Bulldogs make quick work of Eagles
By the time Southern arrived at the stars, it was already riding on an 18-0 advantage.
Then, when it was time for the lightweights, the Bulldogs reached a new level, one that senior Devin Ball thinks the rest of Anne Arundel County ought to watch out for.
“In my opinion, we're at the top,” Ball said. “We have a very bright future with our incoming freshmen and we have a very good shot at these counties.”
Ball was one of four Bulldogs to record pins and led Southern (4-1) to a victory over Northeast, 52-24.
“That's what we expect out of him a lot,” Southern coach Jeff Schrumm said. “Really, all those older guys, that's what we expect – a lot of pins.”
All Ball (126) needed was a minute and six seconds to nail his opponent to the floor.
“That's what I'm trying to do, every time I step on the mat. It's always something I look forward to, and not just getting a win by decision,” Ball said. “I'm quick on my feet. I like to get my takedowns quick.”
Southern's Andrew Ruel (120) needed longer than a minute — three periods actually — but the Bulldog had
managed to corral Eagle Andrew Petrusis, who tried to
pump his legs in the air to escape in the third period as he had in the first and second.
Justin Knapp, in the 106 class, nabbed one of the few Southern decisions, outlasting sophomore Colin Cook through three periods with a whopping 14-3 score. Though Cook had been able to escape Knapp’s clutches at key points, the sophomore suffered the same fate as many of his teammates.
Northeast just couldn’t get up.
“Southern, I don’t think anybody ...” Eagles coach Chris Dyke said, and trailed off. “Their 106 through 24 is dominant.”
The Eagles (1-4) didn’t leave the mat at a total loss, though their bright spots were concentrated smack in the middle. When freshman John Owen Schmidt (132) stepped on the mat, Northeast was already down 42-0. But that didn’t mean the middleweight was going to lie down and let the day be over.
Though his opponent, Michael Segreti, tried to end things with a takedown, Schmidt’s legs held firm, keeping himself alive as the Bulldog lost steam. As Segreti tried to slip in a pin in the final seconds of the second period, Schmidt flipped his attacker over, moving things to the next frame.
Then, Schmidt laid in on Segreti, making short work of him and delivering Northeast’s first pin.
But the Eagles weren’t done. At 145, junior Jayden Mason scooped up Southern’s Christian Taylor and flung him down. It wouldn’t be long before the ref tapped the ground for a pin.
In some ways, though, the final score drew shadows over what both teams were actually dealing with. Southern forfeited two middleweight classes, the 160 and 170, the result of a bout of injuries and illnesses hampering the team.
Northeast, on the other hand, is operating on a team yet to find its full potential.
“Middle of our lineup is our strong point,” Dyke said. “We’re not where we’re at because of weight progression. Next week, week after, we’ll be at our full lineup.”