by Lem Satterfield
There are only four words to describe the McDonogh wrestling team’s weaknesses this year: It doesn’t have any.
“This year’s team has great experience with 14 returning end-of-last-season starters,” said Eagles’ coach Pete Welch, who is entering his 14th season.
“We will challenge this group with a schedule of nationally-ranked competition along with traditionally intense rivals of the MIAA,” added Welch, whose assistants include Joe Bakwell, Rob Smoot and Zach Johns.
The Eagles, despite having only six seniors on their roster, are primed for a run at their third straight MIAA A Conference dual meet title, as well as their third straight MIAA and private school state tournament crowns.
McDonogh has gone 8-0 against the league during each of its past two seasons. The returning private school state champions went 17-3 and were ranked No. 1 in the state at the end of last season.
In addition, the Eagles have added some quality lowerweights in the 103, and, 112 pound classes, including former five-time Anne Arundel County champion Mitch Bode, as well as Max Sataloff, each of whom is a freshman.
Back for McDonogh are all five individual MIAA tournament titlists, as are each of its four private schools state champs. In addition, the Eagles return four MIAA runners-up.
National Preps champ Nick Schenk, a sophomore, leads the way, rising to 119 pounds up from 103, where he won tournament crowns at the MIAA, private schools and National Preps events.
Schenk posted a 43-0 record last season, the best-ever by a McDonogh freshman wrestler.
Senior Josh Fitch, who will compete at 140 to start, but who is certified to go at 135, will go after his fourth straight MIAA and private schools state tournament titles.
And then, Fitch, who, like Schenk and junior Shane Milam, is a returning All-Metro First-Teamer, will attempt to win his first National Preps crown at Lehigh University, the school Fitch will attend starting next fall.
Fitch has placed fourth, third and second in past National Preps events, so he wants to go out with a bang.
Milam, a two-time MIAA champ, is back after competing at 145 last season. Milam was an impressive 44-6 with 15 pins last season, winning his first private schools title and placing fourth at National Preps.
Milam will rise to 152 pounds, leaving 145 to another very capable junior in Curtis Holmes, the youngest and perhaps most talented of three siblings who have competed for the Eagles.
Holmes, a football and lacrosse player as well, moves up from 140 pounds, where he won his second straight MIAA championship.
Holmes’ older brother, Bryn, was a National Preps champ in 2005, and went on to play lacrosse at the University of Maryland.
Still another junior is Alex Pagnotta, who won an MIAA title last season before finishing second at private school states. Pagnotta, who competed at 160, and, 171, a year ago, wil rise to 189 this season.
Albert Woody, a junior, and seniors Kramer Whitelaw, Doug Schenk and Lane Clelland were all MIAA runners-up last season in a tournament during which the Eagles outscored runner-up Archbishop Curley, 256.5-221.0.
Woody, a 112-pounder last season, is expected to compete at between 130-to-135.
Whitelaw, who competed at 152 a year ago, will move up to 160. Doug Schenk and Lane Clelland will return to their respective 215 and 275-pound classes.
Navy-bound senior Ben Levin, an offseason marathoner with energy to burn, will go at between 125-to-130, the latter being the weight class at which he was a private schools state runner-up last season.
Eric Filipowicz (125-130), a junior who placed third at last year’s prestigious Mount Mat Madness Invitational, is back after a season that was shortened by injury.
Other retunees include sophomore Scott Patrick, junior Nick Gimenez and senior Joe Eder.
Patrick could see action at anywhere from 125 to 135, Gimenez looks to compete as a 189 pounder, and Eder makes the big jump from 135 to perhaps 160 or even 171.
“We’ll compete in tournaments in New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, and we’ll host the Ray Oliver Invitational Tournament as well as our first McDonogh Holiday Duals,” Welch said of events that will include top-notch teams.
“This year, we’ll compete in a quad with Blair Academy, St. Edwards of Ohio, and Bergan Catholic,” Welch said. “We look forward to a season of exciting matches with great improvement and with the hopes of staying injury free.”
Below is more information on Eagles’ season schedule:
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Pete Welch
Nick Schenk
Scott Patrick
Eric Filipowicz
Ben Levin
Albert Woody
Josh Fitch
Curtis Holmes
Shane Milam
Kramer Whitelaw
Joe Eder
Alex Pagnotta
Doug Schenk
Lane Clelland
McDonogh’s wrestling schedule is up on the website at www.mcdonoghwrestling.com. The most challenging schedule McDonogh has ever wrestled. Amateur Wrestling News has ranked McDonogh #29 in the Preseason Prep 40 Poll, but other polls have the Eagles ranked as high as No. 19.
• After finishing second to St. Benedict’s last year, McDonogh will be aiming to get back on top against an always competitive St. Benedict’s and nationally ranked Wyoming Seminary (#16 Prep 40).
• The 35th Ray Oliver Tournament hosted by McDonogh will be more competitive this year with some of Maryland’s top teams: Glenelg, Old Mill, North Carroll, Winters Mill plus the addition of St. Mark’s (#38 Prep 40) out of Delaware and Langley (#4 in Virginia). (www.mcdonoghwrestling.com/rayolivertourn.html)
• At the Beast, McDonogh hopes to improve on last year’s 13th place finish in one of the nation’s toughest high school tournaments. (www.beastwrestling.com)
• Over the holiday break, McDonogh will be hosting its first dual tournament in a 1 day, 12 team format. Participating teams include Jackson (NJ) (#30 Prep 40), Kellam (VA) (#6 in Virginia), Pennsbury (PA) and others. (www.mcdonoghwrestling.com/mcdholidayduals.html)
• McDonogh will be participating in the Battlefield Duals at Hayfield High School in Virginia with teams like Christiansburg (#13 Prep 40), Colonial Forge (#26 Prep 40), and Upper Perkiomen.
• Duals against Smyrna (DE), MSJ, Curley, BL, and Gilman, plus the 3 new MIAA A conference teams, John Carroll, Spaulding, and St. Mary’s.
• McDonogh will be defending its team title at the toughest tournament in Maryland, Mount Mat Madness. (www.mountmatmadness.com)
• In late January, McDonogh will be wrestling in a quad versus Blair Academy (NJ) (#1 Prep 40), St. Edward (OH) (#6 Prep 40) and Bergen Catholic (NJ).
• Then the usual yearend tournaments in February: MIAA, MIS, and National Preps.
Schedule (www.mcdonoghwrestling.com/schedule.html)
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