Centennial’s Calvin Kraisser continues family legacy with 2nd wrestling title; Mt. Hebron’s Samuel Jordan, Old Mill’s RJ Duncan end school droughts

UPPER MARLBORO — For Centennial sophomore Calvin Kraisser, it never gets old. You put in the work, you see the results.

After trailing 2-0 entering the third period, Kraisser rallied to pin Clarksville’s Jonathan Chang 5:39 into the match and capture his second state title in the Class 4A/3A state championships at The Show Place Arena on Saturday.

Kraisser joins his brothers Nathan, Austin and Jason in winning multiple state titles. His father, Cliff, also won one in the early 1980s, giving the family a total of 14 championships.

“I appreciate the support I get from my family,” Kraisser said of his win at 138 pounds. “They always support me and help me to get better. It’s a tradition that I feel like I need to carry on.”

Centennial's Calvin Kraisser has his arm raised in victory after defeating Clarksburg's Jonathan Chang in the 138-pound final during the Class 4A/3A state wrestling championships at The Show Place Arena on Saturday. (Brian Krista/Baltimore Sun Media)

For a while, it didn’t look like his championship run would continue. Down 2-0, Kraisser got a takedown with 1:27 left in the third period to tie the match, then got two more points on a near-fall to take a 4-2 lead. After that, he managed to get Chang on his back again before pinning him.

“I just tried to get a really got shot in,” Kraisser said. “He’s a really good wrestler, and I knew he’d be tough.”

Howard County got another state champion when Mt. Hebron’s Samuel Jordan (40-1) got an escape with 1:40 left in the second period and made it stand up for a 1-0 win at 220.

Jordan is the first Vikings wrestler to win an individual state title.

“I looked at the wall at the school and saw all those second- and third-place finishers,” Jordan said. “It’s an honor to be the first to win a state title, and I feel like I did it for all the guys who didn’t win it all.”

Mt. Hebron's Samuel Jordan celebrates his win over Seneca Valley's Wayne Tabb in the 220-pound final during the Class 4A/3A state wrestling championships at The Show Place Arena on Saturday. (Brian Krista/Baltimore Sun Media)

Another local winner was South River’s Sam Ditmars. The senior was a runner-up last year but dominated his match with North Point’s Aiden Rivenburg at 145 pounds. Ditmars, who finished the year 59-1, held a 5-0 lead in the third period before dropping Rivenburg with a leg drop with 1:55 left in the third. Rivenburg cried out in pain and was unable to finish the match.

Broadneck got its only winner of the day when Liam DeBaugh (41-1) defeated Nelson Manzeota of Montgomery Blair, 9-1, at 160 pounds. The Bruins were not as fortunate at 182 and 195, where Jake Chambers and Dax Avila, respectively, lost by decisions in their matches.

Anne Arundel County had another local winner when junior heavyweight RJ Duncan of Old Mill defeated Joel Hopkins of Linganore, 13-8. Duncan, Old Mill’s first state champion since at least 2011, dominated from the start, nearly pinning Hopkins on a takedown just 15 seconds into the match.

Old Mill heavyweight RJ Duncan celebrates his finals win over Linganore's Joel Hopkins during the Class 4A/3A state wrestling championships at The Show Place Arena on Saturday. (Brian Krista/Baltimore Sun Media)

River Hill’s Dylan McCullough won his first state title in his senior year after finishing second last season. He also dominated, controlling his match and beating Ethan Arneson of Linganore, 8-1, at 170 pounds. He finished the season 46-1.

“I remember at this time last year I was sitting in the hallway back there crying because I’d just finished short of my goal,” McCullough said. “I put the work in [this year], and the hard work finally paid off.”

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Another notable finisher was South River’s Alex Szkotnicki, who placed fourth at 113 pounds to become the second-highest girls place-winner in Maryland public school coed tournament history.

Szkotnicki is the fourth girl to place in the top six, joining Helen Maroulis (Magruder High, sixth place in 2007 and 2008), Nicole Woody (Arundel High, second in 2007) and Monica Hovermale (Smithsburg High, sixth in 2010). Szkotniki’s state placing is only behind Woody’s, and her single-season win total (44) is the most among them all (Maroulis won 33 in 2008).

At 126 pounds, Woodlawn’s Ky-El Ali lost to Oakdale’s Cooper Von Scoyoc, 6-2, in a match that was closer than the score indicated. Reservoir’s Andrew Dolezel (120) also fell short in his quest for a title, losing to Jace Munoz of Sherwood, 8-2.

Other winners in the tournament were North Point’s Connor Huff, who defeated Tsvi Margolis of Clarksville, 12-5, at 152 pounds. Garhett Dickerson of Linganore beat Tate Purvis of Bowie, 8-3, at 132 pounds.

At 113 pounds, Drew Montgomery of Northern-Calvert defeated Stone Yuen of Albert Einstein, 10-4. In the final match of the night, Neil Sharma of Magruder beat Josh Arthur of Linganore, 4-0, at 103 pounds.

Class 4A/3A state championship match results:

285: Duncan (OLM) d Hopkins (LIN), 13-8; 220: Jordan (MtH) d Tabb (SEV), 1-0; 195: Brown (NWM) d Avila (BDN), 7-5; 182: Carrillo (NWM) b Chambers (BDN), 7-4; 170: McCullough (RH) d Ameson (LIN), 8-1; 160: DeBaugh (BDN),9-1: 152: Huff (NPT) d Margolis (CLK), 12-5; 145: Ditmars (SRI) wins by inj. default; 138: Kraisser (CTN) p Chang (CLK), 5:39; 132: Dickerson (LIN) d Purvis (BOW), 8-3; 126: Van Scoyoc (OAD) d Ali (WOO), 6-2; 120: Munoz (SHE) d Dolezel (RES), 8-2; 113: Montgomery (NOC) d Yuen (AEI), 10-4; 106: Sharma (CZM) d Arthur (LIN), 4-0.