The MPSSAA State Tournament is the biggest event in Maryland wrestling and it took place at Cole Fieldhouse at the University of Maryland on March 1st and 2nd. The Southern Rams have been on quite a roll over the last 10 years, with 21 wrestlers reaching the state finals and 13 winning the state championship. As a team, the Rams won the tournament twice, placed 2nd twice and placed 4th twice. We hold state records by placing 5 wrestlers in the finals twice and crowning four champions twice.
This season, the Rams qualified 3 wrestlers for the tournament coming out of the super-tough west region. Juniors Austin Shaffer and Tanner Massey and senior Scott Cooper qualified for Cole Fieldhouse by placing 2nd, 4th and 3rd respectively at the regional tournament held last week at Oakdale High School in Frederick.
Austin Shaffer entered the tournament as the defending state champion and the favorite to win his second title. Austin lost in the finals at regionals to Tim Nordan of Catoctin and most people expected a rematch in the finals at states. Shaffer started the tournament by pinning his opponent from Sparrows Point in only 24 seconds. In his quarter-final match, Shaffer dominated his opponent from Bo manor, finally pinning him late in the third period, earning a spot in the state semi-finals.
In the semis, Austin faced Naiheen Knight from Snow Hill, a tough, fast kid who knocked off another highly ranked kid in the quarters. It was a wild, high scoring match that came down to a last second takedown. In the first period, during a flurry of action, Knight was able to throw Shaffer to his back and take a 4-0 lead. Shaffer fought back tying the score and keeping it close. At one point, Shaffer came down funny on his elbow and had to take an injury time-out. In obvious pain, Ausitn got up and said "this is the state semi finals, I'm wrestling" and went back to work. The remainder of the match was tight and as time was running out, Knight was able to get a deep shot that Austin could not stop. Knight was awarded the takedown and the 11-9 victory.
Austin dropped into the consolation round and was faced with the decision of continuing or pulling out and placing 6th. We advised him to rest his arm and avoid further injury, but he was determined to continue and do his best. In his first consolation match, Shaffer faced McAleer from Manchester Valley. In a gutsy performance, Austin won 2-0, advancing to the consolation finals vs. Stevan Smith from Kent Island. In the final match of the day, Shaffer dominated the action throughout and came away with a 6-2 decision to finish the tournament in 3rd place. After returning home and seeing the doctor, Austin was placed in a cast with a torn ligament in his right elbow. He is out of action for six weeks. Shaffer's season ends with an impressive 43-2 record.
At 138, Tanner Massey entered the state tournament for the first time. As a #4 placewinner at regionals, Tanner's first match was against a #1 seed, Connor Furst from Patuxant High School. Massey wrestled well, but in the end, he was caught in a nasty move known as the spladle and was pinned, dropping him into the consolation round. In Friday night's round, Tanner faced Nelson Phillips from Rising Sun. The match was tight and Tanner wrestled well, but in the end, Phillips won 5-0 and Tanner was eliminated.
Senior Scott Cooper was also wrestling in the state tournament for the first time. He entered the tournament with a 23-2 record and we knew he had a great chance. His first match of the weekend was against Robby Happy from Oakland Mills. Scott got into a little trouble early, but was able to fight out of danger and win the match by pin near the end of the first period. In his quarter final match, Scott faced a regional champion with an impressive 36-1 record from Dunbar named Aaron Savage. In the quarter final match, Scott did what he has done all year long. Scott wrestled tough and stayed in good position then took advantage of an opportunity and pinned the kid in a wild scramble of action, earning his spot in the state semi finals.
In Saturday morning's semi final round, Cooper would face Matt Olauson from Queen Anne's who boasted an outstanding 42-1 record entering the match. Unfortunatly, Olauson set the pace early and scored repeatedly, building a big lead and staying in great position, earning a 12-4 win over Scott. Scott entered the consolation round with his sights set on third place. In his first consi match, Cooper faced Robby Happy for the second time in the tournament and the result was the same, Scott winner by pin.
In the final bout for third place, Scott faced Payton Beachum from Western Tech. After a scoreless first period, Scott scored 4 points in the second and was able to control the rest of the match to pull out the 4-0 win and finish in third place, ending an outstanding season and a great career at Southern.
