BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity wrestling team turned a strong performance at the state regional tournament last weekend with a fifth place finish overall and a regional championship for Andy McKahan.
The Seahawks finished fifth overall among the 26 teams with 76 team points. Six Decatur wrestlers placed in their respective weight classes including McKahan, who won the regional title at 126. Overall, Decatur captured a first, a fourth, three fifths and a sixth.
McKahan won it all at 126 and advanced to the state championship meet this weekend where he will face Andrew Southwell of Catoctin in the first round. In the region meet, McKahan beat Smair Salih of Eleanor Roosevelt in the first round, Donte Callahan of Chopticon in the second round and Jacob Wood of Huntingtown in the final.
Brett Kim finished fourth overall at 164. Kim beat Eugene Latson of Eleanor Roosevelt in the first round, but fell to David Piper of La Plata in the second. Kim rebounded with a win over Bennett’s Louis Bernard, but lost to Josh Rackey of Chopticon in the third-place bout to finish fifth overall in the division. With the fourth-place finish, Kim also advanced to the state championship meet where he will face Travis Chidebe of Meade in the first round.
T.J. Scafone finished fifth overall at 120. Scafone beat Andrew Thomas of Bowie in the first round, but lost to Tyler Whitlock of High Point in the second. Scafone then beat Xavier Gray of Suitland, lost to Kyle Capps of Chopticon and finished with a win over McCoy Lemmon of Leonardtown to take fifth.
Tyler Vansice also finished fifth at 145. Vansice beat Eric Tolson of High Point in the opening bout, but fell to Jahi Jones of Oxen Hill in the second. Vansice then fell to Brandon Schultz of Leonardtown, but rallied back to beat Eric Tolson of High Point to take fifth place overall in the division.
Ean Spencer also finished fifth at 220. Spencer opened with a win over Juwan Saunders of Bladensburg, but then fell to Nathaniel Forschner of Parkdale in his second bout. Spencer then beat Nicholas Mufua of C. H. Flowers, lost to David Louvie of Huntingtown and rebounded with a win over Romero Yovani of Great Mills to take fifth place in his division.