HAMPSTEAD — South Carroll and North Carroll usually don't face each other in wrestling until mid-January, when both squads are beginning to mold into postseason shape.
This year, the Cavaliers and Panthers met in their season opener. And SC began its march for a third straight state championship, beating NC 54-24.
But the rivals had different feelings about their performances.
"A lot of nerves coming into a big county match," said Cavs coach Bryan Hamper, who started five freshmen in his lineup. "Overall, we have a lot of work to be done. That effort right there is not going to win a state title. That effort right there might not win a county title. I believe we have the guys to do it, they've just got to look in the mirror and have a little bit better effort.
"I felt like we either came in here a little bit flat, or we didn't take this match as seriously as we should have. North Carroll is always a tough opponent, they're always going to bring their 'A' game against us, and we've got a target on our back right now."
The Panthers had a 21-18 lead after seven bouts, thanks to a pin from senior Connor Waskiewicz at 145 pounds. That's when South Carroll opened things up — the Cavaliers reeled off six consecutive wins, five pins and one forfeit, and went ahead 54-21. Shane Conners (152), Jamar Williams (160), Patrick Kelly (170), Carlo Grasso (182), and Talmadge Eller (195) each posted pins during SC's run.
Joey Thomas (113), Tom Boldosser (132), and Jake Mackenzie (138) also had pins for the Cavs, but Boldosser echoed his coach's feelings about the match.
"I think we did pretty well, we got the win," said Boldosser, a senior who placed fifth at states a year ago. "There's definitely things we can work on as a team though. We have some tough competition coming this weekend [so] we need to get going a little bit."
South Carroll heads to a tournament at Oakdale while North Carroll co-hosts the Bauerlein Duals with Manchester Valley. But NC coach Brent Goretsas wasn't upset with the Panthers' performance at this stage of the season.
Like Hamper, Goretsas is already utilizing his underclassmen.
"I'm much happier than I thought [I would be]," Goretsas said. "We have a whole lot of kids with just too much inexperience, and most of them did great."
The coach praised junior Jammie Mazza for hanging with Kelly until the Cavs senior flipped him for his pin. Plus, the Panthers opened the match with pins from Liam Pence (106) and Zack Uddin (120), and a 3-1 win from senior Aaron Nelson (126) over Cam Werner. Pence is one of many sophomores on North Carroll's roster.
"We've got to be realistic," Goretsas said. "I'm definitely more [pleased] than what I thought."
The Cavaliers started last year with an 0-4 duals record before righting themselves. They won 20 straight, gaining mat experience along the way, and steamed into the championship meets with more than enough confidence to win county, region, and state crowns.
This year's bunch might have the talent to make another run, but Boldosser said it's going to take time for them to mesh and the younger wrestlers to adjust to the high school level.
"It is different," he said. "If we all work on it and give it time, we'll be pretty good. It's always exciting to see how the younger kids are doing, because they're the ones who are going to carry on the team once you leave."
106: Liam Pence (NC) pin Evan Hock 1:51.
113: Joey Thomas (SC) pin CJ Styk 0:53.
120: Zach Uddin (NC) pin Grayson Eller 3:35.
126: Aaron Nelson (NC) dec. Cam Werner 3-1.
132: Tom Boldosser (SC) pin Hunter Hernandez 1:38.
138: Jake Mackenzie (SC) pin Nik Gordon 4:49.
145: Connor Waskiewicz (NC) pin Joey Judson 3:15.
152: Shane Conners (SC) pin DJ Ackermann 1:04.
160: Jamar Williams (SC) pin Ian Chapman 0:30.
170: Patrick Kelly (SC) pin Jammie Mazza 2:43.
182: Carlo Grasso (SC) pin Robbie Reightler 0:30.
195: Talmadge Eller (SC) pin Jake Van Horn 0:56.
220: Doug Summerlin (SC) by forfeit.
285: Harrison Walsh (NC) dec. Jason Money 5-3.
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