BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity wrestling team made a strong showing at the state Class 4A-3A East Region tournament last weekend, finishing second overall and sending six wrestlers on to the state championship meet this weekend.
The Seahawks continued their assault on the post-season at the state regional meet last Friday and Saturday, finishing second in the Class 4A-3A East region tournament for the second straight year. Old Mill took first place in the regional meet with 157 total team points, followed by Decatur in second with 109 points. Reservoir was third with 100.5 points, while Centennial came in fourth with 82.5 team points.
Perhaps more importantly, the Seahawks turned in several strong individual performances at the regional meet with four wrestlers reaching the finals in their respective weight classes and two winning state regional titles. Two-time defending state champion Danny Miller won the regional title again in the 189-pound class, defeating Pat Carey of North Carroll in the finals.
Decatur’s Bernie McGarry also won a state regional title in the 140-pound weight class last weekend, beating Doug Spear of Glen Burnie in the championship match. Two Decatur wrestlers, Danny Kominos and Dylan Drew, reached the finals in their respective classes. Kominos made it to the finals in the 152-pound class, but fell to Mike Mullins of Reservoir in the championship match to finish in second place.
Drew reached the finals in the 285-pound class, but fell to Aaron Hawkins of Old Mill in the championship match. Two other Seahawks wrestlers finished in the top four of their respective weight classes and advanced to the state championship meet this weekend. Corey Tobias (130) finished fourth in his class, while Bryce Smith (160) finished fourth in class.
Tobias and Smith will join Miller, McGarry, Kominos and Drew as the six Seahawk wrestlers represented at the state tournament this weekend at Cole Field House at the University of Maryland.
Last year, Decatur finished fourth out of the field of 77 schools in the state Class 4A-3A championship meet with two wrestlers, Miller and the now-graduated Skylar Snead, winning state championships. With six individual wrestlers in the tournament this year, the Seahawks are hoping to repeat that performance and perhaps win a couple more individual titles.
Miller, (189), whose season record now stands at a gaudy 35-2, will face Josh Hertz of Sherwood High in the first round. McGarry, (140), will face Taj Douglas of Milford Mill High in his opening round match. McGarry’s current season record is 27-2. In the 130-pound class, Tobias, whose season record stands at 26-7, will face Brian Samuels of Leonardtown in his opening round match.
Kominos, (152), will face Hunter Rowe of Huntingtown High in his opening round match. Kominos’ record stands at 25-6 on the season. Decatur’s Bryce Smith (160) will face David Stout of North Carroll in his opening round match, while Dylan Drew (285) will face Crossland High’s Eric Alexander in his opener at the state championship meet this weekend.