When Ryker Eckenbarger was a freshman on Westminster's wrestling team, he and teammate Cole Wetzel got tapped by athletic director Terry Molloy as "franchise players" for the Owls.
Four seasons later, some things have changed. Westminster has a new coach. Wetzel moved out of state.
But Eckenbarger remains one of the Owls' best, and he's on pace to become Westminster's all-time wins leader before his senior year comes to an end.
The 126-pounder is 27-1 after winning 10 matches at the Duals at Westminster, a two-day event that concluded Wednesday. With 12 teams and 10 rounds, Westminster hosted 120 dual meets and more than 700 matches each day. So the wrestlers involved get plenty of action and sometimes face top-notch opponents.
Case in point: When Westminster faced La Plata on Wednesday morning, Eckenbarger squared off with senior Cameron Butler, one of the state's top-ranked wrestlers at 126 and who is committed to Clarion University next year.
Eckenbarger opened things up in the second and third periods, keeping Butler on the defensive and pulling away for a 15-7 victory. That gave him career win No. 124, five shy of tying Bobby Biden for the most in Owls history.
"I like to go out there with the same thought, go out and wrestle my style, dominate physically," Eckenbarger said. "Just be mentally tougher and just get after it more. I feel good. I jumped up two weight classes and I'm feeling strong."
As a junior at 113 pounds, Eckenbarger placed second at the county tournament, second at the Class 4A-3A North Region tourney, and fifth at the 4A-3A state tourney. Room for improvement, which is why the team captain said he likes participating in events like the Duals at Westminster.
"I think it's a good opportunity, because we see a lot of teams we normally wouldn't, and a lot tougher competition than the normal season [gives us]," he said. "That's good because you can get a feel of where you're at and where you need to be to progress. It's always nice wrestling at home, too."
Liberty, Manchester Valley, and South Carroll joined Westminster as Carroll's entrants, and the reigning 2A-1A state champion Cavaliers finished atop the team standings at 10-0.
Westminster was second at 9-1, followed by Dunbar (8-2), Franklin (7-3), and Franklin (6-4). Liberty was seventh (4-6), and Man Valley took 10th (3-7). SC's Jamar Williams (160 pounds) earned Most Outstanding Wrestler for 152-285; Eckenbarger took MOW honors for 106-145.
Eckenbarger dropped his first match of the season to North Hagerstown's Brian Stuart, who won a 4A-3A state crown at 113 last season. He hasn't lost since, and Owls coach Mike Flemming said having Eckenbarger as one of the team leaders has been a huge plus.
"He's the kind of kid that all coaches want to have in their room. He inspires other kids," Flemming said. "Ryker is an exceptional young man. He's a consummate team leader. I couldn't have asked for anything better in a team captain. It is his team. He leads by example on the mat, in the classroom, anywhere that you ask him to. He's that kid."
Eckenbarger has a chance to tie Biden's wins record Jan. 7 when the Owls visit North County, and surpass the four-time county champ Jan. 13, at home against Francis Scott Key.
"It is in the back of my head, but it's not something I focus on," Eckenbarger said. "I go out there and try to win every match regardless. It's just a little extra motivation."
Eckenbarger said Flemming has done a good job making the transition to Westminster — he coached at Liberty for 17 years before stepping down in 2014 — and keeping things the same in the practice room. Eckenbarger and fellow senior Austin Raines, the Owls' captains, get to lead the team in practice and on the mat, with instructions from Flemming and his coaching staff.
So far so good for the Owls — they're 21-7 (3-1 in the county) after a strong showing at their dual-meet tournament.
"I love leading the guys," Eckenbarger said. "I think we have a good group of young guys, and I'm glad to be a part of this team."
South Carroll goes 10-0 at Duals
South Carroll finished first at the Duals at Westminster thanks to a 10-0 record, and the Cavaliers had six wrestlers post unblemished marks over the two-day event. Joey Thomas (113), Tom Boldosser (132), Jake Mackenzie (138), Shane Conners (152), Jamar Williams (160), and Talmadge Eller (195) each went 10-0.
Williams, the event's Most Outstanding Wrestler for 152-285, had a highlight by pinning Dunbar's Kyleel Bucker, ranked No. 2 in the state in his weight class, in 1 minute, 27 seconds.
Thomas had pins over Liberty's Jake Griffin (ranked third) and Franklin's Austin Widerman (sixth). Mackenzie pinned Dunbar's Deshawn Jefferson (ranked third).
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