In a match that featured nine pins, it was the close, hard-fought decisions that made the difference in Glenelg's county-opening win over visiting Reservoir on Tuesday night.
The Gladiators won each of the four matches that went the full six minutes, all by decision, and earned four pins in the final five matches to beat the Gators, 42-30, in a matchup of two of the county's top teams.
"It's good to get Reservoir under our belt," said Gladiators coach Matt Bichner. "They're always a tough team, they got a lot of good wrestlers. ... The first match, it's tough to come out and do it. But to get it done is great."
What made the difference, Bichner said, was the middle-weights that gutted out three straight close decisions to keep the score close going into the final stretch.
"152, 160 and 170, those three matches were big," said Bichner.
At 152, Max Sotka, a first year varsity wrestler, scored an escape in the final period to earn a 1-0 decision, and senior Jason Mitchell, another newcomer to varsity, won 8-3 at 160 pounds. The wins, plus a decision by Mike Budock, brought Glenelg from down 9-12 to up 18-12.
"If those matches go a different way, it's a different match," said Reservoir coach Andy McIntyre.
Mitchell, who transferred from a private school in Washington D.C. that didn't have a wrestling team, grew up competing for the Vipers, a local junior league team. It was his first ever high school match.
"He's still rusty, and we're still trying to get him used to the wrestling match again," Bichner said. "But he did well. He's got a gas tank on him, so we knew he would be able to last the six minutes, and he got the job done."
The match of the night was at 170 pounds between Budock and Reservoir senior Stephen Sims.
After trading escapes in the second and third periods, Budock took a 3-1 lead on a takedown with about 20 seconds left. Sims cut it to one with an escape, but couldn't secure the takedown.
"We only won five matches and we scored 30 points," said McIntyre. "Our studs did what they had to do, it was that everyone else had to come up and take care of their business ... winning the close ones was what it came down to."
Glenelg's Sam Kraus opened up the dual with a 6-2 decision at 126 pounds, but pins in 42 and 57 seconds by Reservoir seniors Troy and Trent Kilcarr at 132 and 138 pounds gave the Gators a 12-3 lead.
After a pin from Parker Griffie, the middle weights stepped up with the close decisions.
The Gators tied the match at 18 after junior A.J. Strott stuck Shawn Witschen in 34 seconds at 182 pounds, and took a 24-18 lead after a forfeit at 195 pounds.
But three straight first period pins by Austin Twigg, Jamie Cooch and freshman Logan Gwin at 220, 285 and 106 pounds, respectively, put the match away for Glenelg.
"I was pretty proud of all my guys," said Bichner. "The first match, it's tough to come out and do it. But to get it done is great."
Glenelg 42, Reservoir 30
126 – Sam Kraus (G) dec. Hayoung Park (Re) 6-2; 3-0
132 – Troy Kilcarr (Re) pinned Kyle Qualis (G) :42; 3-6
138 – Trent Kilcarr (Re) pinned Griffin Peterman (G) :57; 3-12
145 – Parker Griffie (G) pinned Johnny Folen (Re) 2:49; 9-12
152 – Max Sotka (G) dec. Jeremiah Brooks (Re) 1-0; 12-12
160 – Jason Mitchell (G) dec. Matt Gonzales (Re) 8-3; 15-12
170 – Mike Budock (G) dec. Stephen Sims (Re) 3-2; 18-12
182 – A.J. Strott (Re) pinned Shawn Witschen (G) :34; 18-18
195 – Justin Shepard (Re) forfeit; 18-24
220 – Austin Twigg (G) pinned Shawn Hamilton (Re) 1:25; 24-24
285 – Jamie Cooch pinned Andrew Maleta (Re) 1:40; 30-24
106 – Logan Gwin (G) pinned Reece Kilcarr (Re) 1:12; 36-24
113 – Dalton Kleinhen (Re) pinned Brandon Reece (G) 1:48; 36-30
120 – Colin Silk (G) pinned Trevor Held (Re) 3:04; 42-30
River Hill 40, Marriotts Ridge 20
106 – Hejeeb (MR) pinned Vinyard (RH) 1:11; 6-0
113 – Spano (MR) dec. Shealy (RH) 6-5; 8-0
120 – Wiggins (MR) tech fall Wasilewski (RH) 16-0; 13-0
126 – Potts (RH) dec. Habibi (MR) 4-0; 13-3
132 – Mahoney (RH) dec. Parks (MR) 5-4; 13-6
138 – Altman (RH) dec. Wyatt (MR) 10-7; 13-9
145 – Olsen (MR) dec. Bond (RH) 4-2; 16-9
152 – Erskine (RH) pinned Deltemeyer (MR) :47; 16-15
160 – Guthier (RH) major dec. Delon (MR) 11-1; 19-16
170 – Connolly (RH) pinned Hurd (MR) 2:40; 25-16
182 – Daniel (RH) injury default Williams (MR); 31-16
195 – Switlick (MR) major dec. Kum (RH) 11-3; 31-20
220 – Richards (RH) dec. Naidu (MR) 5-3; 34-20
285 – Kirby (RH) pinned Desautelle (MR) 2:36; 40-20
Mt. Hebron 53, Centennial 28
106 – Blyukher (C) pinned Lemus (MH) 0:39; 6-0
113 – Neilon (C) Fall Scherr (MH) 2:29; 12-0
120 – Nguyen (MH) forfeit; 12-6
126 – Yacynch (MH) forfeit; 12-12
132 – Hayden (MH) pinned Narmouq (C) 1:04; 12-18
138 – Hayden (MH) TF Narmouq (C) 21-5; 12-23
145 – Johnson (MH) forfeit; 12-29
152 – Norton (MH) forfeit; 12-35
160 – Kraisser (C) major dec. Strunk (MH) 15-3; 16-35
170 – Murphy (MH) pinned Horton (C) 1:03; 16-41
182 – Musonda (C) pinned Norton (MH) :42; 22-41
195 – Wysocki (C) pinned Manasterli (MH) 3:36; 28-41
220 – Day (MH) pinned Thurmond (C) 3:00; 28-47
285 – Suri (MH) forfeit; 28-53
Glenelg Country School 65, Coppin 12
106 – Rajj Malviya (GCS) pinned William Baker (CPN) :43; 6-0
113 – Jibreel Uddin (GCS) forfeit; 12-0
120 – Rennie Milligan (CPN) pinned Jason Zhang (GCS) 1:32; 12-6
126 – Double Forfeit; 12-6
132 – Adam Bothwell (GCS) pinned Daquan Jackson (CPN) :28; 18-6
138 – Tucker Clay (GCS) pinned H. Hawkin (CPN); :41; 24-6
145 – Eddie Howlette (GCS) pinned Marquese William (CPN) :39; 30-6
152 – B.J. Borowski (GCS) pinned Steven Mack (CPN) 3:47; 36-6
160 – James Shon (GCS) forfeit; 42-6
170 – Q. Brown (CPN) over Rey Robinson (GCS) :37; 42-12
182 – Reid Chaconas (GCS) tech fall Marvin Waters (CPN) 19-2; 47-12
195 – Demetrius Ravenell (GCS) forfeit; 53-12
220 – Vinny Tomarchio (GCS) forfeit; 59-12
285 – Emanuel Curtis (GCS) pinned H. Haskin (CPN) 1:35; 65-12
Oakland Mills 54, Howard 10
Atholton 52, Long Reach 24