Wrestling coach Keith Watson expects his team to have a dual record of “20-5” in the upcoming season, after placing fifth in the MIAA conference last year.
Three-time state champion freshman George Weber (weight class 119), two-time state champion freshman Scott Strappelli (112), and junior Mat Miller (152 and 160), ranked 12th in the nation among juniors in his weight class by Wrestling USA magazine, lead the team in fresh talent. “Our best guys are better than anybody in the area,” said Watson.
“We’re ranked seventh in the state, so if we don’t show up, we’re going to be embarrassed,” said Miller.
Miller is returning from a “redshirt” year, in which he took classes at Harford Community College and trained mostly on his own, while still attending wrestling matches in support of his team.
“I didn’t get the kind of wrestling that I wanted,” said Miller of his time off. “I can’t wait to start real matches.” Miller’s individual goals include placing high in the state competition, as well as the regional Beast of the East tournament, and the national preps tournament. “I want to take first in the state,” he said. “If I don’t, I’ll probably cry.”
The keys to the team’s success, however, lie in the upper weight classes because “there’s no depth at those weight classes,” said Watson.
Currently, senior Stephen St. Clair is wrestling at 215, junior Rob Clingerman at 285, and senior Will Puhl at 171. Watson said, “They’re not the best, but they need to be reliable and do the job. If one goes down, then there’s a void.”
“Our team is a lot more focused this year,” said Miller. “There’s a lot less joking around than in year’s past.”
Watson expects the team “to have a lot of fun because we will probably win 90 percent of our matches. We’ve been pretty strong for four years; we’re not going to fall apart.”
However, the team will face its share of tough matches. Miller said that the team is looking towards matches against defending champion Mt. St. Joseph and McDonogh, who have combined to win every ‘A’ Conference championship since the 2001-2002 season.
Daniel Gallen can be reached for comment at [email protected].
Kate Froehlich can be reached for comment at [email protected].