State Champs Again!!!

The moment when...…..

The Southern Rams put an exclamation mark on a perfect 38-0 season by capturing the 1A State Dual Meet Championship after knocking off the Pointers from Sparrows Point 36-30 in the final match.  It marked the fifth time in school history that the Southern grapplers hoisted a state championship trophy.  The win was the 38th straight for the Rams capping the first ever undefeated wrestling season in the schools' history.

Pure joy as the team's 5th state championship trophy is hoisted

Sparrows Point really came to wrestle this year. They are a tough team and pushed us to our limit.  We knew bonus points would be big, but I didn’t realize just how big. We knew we should get 5 or 6 pins and the 5 we got proved to be the difference.  We were happy to start at 285 and pins in our first two matches got us rolling.  We were hoping to win a couple matches in the lower weights, but they won five straight, but only one via pin, and they had the momentum.  Of course Jake Sweitzer and Jace Guy were the perfect momentum killers, scoring two more pins. It really came down to the match at 170 between our freshman Hunter Sanders and Jake Rallo.  It’s a lot of pressure on a freshman but he has won the big matches all year. He picked up the overtime win and we knew we were in pretty good shape, relying on Hunter Park to win it for the team.  It was a great match against a great team but in the end, our pinners came through to give us the advantage we needed.

Trophies and medals and smiles

State Semifinals
Southern 63 - Patterson Mill 9
106 - Aiden Schwab (SG) via forfeit
113 - Colum McCann (SG) pins Kyle Pulket (PM) 3:59
120 - Brogan Kealy (SG) pins Tony Athanasiou (PM) 2:54
126 - Nate Tasker (SG) pins Isaac Leighton (PM) 1:52
132 - Ethan Harvey (PM) dec. Evan Paugh (SG) 10-3
138 - Brian Wheatley (PM) dec Eilsha Skipper (SG) 7-1
145 - Jake Sweitzer (SG) pins Matt Williams (PM) 3:40
152 - Jace Guy (SG) pins Alex Sweaney (PM) 2:39
160 - Declan McCann (SG) via forfeit
170 - Hunter Sanders (SG) dec Eric Neutzling (PM) 7-4
182 - Cole Baker (SG) pins Tristin Lafave (PM) 3:42
195 - Hunter Park (SG) pins Phillip Sereell (PM) :37
220 - Connor Morton (PM) dec Chris Mersing (SG) 6-0
285 - Cole Sweitzer (SG) pins Mason Sprinkel (PM) 2:53

State Finals
Southern 36 - Sparrows Point 30
106 - Aiden Schwab (SG) pins Mike Lewis (SP) 1:27
113 - Wayne Brooks (SP) tech Colum McCann (SG) 17-1
120 - Matt Fouts (SP) dec Brogan Kealy (SG) 6-0
126 - Richard Davis (SP) dec Nate Tasker (SG) 7-0
132 - Gage Carr (SP) pins Joey McComas (SG) 4:24
138 - Mike Fouts (SP) m dec Elisha Skipper (SG) 9-0
145 - Jake Sweitzer (SG) pins Kendrick Emani (SP) 1:55
152 - Jace Guy (SG) pins Mike Brower (SP) 2:24
160 - Declan McCann (SG) dec Jake Lure (SP) 4-1
170 - Hunter Sanders (SG) dec Jake Rallo (SP) 3-2 ot
182 - Drew Gorsuch (SP) dec Cole Baker (SG) 15-10
195 - Hunter Park (SG) pins Dixon Reyes (SP) 4:58
220 - Lexx Carr (SP) pins Cameron Glover (SG) 3:41
285 - Cole Sweitzer (SG) pins Shawn Wolford (SP) 1:05

Regional Rout

Wednesday evening was a big night in the Ram Arena as the Southern Rams played host to the 2019 1A West Regional Dual Meet Championships.  Also, thanks to an earlier weather cancellation, it was Senior Night for the home team.  Before honoring the seniors, we wrestled the semifinal round of the duals where we faced off against Smithsburg and Mountain Ridge squared off against Boonsboro.

The match against the Leopards started at 170 where we moved Declan McCann into that roster spot for the evening.  Since it was senior night, it was our plan to get all seniors matches in front of their family and friends and their home crowd.  This meant moving the line-uo around to make room for everyone.  The heavier weight was no problem for McCann as he registered a tech fall to start a big nigh of big scores.  Senior, Nathan Sweitzer accepted a forfeit at 182 and Hunter Park followed with a first period pin at 195 and we were off to the races.  Chris Mersing stepped in at 220 and won a major decision and senior Cole Sweitzer scored a pin in only 19 seconds.  Our lead was 27-0 going into the lower weight classes.

Aiden Schwab was given a forfeit and Colum McCann scored a first period fall to give the host school a 39-0 lead.  Southern and Smithsburg traded decisions at 120 and 126.  At 132, senior Nate Tasker won by fall in only 32 seconds and senior Evan Paugh was given a forfeit at 138.  The Rams lead stood at 54-3.  At 145, junior Jake Sweitzer took the mat in search of his 100th career victory.  He battled a tough opponent for all three periods but was in control throughout and came away with a 10-1 major decision to capture his milestone victory.

Senior Michal Moon took the spot at 152 and faced Smithsburg's best wrestler.  Senior Jace Guy finished the first round at 160, earning a major decision and bringing the final team score to 62-9 in favor of the home standing Southern Rams.  In the other semifinal match, the Boonsboro Warriors came storming back from a big deficit to know off the second seeded Miners from Mt. Ridge to set up the final match up between Southern and Boonsboro.

Before the finals began, we honored our senior wrestlers, the senior cheerleaders, our senior National Anthem singer and all our wrestlers who reached milestones this season.  You can read all about it on our blog by following this link: https://ramtough.blogspot.com/2019/02/super-seniors.html

The final match vs Boonsboro started at 182 pound weight class where junior Cole Baker got the scoring started with a second period fall.  Senior Nathan Sweitzer was awarded a forfeit at 195 and senior Hunter Park won by pin at 220 and the Rams were in control early.   After Cole Sweitzer was given a forfeit, Aiden Schwab won by tech fall, Colum McCann won by pin and Brogan Kealy was awarded a forfeit and the Rams had a commanding 41-0 lead.

The next three bouts finished the Warriors off as Joey McComas and Nate Tasker won by pin and Elisha Skipper won a decision and Southern was up 56-0 and the scoring was far from over.  Jake Sweitzer and Jace Guy added first period falls and Declan McCann decked his opponent in the third period to make the team score 74-0 going into the final bout.  Boonsboro was able to win their only bout of the match at 170 to bring the final team score to 74-6 in favor of the Southern Rams.

By virtue of winning the Regional Duals, the Southern Rams have earned a return trip the the State Dual Meet Championships that will be held at North Point High School in Waldorf, MD this Saturday, January 9th.  Wrestling begins at noon with the state finals scheduled to begin at 4pm.  The Southern Rams are now a perfect 36-0 on the season and a shooting for a second straight 1A state championship.

Southern 62 - Smithsburg 9

106 - Aiden Schwab (SG) via forfeit
113 - Colum McCann (SG) pins Luke Ellis (SM) 1:14
120 - Shane Hovermale (SM) dec Brogan Kealy (SG) 5-0
126 - Joey McComas (SG) dec Josh Hood (SM) 7-2
132 - Nate Tasker (SG) pins Cody Burras (SM) :32
138 - Evan Paugh (SG) via forfeit
145 - Jake Sweitzer (SG) m dec Brendan Mislan 10-1 **100**
152 - Josh Atkinson (SM) pins Michael Moon (SG) :59
160 - Jace Guy (SG) m dec Keenan Atkinson (SM) 14-1
170 - Declan McCann (SG) tech Noah Grossnickle (SM) 15-0
182 - Nathan Sweitzer (SG) via forfeit
195 - Hunter Park (SG) pins Devon Gross (SM) :55
220 - Chris Mersing (SG) m dec Austin Smith (SM) 8-0
285 - Cole Sweitzer (SG) pins Anthony Herall (SM) :19

Southern 74 - Boonsboro 6

106 - Aiden Schwab (SG) tech Brandon Longerbeam (BO) 17-2
113 - Colum McCann (SG) pins Sean Rinebolt (BO) 2:35
120 - Brogan Kealy (SG) via forfeit
126 - Joey McComas (SG) pins Hunter Ballentine (BO) 1:42
132 - Nate Tasker (SG) pins Noah Phillips (BO) 1:52
138 - Elisha Skipper (SG) dec Landon Cunningham (BO) 3-2
145 - Jake Sweitzer (SG) pins Justin Thompson (BO) 1:50
152 - Jace Guy (SG) pins Colten Zang (BO) :20
160 - Declan McCann (SG) pins Jon Grimm (BO) 4:48
170 - Max Christ (BO) pins Hunter Sanders (SG) 2:44
182 - Cole Baker (SG) pins Ethan Troccola (BO) 3:06
195 - Nathan Sweitzer (SG) via forfeit
220 - Hunter Park (SG) pins Keegan Kidwiler (BO) 2:47
285 - Cole Sweitzer (SG) via forfeit

Super Seniors

Another great group of seniors

On Wednesday evening, we honored our seniors prior to the Regional Dual finals.  The gym was packed and our seniors were received warmly by the crowd.  Here is a look back at their senior recognitions.

Michael Moon is the son of Jessica and Chris Wakefield of Oakland.  Michael is a three year member of the wrestling team and has earned one career varsity win.  Michael was also a member of Southern's Tennis team.  After graduation, Michael plans to attend the Universal Technical Institute in Pennsylvania and pursue a career as a diesel mechanic.

Senior, Michael Moon

Nathan Sweitzer is the son of Gary Sweitzer and Wendy Miller.  Nathan is a four year member of the wrestling team and has contributed as a varsity wrestler in all four years, earning 18 career victories.  After graduation, Nathan plans to attend Garrett College and join the wrestling team with his older brother.

Senior Nathan Sweitzer

Evan Paugh is the son of Jason and Jessica Paugh of Oakland.  Evan has been a four year member of our wrestling team and has earned 17 career varsity wins.  Evan was also a four year member of the football team and a two year member of the Southern Garrett Bass Slayers fishing team where his placed 5th and 2nd in the state and also placed in the national fishing tournament.  After graduation, Evan plans to attend California University of Pennsylvania to study Mechatronics Engineering and join the school's fishing team.

Senior Evan Paugh

Nate Tasker is the son of Shannon and Mike Nicely of Waldorf and the grandson of Dan and Carolyn Elliott of Oakland.  Nate has been a four year varsity starter on our wrestling team and has earned 127 career victories.  Nate is a 2X state qualifier and is poised to make a return trip to states in March.  Nate is also a four year member of both the football and baseball teams.  After graduation, Nate plans to attend California University of Pennsylvania to pursue a degree in Computer Science.

Senior Nate Tasker

Jace Guy is the son of Justin and Brandy Guy of Bloomington.  Jace has been a four year varsity starter on our wrestling team and has earned 151 career wins.  Jace is a 2X state qualifier where he placed 5th as a sophomore and 4th last season as a junior and is eager to climb to the top of the podium at this year's state tournament.  Jace was also a four year member of the football team and a two year member of the track team.  After graduation, Jace plans to study elementary education and continue his wrestling career at a four year college.

Senior Jace Guy

Hunter Park is the son of Adam Park of Oakland and Megan Bowers of Swanton.  Hunter has been a four year starter on our wrestling team and has earned 102 career wins.  Hunter qualified for the state tournament last season where he placed 5th and is ready to make another run at an individual state championship in March.  Hunter was a three year member of the football team where he earned 1st team all area honors and is a two year member of the baseball team.  After graduation, Hunter plans to attend Frostburg State University and pursue a degree in Criminal Justice.

Senior Hunter Park

Cole Sweitzer is the son of Kristen and Jeremy Sweitzer of Kitzmiller.  Cole is a four year varsity starter on our wrestling team and has earned 122 career victories.  Cole was a state qualifier in his sophomore season and looks to make a return trip to the state tournament again this year.  Cole was also a four year member of  the football team where he earned all area honors both junior and senior years.  After graduation, Cole plans to attend Frostburg State University to study secondary education and will continue his football career for the Bobcats.

Senior Cole Sweitzer

We also would like to recognize the following individuals.  First we would like to honor of two senior cheerleaders, Jenna Griffith and Brynna Arnold.  We would also like to recognize our own, amazing National Anthem singer, senior Kayla Lowdermilk.  Finally we would like to recognize our four wrestlers who reached the benchmark levers for career wins.  Reaching the goal of 100 wins on December 14th was senior Cole Sweitzer.  Earning his 100th career win on January 24th was senior Hunter Park.  Earning his 100th career win in the first round tonight is junior Jake Sweitzer.  And finally, earning his 150th career win and becoming the 6th Southern wrestler to reach that plateau is senior Jace Guy.

Senior Kayla Lowdermilk