Glenelg coach Scott Delpo had a simple message for his squad Saturday at noon: Take the weekend to grieve, but come back ready as the next phase of the championship season is set to begin.
Delpo?s instructions came shortly after his team?s disheartening, 37-26, loss to Rising Sun (18-0) that cut short its attempt at a perfect season and a 2A/1A state dual meet championship.
The Gladiators fell behind 20-6 early in their state semifinal match at New Town High School, rallied to within three points, 20-17, before dropping three of the final four matches decided on the mat to end their dual meet season at 16-1.
Rising Sun went on to defeat Northern of Garrett, 40-24, for the state title.
“They?re going to be down but I told them, ?We can?t make it this far and lose to a good team like Rising Sun and then get so down we don?t win our county,? ” Delpo said. “States and counties are the two most important things, in that order.”
Glenelg looked poised to continue its undefeated season, rallying back after a rough start that saw it lose five of the first six matches with the only win being a forfeit. Brian Marcoux stopped the onslaught with a 9-0 major decision and his victory was followed by a 4-3 win by Craig Brindza and a 10-2 major decision by Chris Stinnett that trimmed the lead to 20-17.
But after a 5-2 win by Danny Bichner at 142 pounds that kept Glenelg?s within six points following another win by the Tigers, Rising Sun?s Aaron Williams and Seth Buckman produced a 19-4 technical fall and a fall, respectively, for an insurmountable 37-20 lead with one match to go.
Hereford?s season also came to a close during the semifinal round, falling, 35-33, to Northern in what was a back-and-forth match throughout until back-to-back wins by Northern?s Dustin Stough (147) and Andrew Ganoe (154) gave it a 35-27 lead with one match remaining.
“I think we did a great job,” said Hereford coach Ron Causey, whose team led by as much as six points, 15-9, and forged a 21-21 tie with five matches remaining. “We wrestled hard but you have to give credit to the other side. It was two evenly matched teams.”
Hereford, which placed second last year as well, finished with a 12-3 record.
