2013 States

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.

1A/2A West Regionals

The 1A/2A West Regional championships continue to be the top qualifying tournament in the state.  There are no weak wrestlers and there are no easy matches.  If a wrestler makes it to states after competing in this regional event, he has definitely earned the spot.  Saturday was a day filled with great wrestling, and a few surprises.

Freshman Devan Hamrick was in one of the toughest weight classes we have ever seen at regionals.  After losing Friday's quarter final match, Devan would face a Middletown wrestler who was able to win an earlier season match.  Unfortunately, the result was similar this time around.  Devan lost a close decision to Grossnickle and was eliminated from the tournament, ending a great freshman season.

Junior Austin Shaffer competed in the 113 pound class and was the top seeded wrestler.  Austin easily won his semi final match in the morning session to earn his spot in the finals.  Austin dominated the Manchester Valley wrestler on Saturday morning.  In Saturday evening's finals, Austin was set to face Tim Nordan from Catoctin High School.  Nordan is a senior with an impressive record.  He also had no trouble earning his spot in the finals, pinning both of his opponents in the first period.  The finals began at the 285 pound class and proceeded down from there.  Austin's final match would be the second to last of the evening.  We got to enjoy great wrestling while we waited for the 113 finals.

The match began slower than normal for Austin as both wrestlers were testing the waters.  In a flurry of action, Nordan scored the first takedown and began his ride.  As the period was coming to a close, Austin was able to score a reversal and ride out the clock, with the score 2-2.  In the second, Nordan chose bottom and was able to earn a reversal and we felt the match slipping away.  He was very strong on top and Austin was not able to escape and the second period ended 4-2.  Shaffer chose neutral in the third and it was all Nordan who dominated the final period to earn the regional championship victory.  Most people believe these two will meet in the state finals next Saturday evening and Shaffer has 6 days to prepare.

Junior Tanner Massey had a great weekend at 138.  On Friday, he defeated a tough kid from Brunswick to earn a spot in the semis.  During Saturday morning's semi finals, Tanner was caught early and gave up too many points and was unable to recover, losing the match and dropping to the consolation bracket.  His next match was against Shoop from Williamsport and it was in the round know as the "qualification round".  Win and you qualify for states, lose and your season is over.  Shoop had defeated Massey earlier in the season and it looked like that would happen again.  Tanner was down 4-0 heading into the third period and we chose neutral.  Everyone knew something big had to happen or the match (and his season) was over.  Massey came out aggressive and during a flurry of action was able to throw Shoop to his back and earn the win by pin, earning his place in the state tournament.

In his final match of the day fighting for third place, Massey faced a highly seeded Oakldale wrestler.  The match was close and exciting throughout.  Near the end of the third period, Tanner scored a reversal and took a 2 point lead with time running down.  Unfortunately, Tanner got a little too excited and made a mistake, allowing the Oakdale wrestler to tie the score at the end of regulation, forcing overtime.  In the extra session, during a wild flurry of action, Massey was taken down and lost the match by two, finishing the tournament in 4th place.

 Senior co-captain Scott Cooper was entered at 195 and was looking to earn his first career trip to the state tournament.  In the semis, Scott faced Austin Keadle from Williamsport.  The two had not wrestled since last season.  The match started as most of Scott's match do, with a lot of action.  No one can accused Scoot of being a boring wrestler.  In the first period, Keadle was able to score a takedown and pick up 2 quick backpoints to build a 4-0 lead.  Throughout the match, Scott was able to battle to keep the match close and give him the opportunity to win in the third period.  With Scott trailing 8-7 time running out, he got in on a deep shot and it looked like he would be able to finish the move and score the winning takedown, but at the last moment, Keadle countered and scored a takedown of his own with Scott ending on his back.  Keadle won 13-7 and Cooper dropped to the consolations.

In the "qualification round", Cooper faced an Oakdale wrestler for his chance to earn his spot at Cole Fieldhouse next week.  Scott had no trouble at all, winning by major decision in that round and secured his place at states.  In his final match of regionals, Scott wrestled Randall for Winters Mill, a kid he pinned earlier in the season.  The result was the same on Saturday, Cooper pick up the win by pin at the end of the first period to finish up in third place.

The team placed 11th at the regional tournament this weekend and have qualified three wrestlers for states.  Wrestling starts at 2:30 next Friday at Cole Fieldhouse in College Park.

Regionals - Day 1

The 1A/2A West Regional tournament began last evening at Oakdale High School near Frederick.  This tournament is the last event before the state tournament next weekend.  The top four place winners at regionals qualify.

Seniors Cooper McCauley and Zach Tichnell each earned a spot in regionals by placing second at last week's Bi-County event.  Each of these Southern Rams wrestled hard, but they each lost their match and were eliminated from the tournament, ending their careers at Southern.  Both of these wrestlers joined the team last season and were great additions to Southern Wrestling.  Good luck in the future Cooper and Zach.

Freshman, Devan Hamrick was seeded 7th in a very tough 106 pound class.  His first match of the tournament was against the #2 seeded senior from Winters Mill.  The older, more experienced wrestler was too much for Devan to overcome and Devan lost a decision, dropping him into today's consolation round.

Defending state champion Austin Shaffer was the top seeded wrestler at 113 and took care of business easily in the quarterfinal round.  Austin went right to work and earned a 2nd period tech fall to earn a spot in this morning's semifinal round.

Junior Tanner Massey was the 4th seed at 138 and faced a tough #5 seed from Brunswick in round 1. Tanner scored early and often en route to an impressive 7-2 win to earn his spot in today's semis.

At 195, senior Scott Cooper took the mat as the #6 seed and also faced a wrestler from Brunswick.  Scott overpowered the #3 seeded wrestler, easily winning by major decision 14-0. Scott also has a place in the semi finals later this morning.

Today's wrestling begins at 10 am with the semi final round and will be followed by an afternoon filled with consolation wrestling.  The finals will be held later in the day at the conclusion of the other placement rounds.  Let's go boys!