The Kings of Bi-Counties

Getting ready to rumble

On Saturday, the Southern Rams traveled to Northern High School to compete in the annual Bi-County wrestling tournament against the Huskies, Mt. Ridge, Fort Hill and Allegany.  This event is the final step in the qualification process for the regional tournament and eventually the state tournament.  After the successes of both the Rams and the Huskies during the regular season, this tournament looked like it would be a tight race for the championship trophy.

Southern had a slight advantage from the beginning as we filled all 14 weight classes while Northern had one empty slot (195).  The teams were evenly matched and had split dual meets during the season and both qualified for the regional duals last week. 

After a few preliminary matches, the semi-finals began.  There were some tight matches and some quick pins but when the round was completed, the Rams found themselves with a substantial lead in the race for the title.  Southern was able to win 11 out of 14 semi-final bouts to place 11 wrestlers in the tournament finals.  Additionally, Southern wrestlers won all 11 bouts by pin, scoring extra bonus points for their team.  Northern was able to place 10 wrestlers in the tournament finals with only 5 pins.  The Southern Rams led by nearly 30 points heading into the final placing rounds.

Brison Dixon become a 2X Bi-County Champ

The three Southern wrestlers who failed to make the finals excelled in the consolation bracket, winning all matches by pins to place third in their respective weight classes.  Freshmen Joey McComas and Jake W Sweitzer and senior Jimmy Schwab each scored big points for the team with their pins and third place finishes.  As the final round was set to begin, the Southern Rams held a comfortable 35 point lead over the Northern Huskies.

The finals began at the 106 pound weight class where senior Brison Dixon scored a first period pin to earn his second consecutive Bi-County championship.  Next up for the Rams was junior Jake E Sweitzer who lost a tight decision to Wilhelm from Northern.  Sophomore Nate Tasker also lost a close match in the finals to a Huskie grappler.  At 138, sophomore Jace Guy dominated Lowry from Northern with a major decision to win his second straight title.

Alec Horner with 2 quick pins

Next up for Southern was junior Alec Horner at 152 who spent only :36 seconds on the mat, scoring a first period fall to earn his first Bi-County championship.  Junior Joe Embleton won a decision at 160 to capture his first Bi-County title as well.  Senior Patrick Duggan lost by decision at 170 and junior Brad Davis lost a close match at 182 to place second.  Sophomore Hunter Park and junior Scotty Tichnell also lost their final matches to place second in the 2017 Bi-Counties.

Joe Embleton in control in the finals

The final match of the day was a re-match from earlier season meetings between Cole Sweitzer for the Rams and Brian Tiemersma for the Huskies.  The two heavyweight wrestlers split the regular season matches, each winning by pin in the dual meets back in January.  Saturday's match belonged to Sweitzer as he scored a pin midway through the first period to earn his first Bi-County championship.  The Rams finished the day with 244 team points, 32 points ahead of the Huskies and 64 points ahead of Mt. Ridge.

Our Champions!

Next up for Southern is the Regional tournament in Middletown, Maryland next Saturday.  All 14 Ram wrestlers have qualified for this post season event which marks the first time in history that Southern has been able to qualify wrestlers in all 14 weight classes.  The top four place winners at regionals qualify for the state tournament to be held in Upper Marlboro, MD the following week.

Bi-County Team Scores

244 - Southern Garrett

212 - Northern Garrett

180 - Mt. Ridge

  74 - Allegany

  72 - Fort Hill

Our Placewinners

1st - Brison Dixon (106)

1st - Jace Guy (138)

1st - Alec Horner (152)

1st - Joe Embleton (160)

1st - Cole Sweitzer (285)

2nd - Jake E Sweitzer (126)

2nd - Nate Tasker (132)

2nd - Patrick Duggan (170)

2nd - Brad Davis (182)

2nd - Hunter Park (195)

2nd - Scotty Tichnell (220)

3rd - Joey McComas (113)

3rd - Jake W Sweitzer (120)

3rd - Jimmy Schwab (145)

Final Bouts

106 - Brison Dixon (SG) pins Jesse Fresh (MR) 1:36

113 - Teddy Baker (MR) dec Hunter Wilhelm (NG) 11-3

120 - Steven Yutzy (NG) pins Jacob Fresh (MR) 2:53

126 - Devin Wilhelm (NG) dec Jake E Sweitzer (SG) 5-1

132 - Tyler Thomas (NG) dec Nate Tasker (SG) 7-2

138 - Jace Guy (SG) dec Luke Lowry (NG) 9-0

145 - Jordan Day (NG) dec Camren Ritchey (MR) 3-1

152 - Alec Horner (SG) pins Randall Ganoe (NG) :36

160 - Joe Embleton (SG) dec Sam Beeman (NG) 6-4

170 - Marcus Folk (MR) dec Patrick Duggan (SG) 11-5

182 - Dustin MacDonald (MR) dec Brad Davis (SG) 6-5

195 - Karson Robinette (AL) dec Hunter Park (SG) 14-2

220 - Riley Brick (NG) pins Scotty Tichnell (SG) 3:36

285 - Cole Sweitzer (SG) pins Brian Tiemersma (NG) 1:06

Our Regional Qualifiers

106-Brison Dixon (3rd)
113-Joey McComas (7th)
120-Jake W Sweitzer (5th)
126-Jake E Sweitzer (5th)
132-Nate Tasker (3rd)
138-Jace Guy (3rd)
145-Jimmy Schwab (5th)
152-Alec Horner (5th)
160-Joe Embleton (2nd)
170-Patrick Duggan (7th)
182-Brad Davis (9th)
195-Hunter Park (7th)
220-Scotty Tichnell (6th)
285-Cole Sweitzer (3rd)