Public schools
Catonsville Comets
1997-98 record: 8-5
Coach: Doug Campbell
Top wrestlers: Wayne Wilson, Sr., 112; Leonard Jovenal, Sr., 160; Won Hill, Jr., 130; John Michner, Jr., 145; Doug McClain, Jr., 119
Outlook: A turnout of 33 wrestlers included six of last season's starters. The Comets' strength is in the lower weights. Wilson was third at regions.
Chesapeake Bayhawks
1997-98 record: Unavailable
Coach: Marvin Briscoe
Top wrestlers: Will Hovel, Sr., 171; Dominic Williamson, Fr., 135; Jeff Hammond, Jr., 145
Outlook: "I'm focusing on building a good rapport with the kids, building for the future," said Briscoe, who has just 13 wrestlers.
Dundalk Owls
1997-98 record: 4-7
Coach: Bob Hutsler
Top wrestlers: Steve Swedo, Sr., 171; Anthony Grasso, Sr., 125; Rob Holbrook, Jr., 119; Dave King, Jr., 160; Dave Poling, So., 152
Outlook: With 30 wrestlers, the Owls appear to be putting forward a full team "for the first time in a long while," Hutsler said. Holbrook was fourth at counties.
Dulaney Lions
1997-98 record: 11-3
Coach: Desi McNelis
Top wrestlers: Mike Hartzell, Sr., 135; Kevin Coors, Sr., 189; Adam Fields, Sr., 160; Mike Winters, Jr., 125; Steve Kwon, Jr., 135; Rob Leonard, Jr., 152
Outlook: Among eight returning starters for McNelis, who coached St. Paul's to a private-schools state title last season, are Winters (third at counties) and Hartzell and Fields, both third at regions.
Eastern Tech Mavericks
1997-98 record: 9-5
Coach: Joe Gast
Top wrestlers: Wes Woodard, Sr., 145; Travis Shirkey, Jr., 103; Eric Stark, Jr., 119; Nick Adams, Jr., 171; Lenny Swiger, Jr., 189; Josh Fortner, Jr., hwt., Kevin Cross, Jr., 152; Justin Birchfield, Jr., 135
Outlook: Gast hopes to capitalize on wrestlers up from last season's JV, which won the Baltimore County title. Woodard (third counties, second regions) leads a team with four returnees, three junior-league wrestlers, and two JV champs.
Franklin Indians
1997-98 record: 13-3
Coach: Scott Delpo
Top wrestlers: Joe Landsman, Sr., 152; John Schuster, Sr., 189; Stan Wagner, Jr., 119; Ryan Ridgely, Jr., 135; Luke Mays, So., 140; Andy Schuster, So., 171; Sam Mays, Fr., 145; Matt Schuster, Fr., 103
Outlook: Wagner, John Schuster, Luke Mays and Landsman were all in the top four at last season's counties and regions. Joining them are Matt Schuster and Sam Mays, recreation-league state champs last season. Andy Shuster was third at junior-league states.
Hereford Bulls
1997-98 record: 8-5
Coach: Brett Baier
Top wrestlers: C. J. Feldheim, Jr., 189; Eric Herzberg, Jr., 125; Jeff Epps, Jr., 112; Todd Yates, Jr., 145; Todd Leitzel, So., 130
Outlook: With only one senior and lots of balance, the Bulls will be better in dual meets than in tournaments. "We have a steady turnout of 40 kids, so we're solid, but next year will be the big year," Baier said.
Kenwood Bluebirds
1997-98 record: 6-10
Coach: Len Patrick
Top wrestlers: Ray Brown, Sr., 152; John Bornman, Jr., 125; Jeremy Neisser, Jr., 119; Patrick Leap, So., 103
Outlook: Assuming no injuries and with four starters back, Patrick is aiming at a .500 season.
Lansdowne Vikings
1997-98 record: 6-8
Coach: Randy Biden
L Top wrestlers: Ed Amoroso, Sr., hwt.; James Hartis, Jr., 145
Outlook: Biden, a former Westminster assistant, takes over and hopes to take his 22 wrestlers to a higher level.
Loch Raven Raiders
1997-98 record: 7-7
Coach: Keith Norris
Top wrestlers: Greg Walker, Sr., hwt.; Adam Carroll, Sr., 145-152; Jason Deyo, Sr., 160
Outlook: Walker, third at counties and first at regions last year, won last weekend's North East Tournament. He is among 10 returning starters.
Milford Mill
1997-98 record: 8-7
Coach: Brian Layman
Top wrestlers: Nick Lambert, Sr., 135; Reggie Johnson, Jr., 119-125; William Morton, So., 103-112
Outlook: Layman returned six starters among his 13 wrestlers and is aiming at .500.
Overlea Falcons
1997-98 record: 13-3
Coach: Bruce Malinowski
Top wrestlers: Derrick Oxendine, Sr., 152; Justin Mitchell, Sr., 189; Alfred Clark, Jr., 112; James Laubach, So., 135; Jason Laubach, So., 125; Mike Banks, Jr., hwt.
Outlook: Overlea won the county and region titles last season, and both Oxendine and Jason Laubach were county and region champs. Mitchell (county runner-up, region champ) and James Laubach (region runner-up) add depth, as does Clark (third at counties).
Owings Mills
1997-98 record: 25-2
Coach: Guy Pritzker
Top wrestlers: Drew Bowers, Sr., 135; Kenny Ricker, Sr., 171; Matt Summerlein, Sr., 160; Ryan Pritzker, Sr., 145; Harris Kaplan, 125; Justin Myers, Sr., 140; Scott Silverstein, Jr., 112; Clayton Arnold, Fr., 103
Outlook: Pritzker won his fifth straight Class 1A-2A duals region crown last year and goes for his 200th career win vs. Western tonight. Two-time region champ Bowers, region champ Matt Summerlein, Myers (region runner-up), Ricker (third region) and Silverstein (fourth region) all qualified for states. Kaplan (22 wins) and Ryan Pritzker (20 wins) look to improve. Arnold was a junior league runner-up.
Parkville Knights
1997-98 record: 7-7
Coach: Joe Passalacqua
Top wrestlers: Gary Burkhardt, Sr., 152; Ray Ihle, Jr., 135
Outlook: The Knights return six starters among 21 wrestlers and are close to filling every weight class. Burkhardt was a county runner-up; Ihle was fourth.
Patapsco Patriots
1997-98 record: 9-5
Coach: Dave Ingle
Top wrestlers: Bill Hook, Sr., hwt.; Joe Bena, Sr., 171; John Jacobs, Sr., 189; Tim Brinegar, Sr., 140; Scott Thompson, Jr., 145
Outlook: Ranked fourth in the state, Hook (36 pins last season) was first at counties, second at regions and third at states. Bena was second, second and fourth. Jacobs was third at counties. Brinegar (19 wins) and Thompson, a JV champ, add middleweight strength.
Perry Hall Gators
1997-98 record: 6-6
Coach: Bob Kucharski
Top wrestlers: Tim Kucharski, Jr., 112; Chris Pike, Jr., 145; Jeff Gorham, Jr., 152; Ryan Rose, So., 140
Outlook: Four starters are back, and Rose and Gorham were JV champs last season. "All the weights are filled, and it's getting better every day," Kucharski said.
Pikesville Panthers
1997-98 record: 6-7
Coach: Joel Weber
Top wrestlers: Ben Hall, Sr., 189; Jerry Zayetz, Sr., 140; Justin Schumer, Jr., 135
Outlook: Hall, the only returning starter, is ranked fourth in the state. At the state tournament, Hall lost identical 8-3 decisions to the first- and third-place finishers. JV runner-up Schumer moves up.
Randallstown Rams
1997-98 record: 2-10
Coach: Ryan Nunamaker
Top wrestlers: Kevin Bailey, Jr., 119; Ryan Chatman, Jr., 160
Outlook: Nunamaker raised his turnout to 17 by recruiting some football players, most underclassmen who have never wrestled.
Sparrows Point Pointers
1997-98 record: 9-5
Coach: Bill Weber
Top wrestlers: Steve Loverde, Sr., 135; Darryl Maggio, Sr., 125; Mike Keener, Sr., 171; Robert Hart, Jr., 112; Mike Weber, Fr., 103
Outlook: The Pointers have a full lineup and talent, including Mike Weber, a junior-league state runner-up last season.
Towson Generals
1997-98 record: 8-6
Coach: Glen Hyman
Top wrestlers: John Narlis, Sr., 112; Andy Norris, Sr., 130
Outlook: Ranked No. 2 in the state, Narlis was county and region champ and third at states last year. Norris was second at counties and third at regions. "We have more quality and less holes than last year," Hyman said.
Western Tech Wolverines
1997-98 record: Unavailable
Coach: Brian Davison
Top wrestlers: Chris Rouser, Sr., 125
Outlook: Rouser, third in the county and fourth at regions, is considered "the best prospect" by Davison, who has 36 wrestlers.
Woodlawn Warriors
1997-98 record: 2-13
Coach: Greg Holmes
Top wrestlers: Pharoah Edwards, Soph., hwt.
H
Outlook: Four returning starters are among 20 wrestlers.
Private schools
Boys' Latin Lakers
1997-98 record: 5-5
Coach: Drew Haugh
Top wrestlers: Rob Arnold, Sr., 160; Flip McKenzie, Sr., 130; Will Becker, Sr., 135; Mitch Owens, Sr., 140; Matt Hartman, Sr., 152; Dan Berger, Jr., 145; Brandon Carver, Jr., hwt.; Kevin Nash, Jr., 119
Outlook: The Lakers are a Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association sleeper. Arnold, ranked No. 6 in the state, was an MIAA runner-up last winter. Owens, Carver, Friskey and McKenzie all finished fourth. Friskey and Arnold were fourth at states. Carver, fifth at National Preps, recently split bouts with St. Paul's Nick Alevrogiannis, fourth at states.
Calvert Hall Cardinals
1997-98 record: 21-2
Coach: Henry Franklin
Top wrestlers: Chris Knox, Sr., 112; Tony Russo, Sr., 145; Derek Michalowski, Sr., 119; Chris Tucker, Sr., 103; Kevin King, So., 125; Zach Mryncza, Fr., 130
Outlook: The Cardinals, defending MIAA champs and runners-up last season in the state private-schools tournament, return Knox and Russo, each a defending MIAA and private-schools state champ. King was fourth at MIAAs, and Mryncza, third at junior-league states.
Loyola Dons
1997-98 record: 16-4
Coach: Dennis Frazier
Top wrestlers: Tony Delauney, Sr., 171; Bill Rovito, Sr., 135; Kevin Ford, Sr., 160; Rob Collins, Jr., 189; Mike Waldron, So., 145; Danny Natterman, So., 103
Outlook: Natterman, ranked No. 4 in the state, Delauney and Rovito are among nine returning starters. Natterman won at the Annapolis Tournament; Delauney was third, Rovito fourth.
McDonogh Eagles
1997-98 record: 11-5
Coach: Pete Welch
Top wrestlers: Joe Rosenbaum, Sr., 171; Andy Seal, Sr., 160; Jameel Day, Sr., hwt., Chris Zuk, Jr., 152; Steve Chester, So., 125; Zak Johns, Fr., 103
Outlook: Rosenbaum was third at the private-schools state tournament. Seal was a runner-up at MIAAs and states. Chester was third at MIAAs and states, and Day, fourth at MIAAs. Johns won his second straight junior-league state title last season.
St. Paul's Crusaders
1997-98 record: 13-9
Coach: Rex Snyder
Top wrestlers: Nick Alevrogiannis, Sr., hwt.; Denny Henderson, Sr., 145; Robbie Roose, Jr., 140; Lee Penno, Jr., 160
Outlook: Returning for the MIAA B Division state champs are Alevrogiannis, third at MIAAs and fourth finisher at states. Roose fTC and Henderson were fifth at states, where Henderson pinned five opponents for the "most pins" award. Alevrogiannis won the season-opening Archbishop Curley tournament for the second straight year; Roose and Penno were fourth.
Pub Date: 12/10/98