South Carroll heavyweight Dan McKennie continued to have a flair for the dramatic last night against Dulaney in the state 3A-4A North Region dual-meet championship match at Dulaney.
McKennie, needing a win over Ryan Frost to preserve a 30-29 lead, didn't waste too much time in pinning Frost to give eighth-ranked South Carroll a 36-29 victory over 13th-ranked Dulaney and the 3A-4A Region title.
After pinning Frost, a jubilant McKennie gave a loud roar as he walked toward the Cavaliers' fans in the stands.
It was the fifth time this season that a dual-match outcome has come down to what McKennie does in his heavyweight bout.
McKennie is batting four for five and none of the wins were bigger than last night's.
"I have to say my teammates gave me a chance to do it again," said McKennie.
"When Steve [Yokay] finished his match [10-9 decision over Ryan Whitlock at 171 which brought South Carroll within five points of Dulaney at 29-24], I knew we had a great chance to win it with Mike [Chenoweth] and I up next. I just went out and tried to take charge against Frost so he wouldn't think I was nervous."
Chenoweth pinned Chris Vocke in 1:40 to send South Carroll ahead, 30-29.
The Cavaliers (13-1) now advance to the state 3A-4A dual-meet championships tomorrow at South Carroll.
Making the final four at home was a must for South Carroll, joked Cavaliers' coach Pete Olson after the victory.
"My athletic director [Fred Baker] told me I would be fired if we didn't make it to Saturday," said Olson. "He didn't want to have to sit there and watch four teams wrestle unless one of them was South Carroll."
In the semifinals, it was a frustrating evening for Perry Hall after the Gators gained a 12-9 lead after four bouts.
Plagued by injuries, Perry Hall forfeited the next two bouts (130 and 135) and fell hopelessly out of the match.
The fourth-seeded Gators (8-6) wound up the match by forfeiting the heavyweight bout, making it 18 points they gave away.
"It's hard to come in here with a patchwork lineup due to the injuries we have and do well," said Perry Hall coach Jeff Langrehr.
"But I'm happy for Dulaney. They have worked hard this year. hTC Now, we have to get healthy for the regional tournament that will be held at Perry Hall. We look forward to being at home for the regionals."
For third-seeded Eastern Tech (11-4), everything went downhill after Joe Catlin was disqualified for biting in the second period of his 130-pound bout with South Carroll's Dan Peiffer.
Peiffer was leading, 3-2, at the time and the Cavaliers were up 10-6 in the match.
The disqualification gave South Carroll six points and took two points off Eastern's score for unsportsmanlike conduct, leaving South Carroll ahead, 16-4.