Top-ranked Mount St. Joseph, which two weeks ago won the inaugural Independent Schools State title, yesterday tuned up for this weekend's Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament with an interdivisional 41-23 rout of No. 15 Loyola.
After a decision by Loyola's Mark Lilly (152 pounds), top-ranked Danny DeVivo (160, 30-1) clinched the match for the Gaels, 35-13, with a first-period pin -- the third of the night for his team.
DeVivo's effort offset a major decision by Dan Cunnane (171) and a pin by Owen Kerney (189) in 1:18.
After the MIAAs this weekend, the Gaels (9-0) -- winners of the league's Group A -- will take aim at the league's dual-meet title against Group B winner and No. 14 Curley.
Loyola (8-3), also of Group B, finished in a three-way tie with Curley and Gilman, but lost the bid for the title on tie-breaking criteria.
"This would have been the result anyway if we had beaten Curley," said Loyola coach Dennis Frazier. "At least we got to wrestle them. And I thought my kids wrestled well. It was a good year overall, finishing 8-3."
But it wasn't a good start yesterday for the Dons, who began 12 points in the hole with forfeits at 103 and heavyweight.
But Mount St. Joseph's powerful lineup includes five state-ranked wrestlers -- three of whom are independent schools champs. So it's doubtful the absent wrestlers would have made much of a difference against the Gaels (11-0).
Mount St. Joseph led, 9-0, after Marc Hoffman's 3-0 win over Loyola's Greg Miller at 112.
It was 9-6 after the Dons' Nick Marsalek (119) built a 14-2 lead before pinning Phil Turner, but consecutive major decisions by sixth-ranked Jake Lissau (125) and Dan Mattson (130) gave the Gaels a 17-6 advantage.
Loyola's Nick Hollick (135) responded with an 11-1 major decision over Mike Schaal.
But the Gaels stretched their advantage to 29-10 after third-ranked David Inkman (140) and second-ranked Tyran Dungee (145), both independent schools state champs, pinned their opponents in 3:51 and 50 seconds, respectively.
Although the Gaels polished off their rivals in relatively simple fashion, coach Paul Triplett wasn't satisfied with the National Preps tournament just two weeks away.
"There were too many situations where we were reacting to what was being dictated rather than initiating," said Triplett, whose post-match mini-workout featured a pep talk with his wrestlers.
"At this point in the season, I want more than that. I want our guys having the advantage in those situations."