As an undersized freshman, River Hill's Jesse Fawcett made the 189-pound weight class, "No problem." But the past two years, "I had been really struggling."
"After lifting and playing football in the fall, I'd come in at around 210 or 220. I could get down to weight, but it was hard to stay down. I lost strength: My bench press dropped from like 270 to below 240," said the senior, winner of last year's 189-pound Howard County title.
"At the end of last year, I knew I'd have to move up to heavyweight this year because I just couldn't do it [189] anymore," Fawcett said. "But I was thinking, 'Am I really going to be able to hang with guys that are sucking down from like 300 pounds?' "
Fawcett won't have to do that, thanks to a new rule requiring a 215-pound weight class. The category was optional until March when the National Federation -- the governing body of state athletic associations nationwide -- instituted the new weight class, according to Ned Sparks, director of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association.
His mind -- and body -- at ease, Fawcett, a budding chef, recently took a job as a "prep cook" at a Columbia restaurant. "All I do is prepare food and watch shrimp and deep-fried dishes go by," Fawcett said. "I'd have really been struggling if I was still going 189, because, man, I just love to eat."
Oh, brother
Among the area's top 15 teams, there are several brother combinations that should be effective.
At No. 1 Mount St. Joseph, there are the junior Dulski twins, Bruce (112) and David (135), as well as the Lewnes, senior Sam (171) and freshman Mack (152). Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association rival McDonogh boasts the Holmes, senior Travis (152) and freshman Bryn (130).
River Hill's Shevlands, Nick (145) and Ryan (140), last winter became the first twins to win Howard County titles during the same season. But Centennial's twins, seniors Mark (145) and Dave (152) Nakasone, a state runner-up and state champ, respectively, could become the second siblings to do so.
Not only does Severna Park have the Smith twins, seniors Steve (140) and Shawn (145), but also their younger brother, freshman Scotty (103), as a possible starter.
Kenwood's Krumholtz brothers are former state runner-up Kyle (119), a junior, and Mason (130), a sophomore. Perry Hall has twins Nick (152) and Carlo (171) Bonocontri.
The heart to see
Loyola lightweight Nick Dailey isn't the most talented wrestler in the room. Nor is he among the strongest. But coach Kenny Taylor has as much admiration for Dailey as any wrestler on the Dons' squad.
Dailey is blind. He navigates the school's hallways with the use of a cane and assistance from heavyweight teammate Maurice Rojas.
Taylor said Dailey's mat vision runs deep. Like any wrestler with his relative inexperience, however, he will have to work hard to break into the lineup.
"He's been here since Day One and probably no one works harder," Taylor said of Dailey. "He's hanging in there. He's a great example to all of the kids, and we're blessed to have him on the team."
Bear essentials
Whenever Hereford's Dan Fouts (152) wrestles, you might notice that his fuzzy little brown Teddy Bear is never far away.
"It was given to me by a girlfriend two years ago when I hurt my ribs. She had had it ever since she was little, and she gave it to me for good luck," Fouts said. "My coach [Brett Baier] won't let me bring it to the bench during matches, but my mom or someone else always carries it and makes sure that I can see it whenever I'm in a match."
The charm must be working: Fouts finished as a Class 2A-1A state runner-up last fall.
Around the mats
Troy Stevenson, who coached Patterson to its six Baltimore City duals and tournament crowns, is coaching basketball at Parkville.... Harford Tech's bespeckled 103-pound wrestler, Mike Long, has earned the nickname "Harry Potter" from Cathy Siler, wife of the Cobras' coach, for his resemblance to the book and movie character.
Luke Broadwater contributed to this article.