Boys' Latin wrestling coach Drew Haugh gets enthusiastic at the start of every new season, but he approached the 2014-15 campaign with some trepidation.
Something unexpected happened.
"I had three starters from last year quit," Haugh said. "They quit because of lacrosse or to take a season off from football or they just wanted to do something else in the winter. I was like, 'We are going to have a couple of holes here, a couple of holes there.' "
Fortunately for Haugh, he had more depth than he realized. Enough depth that it's allowing him to field a full lineup for the first time in a decade.
The coach was thrilled that he didn't have to forfeit some matches like he has done in recent years.
"It's exciting because I thought we were going to be depleted," Haugh said. "It means we can really juggle our lineup. We not only have a full lineup, but we have depth. If we have a couple of guys that don't make weight, are sick or have some injuries, we have guys we can stick in there and fill the gap."
The Lakers built their lineup built around some wrestlers who excelled in the postseason.
Boys' Latin returned eight starters, including junior Kahlan Lee-Lerner (138 pounds), twins Nate (152) and Nick (120) Malinowski, who are juniors and senior Rocco Bruno (182).
"We are not necessarily a wrestling mecca," Haugh said. "We will be a good tournament team by far. We have five or six guys that can be among the top three in their weight division. We showed that in the Parkville (Knightmare Invitational) tournament, where we finished third out of 21 teams."
Lee-Lerner is the most highly regarded wrestler of the Lakers' returning starters.
He went 41-7 last year, won the Knightmare and Overlea invitationals and finished third in both the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference tournament and Maryland Independent Schools state tournament.
He's 5-1 this year, placing second in the Knightmare Invitational.
"Kahlan is our most passionate wrestler and he had the best record on the team last year," Haugh said. "He thinks he can win it all in the MIAA. He wrestles year round now, goes to camps and wrestled in Fargo, North Dakota for Team Maryland."
The Malinowski twins used to wrestle in similar weight classes, but the difference between the two becomes more apparent each year.
Nick is 7-1 this year and Nate 4-2.
"Nate has really hit a growth spurt, where now he is 152 pounds," Haugh said.
Of the two, Nick had a better year last season, going 38-11 at 113 while winning the Overlea and Parkville tournaments and placing fourth in MIAAs and sixth in states.
"Nick has always been real focused on wrestling," Haugh said.
Nate posted a 24-13 record last winter at 138. He finished first in the Overlea Invitational and eighth in states.
"He is fearless," Haugh said. "I think he is much more into it this year than years past. He really wants to do well this season."
Bruno's accomplishments also impress Haugh.
He won 34 matches last year, took third in both the Overlea and Parkville tournaments while placing fifth in states.
"Nothing bothers Rocco in a match," Haugh said. "He doesn't get too high or too low."
The Lakers' lineup also includes returning starters Anthony Wyler (160, 7-1), Koby Russell (132), Evan Gaines (145) and Haugh's son Colton (145).
Brian North (285), Jamie Rice (113), Brandon Kagen (106) and Joe Santangello (195) complete the starting lineup.
"This year, we are a lot more focused and determined," Bruno said. "Other years, we haven't been as good in the lower weights. A lot of guys have matured and we are just getting better and better."
The Lakers are off to an impressive start in dual meets. They beat Mount Carmel, 48-30, and routed Friends, 55-15, and Gilman, 60-18.
Wyler, Bruno, Santangello, Lee-Lerner, Nate Malinowski, Russell, Gaines, Kagen and Rice all recorded pins in the Gilman match.
"You have to give credit to Boys' Latin," Gilman coach Bryn Holmes said. "Their guys stepped up when they needed pins and won the matches when they were close."