Here come the Friars.
After taking three individual championships and the team title at the tough Arundel Holiday Invitational, Archbishop Curley is gearing up for dual meets with the state?s other top squads.
“We have to address some issues with conditioning and technique, but I like where we are,” said Curley coach Gregg Kessler, whose team out-pointed second-place DeMatha 225.5 to 181 Thursday at Arundel. “We had eight in the finals and three champs. I?m pleased, but I know we can do better.”
Tyler Scarinzi (119 pounds), Mike Kulik (160), and Sam Burdych won for Curley, while Bubba Corbett (112), Mitch Fenton (130), Ross Quillett (140), Andrew Sellers (171) and Josh Boler (189) finished second.
In a wild, acrobatic match, Fenton, a private schools state champion, suffered an 8-3 loss to Sherwood?s two-state state champ Andy Lowy in a bout between the state?s two best 130-pounders.
Other area champs at Arundel were: Scott Mantua of River Hill (103), who defeated Arundel?s Nicole Woody, 9-6; Atholton?s Bruce Steinel (125); Broadneck?s Abe Hunter (152), who earned the meet?s outstanding upperweight award; and Broadneck heavyweight Thomas Mulligan.
Ranked No. 3 by the Maryland State Wrestling Association, Curley now wrestles No. 2 Mount St. Joseph on Jan. 18 and No. 1 McDonogh on Jan. 24 in stacked Maryland Independent Athletic Association competition. McDonogh hosts Mount St. Joseph Feb. 2 at 7 p.m.
“We?re excited to wrestle both teams,” Kessler said. “They?re both very good quality programs, especially this year. We want to surprise some folks.”
For their part, No. 1-ranked McDonogh also took home a tournament title Friday, as three of the Owings Mills school?s wrestlers captured individual crowns at the A.I. Dupont Tiger Classic in Delaware. Freshman Nick Schenk (103) and sophomores Curtis Holmes (140) and Shane Milam (145) were all undefeated at the competition.
For Mount St. Joseph, which spent the holidays wrestling at the PowerAde Christmas Tournament (Pa.), the nation?s fifth-ranked tournament, two-time state champion Jake Bohn (189) placed second. Gaels standout Frank Goodwin, a 103-pound freshman, also placed at the prestigious event Saturday, taking fourth.
