With eight new starters, Perry Hall wrestling coach Jake Roche wasn't sure what to expect from his team. “It’s eight guys who haven’t had varsity mat time for the most part,” Roche said.
That is changing in a hurry, and the early results are impressive. After finishing second in the 23-team Knightmare Invitational at Parkville High School and thumping Towson (64-15), Perry Hall overpowered Dulaney Thursday night, 54-13.
Perry Hall received pins from Ronald Hernandez (113 pounds), Brent Newcomer (120), Camryn Grindle (132), Nick Georgopolis (145), Manual Anagosoto (160) and Ko’ran Pinson (182).
“I was surprised at how good Perry Hall looked,” Dulaney coach Desi McNelis said. “They were strong, aggressive and physical. We weren’t as aggressive. We were a little sloppy. We might not have been ready. We have got some things to work on.”
Perry Hall took the first seven bouts for a 36-0 lead.
Pinson, a senior, got the Gators rolling in the first bout with a pin of Soman Kahn in 4:26.
After Dan Ertel scored a 5-2 decision over Andy Wall at 195 and Kyle Pennewell beat Tom Pettinelli, 6-1, at 182, heavyweight Musafar Butt and Marquis Smith (106) were benefactors of forfeits to push Perry Hall’s lead to 24-0.
Hernandez had the quickest pin of the night in the sixth match, decking Mike Myers in 29 seconds.
Newcomer (5-0), a county and regional champ last year, then pinned Eddie DiNardo in 5:47.
Malik Kassim ended Dulaney’s drought with a 2-0 decision over Tyler Klein to trim the advantage to 36-3.
“I have a team that is balanced, but not super experienced,” McNelis said.
Dulaney and Perry Hall split the next four bouts before the Gators registered their last pin.
Anagosoto finished Tyler Blanton off in 2:58.
One of the best matches came at 170. Dulaney senior Sean Hoffman, who has a 108 career wins and was a regional champion last year, won his battle 4-3 over senior James Hairston.
Hoffman led 2-1 in the middle of the second period and made it 4-1 on a takedown late in the stanza. He held on for the victory despite Hairston getting two points in the final period on stalling calls.
"A majority of our kids started wrestling when they were freshmen," Roche said. "Now, it's time for them to step up as juniors and seniors."