Harford Tech wrestler Mike Long is nicknamed Harry Potter for his likeness to the popular child wizard of book and movie fame.
"It doesn't bother me," said Long, who was born in Hollywood, has a toothy smile and a crescent-shaped scar on his forehead in an area similar to Potter's. "It's a compliment. Hey, at times in matches, I wish I had a magic wand."
The freshman's efforts in yesterday's bout had more to do with skill than magic as he won a possible preview of the 103-pound Harford County title matchup, 5-3, on an overtime takedown against last year's runner-up Eric Brown (4-2) of Joppatowne.
The victory came during a 63-12 rout of Joppatowne (1-2-1 overall, 0-2 league). Long also had a 13-2 decision in a 49-24 win over Bel Air (1-1 overall and league), which edged Joppatowne, 33-27.
"I knew Brown would be tough," said Long, who is 6-1. "We wrestled together in junior leagues and it was always neck-and-neck."
The seventh-ranked Cobras (2-0, 2-0) won 12 of 14 bouts against Joppatowne, getting pins from sixth-ranked Mike Taylor (119), county runner-up Brad Dreyer (135), Josh Taylor (140), Eric Shiebley (152), Tony Gibson (160), Matt Zaun (171) and Mike Piorunski (heavyweight). Shiebley trailed 9-3 at the time of his fall and Scott Tipton (189) overcame a 6-2 deficit to win 13-8.
Getting pins against Bel Air were county champ Eric King (112), Mike Taylor, Dreyer and Gibson, with Piorunski scoring a 15-0 technical fall. Sophomore Josh Taylor's escape in double overtime earned a 3-2 victory over the Bobcats' C.J. Malinowski, who slipped to 5-2.
"I thought he had me at first, but I knew I wasn't going to give up," said Taylor, who is 4-2. "I decided in the third period that I wasn't going to lose."
In all, the defending county dual meet and tournament champion Cobras won 22 of the 28 bouts. Second-ranked Ben Sills (125), who is 6-0 after receiving two forfeits, is one of only three seniors on the team. Bel Air's only double winner, Joe Purpora (215), had the night's fastest fall in only 33 seconds.
"This team's very supportive of each other and we all root each other on," said Sills, a transfer from Curley and winner of two straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association titles. "We still have some work to do, but, all in all, this was a great showing. We'll be tougher when the real competition comes around."