It was a lot of pressure for anyone, let alone a freshman, but Matt Schuster wanted it, and he went out and handled it.
His team held a half-point lead over Northern of Garrett when the 103-pound Franklin wrestler took the mat against Northern's Blake Huber, whom he dominated, 10-1, to give the Indians program their first state title, 106.5-to-102 in the 1A-2A tournament at Western Maryland College.
"Usually, I'm the first one to go out there, but it's the first time something's ever come down to me. Coach [Scott Delpo] told me, 'no pressure, but if you win, we win,' " said Schuster, 14, who earned an overtime semifinal win over Francis Scott Key's Nate Yinger.
Schuster's (35-2) only losses have come against Annapolis Area Christian's Luke Palumbo, who was fourth at the Private School's state tournament, and Gaitherburg's Mark Anderson, a 3A-4A state runner-up at 112 pounds yesterday.
"We've taken second every tournament except the regionals," said Schuster. "Everybody really wanted this."
Sophomore Sam Mays (145) joined Matt Schuster in winning a title, and Matt's older brother, John (189), was second. Sam's twin, Luke Mays (140) was third, and Stan Wagner (112) finished fifth, earning valuable points for the Indians.
Sam had lost twice to Overlea's Derrick Oxendine, once handily. But the third time was the charm for Mays, who came from behind for an 8-6 victory over Oxendine.
A runner-up to Oxendine at counties and regions, Sam pinned Southern of Garrett County's Eric Rexrode, who entered at 32-0, in the semifinals.
And after his overtime loss at regions, Sam knew he could take Oxendine. Mays' bout-clinching cradle for three near-fall points gave him an 8-4 lead with 20 seconds left.
River Hill's Brandon Lauer (112) dominated a battle of state champs, 6-3, over Southern's Nick Alley, a state champ as a sophomore. Lauer, a two-time state champ who improved to 73-0 for his high school career, had a more difficult time coming from behind to win his semifinal, 10-9, against Towson's third-place John Narlis.
"I didn't sleep all night, I was so excited, but I knew if I wrestled to my potential, I'd be all right," Lauer said.
Pikeville's Ben Hall (189) edged John Schuster, 3-2, becoming his school's third state champ.
A fourth-place finisher at regions last week, Hall also scored an 8-7 first-round upset of Northern of Garrett's Russell Crosco, who entered with a 27-3 record, and a 5-1 semifinal win over Hereford's regional champ, C.J. Feldheim.
Poly's Dennis Scott (Hwt.) became Baltimore City's first state champ.
After finishing fourth, fourth and sixth over the past three seasons, Owings Mills' Drew Bowers (135) finished second after an 8-6 loss on a late takedown by Walkersville's Chris Kehne. Bowers pinned last year's champ, Vaymond Dennis, and avenged an earlier loss to Kent's Jacob Kirwan, 7-4, in the semifinals.
Also finishing second was Jason Laubach (125) of Overlea, losing 6-2 to Northern of Garrett's Brandon Stein, whom Laubach had defeated 13-2 last season.
Third-place finishers were Narlis, Fracis Scott Key's Yinger (103), Hammond's Dennis (135) and Oakland Mills' Robert Scott (189).
Finishing fourth were Atholton's Bryan Radik (112) and Brian Mullinix (171), Owings Mills' Clayton Arnold (103), Hereford's Feldheim (189), Patapsco's Bill Hook (Hwt.).
Pub Date: 3/07/99