Severna Park girls basketball ends at hands of defending state champ
10 wrestlers able to keep their state title hopes alive
UPPER MARLBORO — Ten Anne Arundel County wrestlers kept their state championship hopes alive Friday night at the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association wrestling tournament at The Show Place Arena.
In the Class 3A/4A tournament, Northeast junior Colin Cook (106 pounds), Annapolis junior Frank Antonelli (120), South River senior Isaac Barber (132) and sophomore Lonnell Owens-Pabon (170), Arundel junior Caleb Chaves (132) and senior Trevor Gagnon (152), Chesapeake senior Victor Listorti (160) and Severna Park junior Ty Broadway (220) all went 2-0 during the first day of action to reach the state semifinal round, which begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Southern sophomore Justin Knapp (113) and senior Kaleb Neal (160) won their first two matches in the Class 1A/2A tournament.
Cook (106) faced a familiar opponent during the quarterfinal round in Broadneck freshman Liam DeBaugh. In a rematch of the Anne Arundel County championship match that Cook won with a takedown in the final seconds, déjà vu struck again.
This time, however, DeBaugh held a one-point lead before Cook secured a two-point takedown with five seconds remaining to win 4-3.
“I’m not going to lie, it was honestly great,” said Cook, who will face Jason Liau, an undefeated wrestler from Wootton, in the semifinal round Saturday morning.
“After I beat him the first time, his whole school and team were trying to come at me saying I cut down from 113. I just took it and he was saying he was going to come get me back. I was all for it… Once I was in on the shot, I knew I had it.”
Antonelli (120) kept the ball rolling and advanced to the final four with a technical fall and pin. He stuck Springbrook’s Matt Kilby in 3 minutes, 45 seconds in a rematch from the 4A state dual meet finals and will square off with Chopticon regional champion Trey Kratko in the next round.
Barber (132) scored an 11-1 major decision, then earned 3-0 decision in the
quarterfinals against Bowie region champ Dainon Kappes to advance. North Hagerstown’s Thomas Monn awaits.
“Regional championship is good an all, but it’s about performing here,” Barber said. The key for tomorrow? “Get a good night of sleep, don’t kill myself with all the food and come back sharp mentally and ready to go,” he said.
On the other side of the bracket, Chaves (132) got a fall and then avenged his only loss at last year’s state tournament by knocking off returning state finalist Siavash Sarvestani of Northwest 2-1 in the quarters. He will wrestle Springbrook’s Grayson Wendel next.
“He was on our list this year,” Wildcats coach Dwayne Vogel said. “When we saw his draw for states — it was a pretty tough draw — but I liked it because we knew if Caleb got that win against Sarvestani, he’s going to be in a good place. I feel like he’s a truck running downhill right now.”
Gagnon (152), a county champion, outscored his first two opponents 23-1 to reach the semifinals, which included a 7-0 victory over Huntingtown regional champion Robert Ireland. He will see Jaden Selby of Churchill next.
“We didn’t know a lot about the Huntingtown kid,” Vogel said. “I think that’s one of their guys that’s peaking at the end of the year for them and he’s a tough kid. But Trevor just wrestled his match and did a great job keeping him at bay and controlling everything.”
Listorti (160) also rolled to the semifinals. The South regional champion advanced with a pin and a 14-5 major decision over South Hagerstown’s Nick Kelbaugh. A tough task awaits, however, with Marriotts Ridge undefeated senior Will Vaxmonsky on deck.
“I wrestled him one time in the offseason at Blue Claw wrestling club,” Listori said. “I know he’s tough, but I’ve just got to wrestle my match. [It’s about] wrestling smart, hitting the moves I know, and just staying confident and not giving up.”
Owens-Pabon (170) reached the semifinals due to an injury default as Gaithersburg regional champion Jaedyn Harris was unable to continue after suffering an ankle injury. Owens-Pabon has returning state finalist, Joshua Stokes of Huntingtown, for a shot at the finals.
Broadway (220) continued his mission to complete an undefeated season by taking a 15-4 major decision, then pinning DuVal’s Walid Elsayed in 3:07 to advance. His semifinal opponent is Sam O’Brian from Damascus.
“I want to be the best in the weight class,” Broadway said. “If coaches believe in me, I can believe in me too. I deserve to be here.
“I earned it. I worked hard to get here and I want that medal. I want that first place. I want everybody to know I’m the best 220-pounder out here.”
In 1A/2A action, Southern sophomore Justin Knapp (113) advanced to the semifinals with a 7-2 decision in the opening round and a pin against Williamsport’s Brendan Myers in 3:36. Knapp will face two-time defending state champion Alex DuFour of Owings Mills for a shot at the finals.
“Didn’t expect a pin from Justin against a tough kid from the west, but that’s what he’s been doing all year,” Southern coach Jeff Schrumm said.
Southern senior Kaleb Neal (160) stunned the crowed by overcoming a 5-0 deficit with 11 unanswered points against Poolesville regional champion Colin Savage in his quarterfinal bout. He will wrestler Overlea’s Jairus Cannon in the semifinals.
“Kaleb, wow!” Schrumm said. “To beat the kid with a 48-1 record… that was exciting. I’m happy for him.
“Kaleb has run into guys like Listorti and Gagnon, some of the top guys in the state, and this time down 5-0 you thought, ‘Oh, it might happen again.’ But he had the heart and beat the kid.”