Five years ago Carver A&T's wrestling program was hanging on, but just barely. Coach Everett Elliott had just arrived and there were all of three wrestlers in the program.
Wednesday night, at the school's winter sports ceremony, Elliott read off a page full of accomplishments about his team -- all firsts in the school's wrestling history.
Four wrestlers had 20-win seasons - Karran Costley, Kendell Costley, Sebastian Ayala, and Robert Foster. Two had 30-win seasons - Sam Pellerito and Malachi Burden -- and they also both placed in the county tournament. Pellerito won his 113-pound class in the Class 2A-1A North Region tournament. He was one of four regional placers for Carver (the two Costleys and Burden were the other three), another first.
When Pellerito won that regional title, he became the first two-time regional champion at the school, the first three-time state qualifier and it's first 100-career match winner.
"Sam is a junior and he has raised expectations for everyone else on the team," Elliott said of Pellerito who was 37-4 this season. "He's the only one going to states, but he has helped make the state tournament a realistic goal for our kids."
The Wildcats won just three of their 14 matches this season, but they wrestled hard, losing several matches they might have won had they not still had to forfeit weight classes -- as many as six at times and no fewer than four.
Elliott looks to next season as a new beginning. A new school is on the way with a new room dedicated to wrestling. No longer will the team be working out in a classroom. And next season, everyone on the roster is expected back, plus there are junior varsity wrestlers moving up.
"We're on the rise," Elliott said. "And I'm hoping this is the year Sam can place at states."
Pellerito, 16, said he feels "pretty good" about his chances in the state tournament, which begins Friday at 2:30 p.m. at the University of Maryland's Cole Field House.
"I would like to place," said Pellerito, who carries a 4.01 weighted GPA. "The only way to do that is to show up and wrestle every person you see as if they're the best. You can't underestimate anyone. My overall goal is to win my weight class, but I'd be happy to place."
Pellerito has been wrestling since he was 4. He started in the Reisterstown Rec League and then went to the Owings Mills Rec League coached by Owings Mills coach Guy Pritzker. Pritzker congratulated him last weekend when he beat an Owings Mills wrestler inthe regional final for his 100th victory.
"Guy was happy for him," Elliott said, then laughed. "He wants him back."