1. Mount Saint Joseph
Coach: Harry Barnabae
Last season: 23-3, No. 1
Postseason: MIAA tournament champion, MIS tournament champion, fourth at National Preps tournament
Outlook: The Gaels went undefeated against MIAA competition last year in the regular season and followed with first-place team finishes at the MIAA and MIS tournaments. Their only three defeats came to teams ranked top-10 in the nation. They return Chris Barnabae, Justin Henry, David Schultz, Keagan Rill, Austin Stith, Connor Strong and Nathan Porter, all of whom were in the finals at the MIAA tournament.
2. McDonogh
Coach: Pete Welch
Last season: 15-7, No. 3
Postseason: MIAA tournament runner-up, MIS tournament runner-up, sixth at National Preps tournament
Outlook: The Eagles were a young team that peaked toward the end of the season, finishing just 13 points behind Mount Saint Joseph at the MIAA tournament. Led by seniors Caden Mareno, Parker Robinson and PJ Mustipher, as well as National Preps placers Garrett Kappes and Jack Wimmer, they should be on the Gaels’ heels throughout the season.
3. St. Paul’s
Coach: Rob Eiter
Last season: 20-1, No. 2
Postseason: Third at MIAA tournament, third at MIS tournament, fourth at National Preps tournament, seventh at National Preps
Outlook: The Crusaders have one of the nation’s best wrestlers in junior Kurt McHenry, but they also have a strong supporting unit. Will Guida, Imran Heard, Jack Parr, John Urban and Sparrows Point transfer state champion Max Hammond are all expected to compete for league, state and National Preps titles.
4. Archbishop Spalding
Coach: Mike Laidley
Last season: 10-13, No. 10
Postseason: Fourth at MIAA tournament, fourth at MIS tournament, 11th at National Preps
Outlook: The Cavaliers have a young core that includes sophomores Sam Smirnoff, Dustin Radford and Mitch Garretson and juniors PJ Truntich, Rick Couch, Garrett Fisk and Tyler Savage, giving them a steady lineup with senior Ryan Garretson back in the fold. They struggled at times in dual meets but should be among the top teams in the MIAA again this season.
5. Glenelg
Coach: Matt Bichner
Last season: 27-3, No. 4
Postseason: Howard County tournament champion, 4A-3A East regional dual champion, 4A-3A East regional tournament co-champion, seventh at 4A-3A state tournament
Outlook: The Gladiators return state place-winners Jared Thomas, Max Sotka and Sam Alsheimer, as well as state qualifiers Kevin Hansberger and Jacob Jones and county champion Logan Gwin. They fell to Damascus in the 4A-3A state dual championship last season and should be in the mix to compete for a 2A dual title this year.
6. South Carroll
Coach: Matt Thomas
Last season: 26-4, No. 4
Postseason: Carroll County tournament champion, 2A-1A West regional tournament runner-up, 2A-1A state tournament champion
Outlook: Joey Thomas and Jamar Williams graduated after helping the Cavaliers win their fourth straight state tournament title, but state champion Travis Crawford and state finalists Tyler Harbison, Cam Werner and Dakota Bowers return under new head coach Matt Thomas. Their lack of depth will cost them dual meets, but they should compete for tournament titles all season.
7. Loyola Blakefield
Coach: Steve Truitt
Last season: 10-6, No. 9
Postseason: Fifth at MIAA tournament, seventh at MIS tournament, 43rd at National Preps
Outlook: The Dons have been competitive in the MIAA for several years and have built a program that sustains success. DeShawn Strand returns after placing third at the MIS tournament in one of the toughest brackets at 106 pounds, as do six other wrestlers who placed among the top eight at their weight class at the state tournament.
8. South River
Coach: John Klessinger
Last season: 27-6, No. 6
Postseason: Anne Arundel County tournament champion, 4A-3A East region dual finalist, 4A-3A East region tournament co-champion, 10th at 4A-3A state tournament
Outlook: The Seahawks have been among the top contenders year in and year out in Anne Arundel County, and it should be no different this winter. Isaac Barber and Trenton Puccinelli are expected to compete for postseason titles individually, but the depth and consistency should have South River in the mix for another regional dual appearance.
9. Sparrows Point
Coach: Michael Whisner
Last season: 35-5, No. 7
Postseason: Baltimore County tournament champion, second at 2A-1A North region tournament, 2A-1A North region dual champion, third at 2A-1A state tournament
Outlook: The Pointers have won 69 consecutive regular-season dual meets and have dominated Baltimore County in recent years. They were in the 2A-1A state dual final a year ago, and they return five state qualifiers and three place-winners in Matt Fouts, Mike Fouts and Skyler Minutelli.
10. Dunbar
Coach: Doug McClain
Last season: 15-10, —
Postseason: Baltimore City tournament champion, 2A-1A North region dual semifinalist, fifth at 2A-1A North region tournament, 2A-1A South dual champion, fifth at 2A-1A state tournament
Outlook: The Poets were inconsistent last season but peaked at the right time, finishing fifth at the 2A-1A state tournament and crowning Baltimore City’s first state champion in Jorden Pryor. He returns alongside state finalist Dwayne Johnson to lead a Dunbar team primed to compete for the 1A state dual title.
11. Oakland Mills
Coach: Brad Howell
Last season: 17-8, No. 8
Postseason: Second at Howard County tournament, 2A-1A South region tournament champion, 2A-1A South dual champion, fourth at 2A-1A state tournament
Outlook: The Scorpions have been the model of consistency the past three years, winning the 2A-1A South region dual and tournament titles each season. Three-time state finalist Kyle Farace and state place-winner Ben Goldfein are among a number of returners with varsity experience.
12. Bel Air
Coach: Craig Reddish
Last season: 28-3, No. 14
Postseason: UCBAC tournament champion, 4A-3A East region dual semifinalist, sixth at 4A-3A East region tournament, ninth at 4A-3A state tournament
Outlook: The Bobcats have dominated the UCBAC conference four years running, and with two-time state champion Brent Lorin back to lead the way, they should be the team to beat once again. UCBAC champions Jack Brink and Liam Bowers are among six returners who placed among the top three at the conference tournament or won 28 matches.
13. Broadneck
Coach: Reid Bloomfield
Last season: 15-3, No. 13
Postseason: Third at Anne Arundel County tournament, 4A-3A East region dual semifinalist, fifth at 4A-3A East region tournament, 44th at 4A-3A state tournament
Outlook: The Bruins had one of the most consistent lineups in the area last year but none of their wrestlers reached the podium at the state tournament. This winter, county champions Noah Genovese and Nick Schardt, alongside Owen Joyce, Vinny Facciponti, Zach Doyle and Mack Groah, should have Broadneck in the mix for a better finish in the postseason.
14. Old Mill
Coach: Jim Grim
Last season: 23-8, No. 11
Postseason: Second at Anne Arundel County tournament, third at 4A-3A East region tournament, 18th at 4A-3A state tournament
Outlook: The Patriots were a step behind South River and Broadneck in dual meets last season but were in the mix for the county and region tournament titles. With three-time county and two-time region champion Robbie Fleming back to lead an experienced squad, Old Mill will be among the top teams in county and the East region come postseason time.
15. Owings Mills
Coach: Shawn Girch
Last season: 19-13, —
Postseason: Second at Baltimore County tournament, 2A-1A North region dual semifinalist, third at 2A-1A North region tournament, 10th at 2A-1A state tournament
Outlook: The Eagles return state finalist Tyson McDuffy and bring in Franklin transfer Phil Smith, who went 43-1 and placed third at the 4A-3A state tournament as a freshman. They have some big holes in the lineup but have some of the top wrestlers in Baltimore County.
Others considered: Atholton (10-7), Hereford (12-3), Mount Hebron (18-4), Westminster (22-18), Winters Mill (16-6)