POTOMAC -- Few people in the Bullis gymnasium knew it was coming, not even Mount St. Joseph's 145-pound wrestler Tyran Dungee.
Bullis' top-ranked Benny Ferro entered their title bout the prohibitive favorite with a 26-1 record, 17 pins and five technical falls.
But the fourth-ranked Dungee (28-4) shocked the crowd with a seemingly routine 12-1 decision, helping the Gaels to edge DeMatha, 232.5-to-204.5, in the inaugural Maryland Independent
Schools State Tournament.
"I thought it would be closer because he had a reputation for being tough," said Dungee, the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler. "My coach told me I had more technique and quickness. That and my shots worked for me."
Mount St. Joe's No. 2-ranked David Inkman (140, 27-2) and top-ranked Danny DeVivo (160, 27-1) joined Dungee in victory.
Inkman had to overcome a 3-0 deficit to beat DeMatha's Brian Page (140, 32-5), ranked No. 2 at 135, by 5-4.
But DeVivo used two pins, a technical fall and a major decision to win the crown.
Calvert Hall's third-ranked Gino Amasia (112, 34-2) built a 7-1 lead over second-ranked Mike Toro (39-4) of Riverdale Baptist en route to winning, 8-3. Amasia had beaten Toro, 3-1, earlier.
Amasia's teammate, third-ranked Brian Kapp (125, 29-1) downed the Gaels' sixth-ranked Jake Lissaau, 6-2.
Erik Shafer (119), Jake Lissau (125), Danny Mattson (130) and No. 2-ranked Kenny Hunter (Hwt., 26-4) were runners-up for Mount St. Joseph, with Hunter losing to McDonogh's top-ranked J.R. Plienis (27-1) by 8-7. Plienis, who pinned Hunter in 38 seconds earlier this year, needed an escape with 40 seconds left to win this one.
Landon's Jack Cathirell (189) entered his bout at 21-0, but was nearly pinned in the first period by John Carroll's fifth-ranked Greg Stotler (24-1) in Stotler's 8-1 victory. Stotler's only loss came by 6-1 against Hunter.
McDonogh's No. 2-ranked Martius Harding (171, 20-2) dropped to 3-1 against Bullis' Eugene Brodetski (27-1), who beat Harding, 2-1, yesterday, and 2-0, earlier this year.
Top-ranked Crofton resident Todd Beckerman (119, 21 pins) of DeMatha improved to 33-1 on the year, and 133-1 for his career, after his title bout opponent, Erik Shafer (St. Joe) defaulted after a neck injury.
Shafer was considered "OK" by medical officials, having full movement in his limbs, but taken by stretcher to a nearby hospital as a precaution.