truitt Last season: 21-6, No. 12
Postseason: Tied for fourth, MIS
Outlook: The Dons will be tough in the lower weight classes with sophomore David Mohler (37-9, second in MIAA, fourth in MIS at 103) returning along with 135-pound sophomore Conan Schuster (35-13), 125-pound junior Ben Smist (27-12) and 152-pound junior Joe Moreno (26-16).
10. John Carroll
Coach: Keith Watson Last season: 21-2, No. 6
Postseason: Eighth, MIS
Outlook: The Patriots return two state champions in Scott Strappellli (112) and Mathew Miller (152) and two All-Americans in Miller and George Weber (125-130). All three are nationally ranked by Wrestling USA.
11. Reservoir
Coach: Andy McIntyre Last season: 20-2, No. 2
Postseason: Class 4A-3A state dual-meet and team champion
Outlook: Under the guidance of coach Ryan Kanaskie, the Gators came from nowhere to claim twin state titles. Now Kanaskie is gone and his assistant of seven years, McIntyre, will try to repeat the feat. State champion Mark Colabucci (145) is among five returning with varsity experience.
12. Bel Air
Coach: Craig Reddish Last season: 24-5, No. 7
Postseason: Class 2A-1A state dual-meet champion
Outlook: Bel Air graduated nine from last year's championship squad but eight return, including 119-pound junior Jeff Taylor (44-3), 189-pound senior Tom Kuegler (41-7) and 145-pound senior Steve Cross (36-8).
13. Winters Mill
Coach: John Lowe Last season: 10-1, No. 5
Postseason: Third, Class 2A-1A state tournament
Outlook: Senior Justin Kozera is the strong man on this team, returning as the 285-pound state champ and ranked 16th nationally by W.I.N. Magazine.
14. Carver
Coach: Shawn Girch Last season: 26-3, unranked
Postseason: 23rd, Class 2A-1A state tournament
Outlook: Girch is a graduate of the 2002 undefeated Mount Hebron program. Among those returning are 140-pound wrestler Tyler Hinton (third at states last year), Kristopher Hinton (152-160), Antonio Brockington (103) and Brandon Gibson (125).
15. South Carroll
Coach: Bryan Hamper Last season: 20-2, No. 8
Postseason: Sixth, Class 2A-1A state tournament
Outlook: Hamper has eight starters back from the Carroll County and regional dual-meet champion team. The Cavaliers will depend on senior Chris Wampler (119-125), who was third at states last year, and junior Willie Reiter (160-171), who was fifth at states.
Other considered: Arundel (18-5), Catonsville (12-2), Century (16-6), Harford Tech (19-7), Liberty (19-5), North County (20-6), River Hill (26-10), Wilde Lake (26-9)