For top-ranked Old Mill, an unprecedented fourth straight Class 4A-3A state wrestling title seems just a knee-pick, single-leg takedown away.
From a record-breaking squad that scored a state-high 130.5 points for its third straight crown, breaking Bowie's 11-year-old mark of 113, the top-ranked Patriots have five returning state place-winners, including state champion Brian Layman, who finished unbeaten.
In addition, Coach Mike Hampe's Patriots, who kept the state crown in Anne Arundel County for the fourth straight year, recently dethroned No. 2-ranked and National Prep tournament champion Mount St. Joseph for last weekend's Annapolis tournament title.
But No. 3 Broadneck, the 4A-3A champ in '88, ended Old Mill's regular-season winning streak at 33, forcing the Patriots (15-1) into a three-way county league tie with Broadneck and No. 5 Annapolis. Along with those two teams, Old Mill, ranked No. 21 in the USA Today's preseason poll, now has the No. 6 Aberdeen Eagles to deal with.
Dick Slutzky's Eagles, who moved into Class 3A this year, were )) the first team to win three outright state titles, doing it at the Class 2A-1A level before being dethroned last year by No. 4 Owings Mills.
Aberdeen beat No. 7 Oakland Mills by just 33-31 a year ago, and the Scorpions drop into Class 2A to challenge Owings Mills.
In defending its Baltimore County title, Owings Mills will have to contend with No. 8 Randallstown and No. 10 Perry Hall.
A youthful Mount St. Joseph will try to win its 17th Maryland Scholastic Association Tournament crown but should get heavy competition from No. 9 Loyola.
7+ Here is a look at the preseason top 10.
1. Old Mill
* Top-ranked by the Maryland State Wrestling Association, the Patriots return five state placing seniors from last year's squad, including Layman (171) and runner-up Steve Lundstrom (112). Seniors John Bliss (145), Ernie Longazel (189) and heavyweight Don Marco all finished third in the state meet. Senior Vytas Dulys (119) was third in the county and region. Gilman transfer Mark Proccaccini (152) is solid, as is muscular Young Chang (140), who squats 360 pounds. Sophomore Jason Bryant (103), winner of the recent Annapolis tournament, has been a pleasant surprise for Coach Hampe.
2. Mount St. Joseph
* The Gaels, ranked third by the MSWA, have just two seniors in a starting lineup that includes four juniors, two freshmen and two sophomores. But coach Paul Triplett's Gaels are experienced, beginning with returning MSA champs Chad Votta (senior, 140) and Shane McCarthy (junior, 135). Junior Kevin Neville (152) is a returning MSA runner-up, and sophomore Paul Scott (125) was third. Junior heavyweight Dave Sunderland recently upset St. Paul's defending MSA champion Troy Thinglestad. Freshmen David Inkman (103) and Danny DeVivo (145) each were junior league state champs, and junior Joe Aiosa (130) was a Curley tournament runner-up.
3. Broadneck
* Leading the MSWA's 10th-ranked Bruins are junior regional and state champion Charlie Bennett (112) and senior state runner-up Shawn Miller (119), who was a county and regional champ. Regional runner-up Vin Gerrior (senior, 130) was fourth in the county, senior Seth Lopatkiewicz (160) was third in both the county and region, and Dave Macauley (171) was third in the region. Miller and Lopatkiewicz were individual champions at the recent Annapolis tournament. Seniors Chris McTammany (152) and Cliff McClain (189) combined for more than 35 victories, and senior Josh Marder (125) was a state qualifying freestyler over the summer. Junior Nick Pantazes (103) was last year's junior-varsity county champion.
4. Owings Mills
* Tied with Aberdeen as the MSWA's seventh-ranked team, the Eagles return junior county, regional and state champs Greg Kessler (135) and Grant Johnson (160). Senior regional champ ++ Sigmund Fraser (171) was third in Baltimore county and fourth in the state, and junior Corey Setlen was a county champion and a regional runner-up. Setlen recently defeated Loyola's MSA champ Tim Spielman in the Eagles' 45-27 victory. Sophomore Stan Lazer (103) was unbeaten on the junior varsity, senior Dan Ginsberg (112) was 8-1 as a varsity backup, and junior Paul Saperstein (130) was 8-1 on the junior varsity. Junior Joe Castor (145) was a junior-league state champ two years ago, senior Kirk Snyder (189) was 10-4 last year, and junior heavyweight Clint Helphenstine was a junior-varsity county champ.
5. Annapolis
* Coach Dave Gehrdes has more balance than ever, beginning with state runner-up Chip Cochran (152), a county and regional champ. At either 140 or 145 will be state semifinalist Tom Sfakiyanudis or Ford Baumgardener. Sfakiyanudis was a county runner-up and fourth in the regionals, and Baumgardener was 17-1 before missing the postseason with a broken hand. Senior Kevin Owen (103) was fourth in both the county and regionals, senior heavyweight DeMond Galloway was third and fourth, and senior Seth Robbins (125-130) was third in the county. Alaska transfer Nick Samaris (130) was a state place winner. Seth's twin brother, Ira Robbins (119-125), and senior Brandon Tinker (189) combined for 33 wins.
6. Aberdeen
* Senior Matt Slutzky (140) will try to become the state's first four-time champ, and junior Zack Fowl tries to win a second straight title. Seniors Brett Johnson (119) and junior heavyweight Aaron Wanless (245 pounds) were county champions, seniors Todd Jones (152) and Mike Taylor (171) were runners-up, and sophomore Frank Johnson (125) and junior Dave Mumpower (135) were third. Jones was a regional runner-up, Wanless was third, and Brett Johnson and Frank Johnson, as well as Mumpower, were fourth. Sophomore Mike Davis (103) was 11-1 as a varsity backup.
7. Oakland Mills
* Coach Dan Ricker's Scorpions are ready to continue their 21-match unbeaten streak against Howard County opponents. The Scorpions were 11-3 and finished seventh in the Class 4A-3A state meet last season. County, regional and state champion heavyweight Monte Spencer begins the year seventh on the school's all-time win list with a 62-10 record, and junior two-time county champion Adam Seidman (135 or 140) is sixth on the list at 64-10. Seidman was third in the state last season and recently edged the Gaels' McCarthy, 4-3, for the Annapolis tournament title. He is joined by senior county champions Mike Maughan (130) and Joe Salinas (140). Senior Marcus Myles (145) was a county runner-up and seniors Brian DuVall (152) and Geoff Henderson (160) were third. Jason Marrero (119) was a junior-varsity county champ.
8. Randallstown
* Under second-year coach Jeff Langrehr, defending state champion Mike Jenson (171) brings a 62-1-1 career record into his senior season. Last season, regional champion Aaron Grollman (119) was 20-4, and Milford Mill transfer Johnny Montgomery (145) was 19-3. Junior Javin Rudolf (140) went .500 as a sophomore, and junior twins Brandon (125) and Justin (130) Grodnitzky combined for more than 30 victories, as did juniors Kent Morrison (152) and Mark Agnes (160). Senior heavyweight Eric Gertner, a 225-pound athlete, was one win from reaching the state tournament. The Rams edged host Bel Air for the tournament crown Saturday, with Montgomery, Jenson and Gertner winning titles.
9. Loyola
* The Dons, under Dennis Frazier, will be led by returning MSA champion Tim Spielman (junior, 119), who already has beaten Calvert Hall's tough Brendan James for the Curley tournament championship. Senior Ian Robbins (125) was a Baltimore County and regional champion as a Loch Raven High sophomore. After last year's runner-up finish, he is favored to win an MSA title. Junior Dave Daniecki (189) was an MSA runner-up and fourth in the National Preps with a 30-8 record last season, and Andy Smith (145) won 21 matches a year ago. Heavyweight John Conrad was 20-1 on junior varsity last season, and 140-pound Greg Zorella was a junior-varsity tournament runner-up. In Monday's 45-27 loss to Owings Mills, the Dons led, 23-21, with five bouts left despite missing three starters from the lineup. In Saturday's upcoming Mercersburg tournament, the Dons will face five post graduate schools, including defending tourney champion Peddie (N.J.).
10. Perry Hall
* Last year, the Gators (13-1) were beaten for the first time in the past three seasons, by Randallstown. They had won the previous two county titles before being dethroned by Owings Mills. Their big gun is senior Steve Amenta (171), who was a county and state meet runner-up and a regional champion. The Gators have a balanced lineup, beginning with freshman Steve Boothe (103), who was third in the state as a junior leaguer. Senior Jeff Peach (189) was a county runner-up and a state qualifier, junior Jason Brown (119) won 15 matches last season, and senior Nick Courtalis (140) lost just one match before finishing third in the county tournament and fourth in the regional. Senior John Kauppinen (135) was 8-2 last season.
OTHERS TO WATCH: St. Paul's, Bel Air, Chesapeake-AA, Northeast-AA, Wilde Lake, Dundalk, Eastern Vo-Tech, Westminster, Southern-AA, North Carroll, Edgewood, Calvert Hall, Boys' Latin, C. Milton Wright.
Top 10 wrestlers to watch
Name, School .. .. .. Wgt. .. .. .. Class .. .. .. .. 90-91 record
Tom Dell, .. .. .. ..North Carroll..135 Sr. .. .. .. 31-1, 21 pins
Zack Fowl, .. .. .. ..Aberdeen .. ..112 Jr. .. .. .. 31-2, 26 pins
Mike Jenson, .. .. .. Randallstown ..171 Sr. .. .. .. 36-0, 24 pins
Grant Johnson, .. .. Owings Mills .. 160 Jr. .. .. .. 28-1, 10 pins
Brian Layman, .. .. .. Old Mill .. .. 171 Sr. .. .. .. 31-0, 17 pins
Greg Kessler, .. .. .. Owings Mills .. 135 Jr. .. .. ..35-0, 20 pins
Shawn Miller, .. .. .. Broadneck .. .. 119 Sr. .. .. ..34-1, 26 pins
Kevin Neville, .. .. .. Mount St. Joe .. 152 Jr. .. .. 31-6, 20 pins
Matt Slutzky, .. .. .. Aberdeen .. .. .. 140 Sr. .. .. 32-1, 26 pins
Monte Spencer, .. .. .. Oak. Mills .. .. Hvy. Sr. .. ..36-1, 18 pins
Others to watch
103 -- Greg Knox (33-6-1), Calvert Hall, Sr.; Gary Harris (25-4), Milford Mill, Soph.; Phil Meenan (24-9), Arundel, Soph.; 112 -- Charlie Bennett (34-2), Broadneck, Jr.; Gerard Harrison (25-4), Gilman, Soph.; Steve Lundstrom (30-5), Old Mill, Sr.; 119 -- Scott Birth (26-3), Bel Air, Sr.; Corey Setlen (23-7), Owings Mills, Jr.; Tim Spielman (27-4), Loyola, Jr.; 125 -- Ian Robbins (30-4), Loyola, Sr.; Jim Ervine (28-3), Havre de Grace, Sr.; Ty Long (20-2), Edgewood, Sr.; 130 -- Phil MacWilliams (23-7), St. Mary's, Sr.; Bill Whitcher (30-8), South River, Sr.; L.J. Brammer (23-9), Loch Raven, Jr.; 135 -- Gary Mryncza (31-7), Archbishop Curley, Sr.; John Kim (27-6), Gilman, Sr; Shane McCarthy (28-5), Mount St. Joseph, Jr.; 140 -- Chad Votta (34-5-1), Mount St. Joseph, Sr.; Adam Seidman (34-4), Oakland Mills, Jr.; Rick Staab (28-6), Dundalk, Jr.; 145 -- John Bliss (30-9), Old Mill, Sr.; Todd Helman (30-2), Friends, Sr.; Bobby Farace (21-6-1), Wilde Lake, Sr.; 152 -- Chip Cochran (33-2), Annapolis, Sr.; Brian Persinger (28-4), Kenwood, Sr., Rob Smallwood (26-5), Bel Air, Sr.; 160 -- Marc Perrine (28-6), North Harford Sr.; Dave Crickard (20-4-1), Chesapeake-BC, Sr.; Tom Burdsall (22-9), Havre de Grace, Sr.; 171 -- Steve Amenta (24-2), Perry Hall, Sr.; Sigmund Fraser (24-6), Owings Mills, Sr.; Nate Casella (23-11), Wilde Lake, Jr.; 189 -- Ernie Longazel (32-6), Old Mill, Sr.; Dave Daniecki (30-8), Loyola, Jr.; Steve Moss (27-8), Overlea Sr.; Hvy -- Don Marco (33-3), Old Mill, Sr.; Robert Burley (29-6), Southern-AA, Sr.; James Stump (16-6), Westminster, Sr.