When Old Mill?s wrestling coach Jim Grim wasn?t punching his chair with two closed fists in frustration this weekend, he was jumping in celebration hugging the members of his team.
Grim had a lot to be emotional about as he coached his storied Old Mill wrestling program to its eighth state tournament title Saturday at the University of Maryland?s Cole Field House, narrowly defeating second-place La Plata by nine points.
“I?ve very proud of them,” Grim said, after being hoisted on the shoulders of his wrestlers. “We brought six guys and every one of them scored points.”
Perhaps no match was bigger for the Patriots than then 4A/3A 189-pound state finals inwhich Old Mill?s Ethan Brown claimed a state title by tossing South River?s Ian Graham to his back on the edge of the mat, then dragging Graham?s shoulder-blades in bounds for the 3:53 pin.
After winning, Brown leapt into Grim?s arms, celebrating his championship.
Old Mill?s other title came from 125-pound wrestler Greg Saumenig who won his second crown over Northwest?s Sean McCarty, 6-5, on an overtime stalling call.
During the hotly contested match, Grim shouted and ranted throughout the bout and even used his chair as a punching bag.
The final call that ended the match drew loud boos from McCarty?s Montgomery County fans, but Grim said he couldn?t object.
“The referee was very consistent with the stalling calls,” Grim said. “Referees aren?t supposed to not call stalling just because it?s overtime.”
Saumenig was one of 14 Baltimore area state champions crowned at the 4A/3A and 2A/1A state tournaments this Saturday.
Hereford?s Josh Asper, a junior, earned his third state title in the 160-pound 2A/1A division with a 6-2 victory over Southern of Garrett?s state champion Justin Ratliff.
“I knew he was good on his feet, so I was trying to go right after him,” said Asper, who will look to gain a historic fourth state championship next year.
“It will be a lot of pressure on me,” he said.
Others becoming multiple-time state champions were Hammond?s Devon Gillett (119), Northeast?s Maurice Fleming (140) and Annapolis? Bubby Graham (152).
Graham, who defeated Broadneck?s Abe Hunter for the eighth time in his career to win his second title, said the victory was sweeter than his first because now he has one more state title than his older brother, Ben.
“This one is better because my brother only won one,” Graham said.
In addition to Asper and Gillett, Century?s AlexGrassi (125), Owings Mills? Tony Mack (145), Atholton?s Ryan Conroy (152) and Liberty?s Eddie Digman (285) also won 2A/1A titles. River Hill?s Scott Mantua (103), Dulaney?s Matt Jacobs (145), Wilde Lake?s Zach Brown (215) and Woodlawn?s Alex Harper (285) won 4A/3A titles.
Hammond?s three-time state champion Vince Taweel (135) fell short of his goal of becoming a four-time state champion Friday. Taweel was trailing Beall?s Stephen Whetstone, 10-3, when a move injured his knee, causing Taweel to default from the tournament.
