Nathan Cortes-Peck heard whispers all week that DeMatha’s wrestling team might be vulnerable when it traveled to Washington Catholic Athletic Conference rival O’Connell.
That’s not something the 21-time defending WCAC champions are used to hearing. It’s definitely not something they like.
Whether those whispers were real or just a really effective motivational ploy only the Stags know. But it played a key role anyway in their 41-26 victory over O’Connell on Wednesday.
“We were going to make it clear that we haven’t gone anywhere,” said Cortes-Peck, a senior 152-pounder. “We’re still the dominant team in the WCAC. That’s something we’ve established over the years and we’re going to keep it going.”
O’Connell (14-2) entered with just one loss all year in dual matches and none against WCAC competition. But the Knights were without junior 140-pounder Eric Kurtzke, who is out with an undisclosed injury, and lost nine of the first 11 matches — four by pin.
O’Connell did earn a nice victory at 145 when senior Drew Carpenter upended DeMatha senior Steve Sargent for a 4-3 decision. It’s been a rough year for Sargent, who in the last six months has endured knee surgery, fractured his right pinky twice, sprained a thumb, cracked a rib and been involved in a car accident. And to top it all off he’s been sick all month and can hardly keep any food down.
“I’m dizzy. I have no stamina. I practice maybe twice a week,” said Sargent, who somehow is still 24-5 against DeMatha’s challenging schedule. “But this is my last year and I can’t just give up. I have to get through it.”
Cortes-Peck, close friends with Sargent since grade school, had issues of his own. In September, his car hydroplaned in a heavy rain storm and hit a maintenance truck. The Calvert County native banged his head against the steering wheel and was briefly knocked out. He also suffered a nicked jugular and split cartilage in his knee.
That didn’t stop the three-time WCAC champion from a breakout season, culminating with the 152-pound title at the Mount Mat Madness tournament in Towson, Md.
“I’m no National Prep champion or anything. None of us can win at Beast of the East,” said Cortes-Peck, referring to two of the most prestigious tournaments in high school wrestling. “But that’s the best part of our team this year. No superstars. Just kids who rise to the occasion every time.”
Match notes
» O’Connell is strongest at the lighter weights. The Knights won at 112 (James Young), 119 (Kyle Mason), 125 (Nam Dunbar) and 130 (Jonathan Carpenter) to cut into a 41-9 deficit.
» DeMatha senior Nathan Cortes-Peck and O’Connell senior John Curtin had an entertaining match at 152. Cortes-Peck led 7-0 after two periods, but had to hold on for a 7-5 decision.
» Junior Matt Duggan got the evening started off right for the Stags with a tech fall victory over O’Connell’s Rob Clay in the 135-pound match.
