by Lem Satterfield
When coach Keith Watson’s John Carroll Patriots rose from the Maryland
Interscholastic Athletic Association’s B Conference, where they were
league champions last year, into the A Conference this season, there
were some who felt they would take their lumps.
But the Patriots thrived not only by finishing in a respectable fourth
place in the league dual meet and tournament standings, but they also
successfully navigated a difficult non-conference schedule that
included matches against powerful public school teams.
The Patriots’ 35-5 dual meet record included a win over then-defending
Class 2A-1A state dual meet and tournament champion Rising Sun of Cecil
County.
The Patriots were consistently behind traditional league powers such as
three-time champion McDonogh, Mount St. Joseph and Archbishop Curley —
ranked Nos. 1, 2 and 10, respectively, in the DigitalSports-Maryland
State Wrestling Association Top 20.
The Patriots, ranked 14th in the DigitalSports-MSWA Top 20, also placed
fifth in the Maryland Independent Schools or private schools state
tournamaent behind McDonogh, Mount St. Joseph, Curley and DeMatha of
Hyattsville, ranked eighth in the DigitalSports-MSWA.
“At the end of last season, our biggest concerns for this year’s move
up to the A Conference were filling the lightest and heaviest weight
classes,” Watson said. “Otherwise, we felt confident that our work in
the offseason and depth of lineup would serve us well. We felt that as
long as we stayed healthy, we would at least be competitive.”
At MIAAs, the Patriots had runner-up efforts from Eric Hart (140) and
Ethan Reese (189), a third-place finish from Ray Grewe (215), and
fourth-place finishes from Matt Bodt (112), Sammy Chell (125) and Ryan
Owens (130).
At the private schools state tournament, Reese, Bodt and Owens were
third, Grewe and Mathew Miller (145) were fifth, and Hart and Nick
Almony (160), fifth.
“Last year was a record-breaking season for us, so yeah, of course this
one is too,” said Watson, whose Patriots are sending “twice as many
wrestlers to National Preps this weekend as we did last year.”
Grewe shared upperweight responsibilities with the Volker twins, Ben
and Chris, with all three of them weighing “about 205 pounds,” Watson
said of wrestlers whose combined records totaled 65-33.
At 103 pounds, freshman Mike Webb emerged for the Patriots, amassing a 17-10 record despite having limited experience.
The Patriots “expect further improvement teamwise,” next year, said Watson, who graduates only four starters.
“We intend to upgrade our schedule by including higher level traditional and dual meet tournaments,” Watson said.
2008-2009 schedule outline:
Nov 29th Curley Duals: Curley, DeMatha, Calvert Hall &
St Mary’s
Dec 5/6th War On The Shore: Curley,
Mt St Joe, Stephen Decatur, Sussex Tech, Sussex Central, St Mark’s, etc
Dec 12/13th Lion Duals: Norristown, PA, Mt St
Joe, (partial squad), Milford Mill, Leonardtown, etc
Dec 13/14th Beast of the East
Dec 19/20th – open
Dec 27th McDonogh Duals: McD, Old Mill, Council Routh North (PA), Springfield Delco (PA),
Peddie (NJ), Jackson (NJ)
Jan 9/10th Iron Horse Duals: St Benedict’s (NJ);
Lower Dauphin (PA); Georgetown Prep, Milford Mill, Chesapeake, (AA Co),
Marriott’s Ridge; Susquehannock (PA)
Jan 16/17th Mount Mat Madness
Jan 24th Octararo
Inviataional: West Chester East, Mecthacton, Central Bucks East,
Octararo, Unionville, Coatsville, (all teams from PA) and Indian River (DE)
Jan 29/30th – open
Feb 6/7th MIAA’s
Feb 13/14th Md Ind States
Feb 19-21…..National Preps
*league
(required) dual meets in red
Plus……….. dual/tri meets with Gilman, MSJ, Bel Air,
Rising Sun, Southern Garrett, Urbana, North Carroll, Hereford, Boy’s Latin and Loyola.
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