Decisive losses to Northwest and Damascus in a ballyhooed tri-meet in December, eased perennial power Quince Orchard off the wrestling radar much of this season.
But two months later, the Cougars have re-emerged. In winning the Montgomery County championship Friday and Saturday at Blair, QO demonstrated it perhaps never should have been overlooked.
Senior Mike Mascio (160) and sophomore Dake Williams (215) won individual titles while eight other Cougars placed, earning berthsin the 3A/4A West Region tournament this weekend.
“It was great because nobody expected us,” said senior Robert Dudley (130) who placed third. “We didn’t even get into the region duals. We thought we should have been there. That made winning the county that much sweeter.”
It was the first county title for QO since 2003, fulfilling coach Joe Hawkins’ four-year rebuilding plan.
“We get intramural wrestlers, but we don’t get Beltway kids,” said Hawkins, referring to the area’s elite youth wrestling program. “We have to take freshmen and make them into wrestlers. It takes a while.”
Dudley (32-2) and Mascio (31-4) are examples. Neither had much wrestling experience when they arrived at QO. And neither won more than 10 matches in his freshman year. But by last season, both were county runner-ups.
“We don’t have any ringers,” said Dudley. “When we were freshmen, the seniors gave us a hard time. They motivated us, pushed us, made us work hard and get better.”
Now it’s Dudley and Mascio who impart their experience to freshmen, such as Reed Neubaum (140), a surprise second-place finisher after entering the tournament seeded seventh. Sophomore brother Spencer Neubaum (125) placed fourth.
But QO (20-2) primarily was fueled by its senior class including fourth-place finishers Max Gorman (135) and Brian Crippin (189), and fifth-place Ryan Bentley (152).
“We had guys sick and injured, but they really pulled together as a team and got it done,” said Hawkins. “Every individual contributed. We don’t have a lot of stars. That’s what we’re going to have to do to have a chance at the state tournament.”
Cougars on the prowl
» Coach Joe Hawkins won two county titles and one state title as a wrestler at Seneca Valley in the late 1980s.
» QO won three straight Montgomery County titles (1991-93), but has neverwon a state title.
» In winning the 215 title, Williams avenged an earlier defeat to Josh Frederick (Damascus).
