With the Loyola Blakefield wrestling team's regular season over, David Mohler can concentrate on an individual accomplishment that has eluded him during an otherwise stellar three-year varsity career.
That's why the Catonsville resident will focus on the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championships at Mount St. Joseph, Feb. 11, an event in which he has come up just short the last two years, falling in the finals both times.
"I've got a (Maryland Independent Schools) state championship, but still don't have that MIAA title," Mohler said. "It's definitely something I need to accomplish, and I think I'm working hard for it."
As a freshman, Mohler fell to Archbishop Spalding's Cole Gallagher before bowing to St. Paul's Jack Mutchnik, 2-1, on a stalling point in double overtime last winter.
Mohler, who returned the favor against Mutchnik in the 2011 Independent Schools state tournament, said he would not be surprised to face the Crusader standout in another MIAA tournament showdown.
"I know it's going to be a war with him," he said. "We have wrestled almost all our lives, and I'm preparing myself. I'm going to be ready, so it's going to be a tough match."
Truitt also expects a rematch of the former 103-pound rivals in the 120-pound bracket.
Mutchnik is currently ranked second by the Maryland State Wrestling Association at 120, one place ahead of Mohler.
"It was a big cut (in weight) for him (Mohler), at 103, and it was hard on him," Truitt said. "This year he's put on some muscle, and he's grown a little bit. He's starting to grow into his frame, so he's tough to deal with."
Being stronger and even more focused, Mohler has prevailed in 34 of his 35 matches this season.
Off the mat, Mohler has been just as exceptional.
"He's a kid that leads by example," Truitt said. "He stays after practice and works out on weekends. The other night, he was in the weight room at 11 o'clock. You can't teach that. I can coach them, but they've got to want it — and he does."
Against St. Joe, his hard work paid off when he pinned Justin Langeluttig 1:24 into the first period.
"I was just trying to get the pin and get out of there because I knew it was an important match," Mohler said. "I had him in a cradle, but I didn't have the arm locked up, so I let go of that and got the arm locked up."
Winning his match was special, but he was more excited about beating the Gaels.
"I know the tradition and they have all the banners on the wall," he said. "I think Loyola has only done this once or twice, so it's great to come down here for a couple hometown fans and get it done."
Mt. St. Joe seniors honored
Nine Mount St. Joseph seniors took their final walk to the mat in a home dual meet before the Gaels lost a Feb. 3 match to Loyola Blakefield, 41-24.
One by one, they walked out with their parents.
Kyle Berlin, Matt Lucas and Tyler Rill capped the evening with victories, while Brady Parson and Jimmy Sarbanes weren't as fortunate in their matches.
Seniors Jon Morgan, Dan Salmon and Tim Sylvester didn't wrestle against the Dons, but they undoubtedly left the match thinking of all the hard work and sweat they left in the wrestling room for the storied program.
Rill, the top-ranked 170-pound wrestler in the state, defeated 12th-ranked Conan Schuster, 11-4.
"I was happy," Rill said. "I've known him forever, and I knew it was going to be a tough match going into it. It felt good to come out and win. I just wish we could have won, team-wise."
Although the dual-meet season ended, the Gaels will host the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament Feb. 10-11.
Rill, the defending MIAA and Maryland Independent Schools state champion, is looking for more hardware.
"I have to keep working hard," Rill said. "I want to come out and win MIAA's and states again and get ready for National Preps. I've got to let it all play out."