Glenelg wrestling is a program rich in tradition. But each of the last two seasons, the Gladiators came up just short with runner-up finishes at the Howard County Tournament.

However, after an undefeated county regular season, the Gladiators kept rolling. Every Gladiator won at least one match in the county tournament. Glenelg produced six finalists and three county champions and captured the 55th Howard County Wrestling Tournament crown with 222 points, outpacing second-place Marriotts Ridge (160). Atholton (145.5), Reservoir (142) and Hammond (121) rounded out the top five.

“Just to see some of those guys finally get it done in the finals was awesome,” Glenelg coach Matt Bichner said. “Hopefully, it gives them some confidence these next few weeks. It’s good to see them ending their county season on a good note, winning the team title. Getting three county champs is awesome and we hope this continues into region week and then into states.” Glenelg’s first champion of the evening was junior Phil Key at 126 pounds. Key, who won a county title as a freshman, returned to the Gladiators this season after spending his sophomore year at Loyola Blakefield. The junior quickly asserted control in his match against Wilde Lake’s David Small and won by technical fall in the third period.

Six weight classes later, senior Gavin Baravik stepped to the mat for the 165-pound match. He won the 150-pound junior varsity title last season and worked diligently to improve throughout the offseason. Baravik focused on harnessing his work ethic and being more disciplined in matches. Those strides paid dividends against Atholton’s Thomas MacKenzie.

It was scoreless for much of the first period until Baravik struck late for a three-point takedown. He executed a similar takedown in the second and remained patient throughout the third, closing out the 6-0 victory. After the win, Baravik soaked in the moment.

“I just felt joy, that feeling of how much work I put in over the summer,” Baravik said. “I went from being on junior varsity and winning counties to winning varsity counties the next year. I went to so many practices, I went on runs. It just feels so good that all that work paid off.” The Gladiators’ final wrestler of the night was one of their most experienced: senior Peter Danko. Danko won the 195-pound county title as a sophomore and earned a spot in the 215-pound finals last year. However, Danko lost to Atholton’s Mark Enamorado, admittedly wrestling a little scared against a bigger opponent that he’d never faced before. Danko learned from that experience and flipped the script in his final season by winning the 215-pound title. He dominated Mt. Hebron’s Iyanuoluinmi Ogunsakin with a 20-4 technical fall and moved to 27-4 on the season. He is one of nine Gladiators to auto-qualify for regionals, where the next challenge awaits them in the grueling Class 2A West Region. “It’s my last year of wrestling, so I put everything I could into it,” Danko said. “I put all the work out there. The jobs not finished, going to regions and states and placing there. It’s a milestone, but I still got to keep going.”

Reservoir crowns three county champions

Outside of Glenelg, Reservoir had the most county finalists (4) and tied the Gladiators with three county champions. Freshman Milano Orduna started things off in the opening match at 106 pounds against fellow freshman Chase Jenkins of Glenelg. Orduna established control as the first period wore on and pinned Jenkins inside of the final minute for his first county title. He advanced to 28-5 on the season and was also named the outstanding wrestler of the tournament.

Next up for the Gators was senior Andrew Dolezel. Dolezel is one of Howard County and the state’s most accomplished wrestlers, entering the final with an unblemished 37-0 record. He is a two-time county and regional champion and placed in the top three at states each of the last two seasons. Dolezel (138 pounds) won his third county title in his third different weight class, controlling Glenelg’s Jonathan Sexton in a win by technical fall. The senior never broke stride, laser focused on his ultimate goal of winning his first career state title. Reservoir’s next wrestler was junior Jose Lazo. Lazo, Dolezel’s practice partner, is emerging into a force in the Gators’ lineup. After being unable to compete in counties last year, Lazo made the most of his opportunity. He handily defeated Centennial’s Grady Conrad 19-1 by technical fall, excitedly embracing with Gators’ coaches after clinching his first county championship.

“I’m proud of the way the whole team wrestled today,” Reservoir coach Andrew McIntyre said. “Especially Milano being a freshman and not having a ton of junior league experience to come through and pin his way through the tournament. Andrew is just another step along the way of his goal of winning a state title this year. Andrew working with Jose just has gotten him so much better. For him to get his first county title after not being able to compete last year is another great thing.”

Guilford Park produces school’s first two county wrestling champions

Guilford Park wrestling is in just its second season as a varsity program. After just one varsity placer at last year’s county tournament, the Panthers made considerable strides with seven varsity placers, highlighted by the school’s first two county champions in Leo Saravia (120) and Elijah Fields (285).

“I’m extremely proud,” Guilford Park coach Dave Roogow said. “I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling yet, since Leo’s match. I think we’re farther along than I could have ever imagined.” Saravia stepped to the mat with a raucous Panthers contingent rooting him on. The junior was Guilford Park’s only varsity placer last year, finishing fourth at 120 pounds. Eager to make his mark, Saravia battled an experienced wrestler in Atholton senior Jonathan Maslan in the final. It was scoreless after one period with both wrestlers looking to make the first move.

Then, the junior made his move and took an early lead in the second period. He never relinquished the advantage the rest of the way and finished off a 7-3 decision win, jumping into the arms of Roogow after the match. It was an even sweeter victory for Saravia who avenged last season’s narrow 3-2 loss to Maslan in the third and fourth place match.

The Panthers waited a long time for their next finalist in Fields who battled Reservoir’s Kalen MacKall. Fields was at Long Reach last season and suffered a serious lower leg injury at counties during his third and fourth place match. The heavyweight wrestler worked his way back from the injury, which was a gradual process. In the preseason, Fields was concerned to put a lot of weight on his ankle. Yet, throughout the season, he gained more confidence. Saturday night’s match showcased that growth. It was a back-and-forth dual as Fields battled back from an early three-point deficit to take a 7-3 lead. MacKall furiously sought a comeback, trimming the margin to 7-6 in the third. However, Fields held on for a late escape and two-point win as Guilford Park’s fans and coaches erupted in excitement.

Several other wrestlers earn county titles

Centennial senior Calvin Kraisser continues to add to his storied legacy. Kraisser entered the tournament as a three-time county, region and state champion at three different weight classes. He entered the final 35-1 this season and 132-4 in his career . Kraisser put the finishing touches on a dominant county career by pinning Glenelg’s Josh Choi in the second period. That pin placed him in rarefied air as just the 12th wrestler in county history to win four titles. Oakland Mills Orlando Castelan-Cortez and Raul Rodriguez also made their marks as multi-time county champions. Castelan-Cortez (132 pounds) edged out Glenelg’s Isaac Choi by decision 2-1 in a tight battle. Meanwhile, Rodriguez (157) outlasted Atholton’s Malachi Patterson in a seemingly opposite style with an 18-10 major decision win.

Long Reach’s Dominic Esposito (113), Marriotts Ridge’s Jonah Obitz (175) and Hammond’s Xavier Nichols (190) also notched their first career titles. Esposito, a freshman, pinned Howard’s Bennett Custodio in the opening period and continued an impressive 28-2 first campaign. For Obitz, it was a long time coming, previously a two-time runner-up at counties. He pinned last year’s 175-pound county champion Jaden Asaah-Timothy of Hammond and lifted up coach Vince Muscato high in the air in celebration.

In the ensuing match, Nichols defeated Centennial’s Matthew Sedor by decision 11-3. Nichols and Obitz were their school’s lone county champions, soaking in the gravity of the moment with coaches, teammates and friends.

Team results

1. Glenelg 222; 2. Marriotts Ridge 160; 3. Atholton 145.5; 4. Reservoir 142; 5. Hammond 121; 6. Centennial 99; 7. Oakland Mills 82.5; 8. Guilford Park 71; 9. Howard 66; 10. River Hill 65.5; 11. Long Reach 60.5; 12. Mt. Hebron 52.5; 13. Wilde Lake 44

Finals

106: Milano Orduna (Reservoir) won by fall over Chase Jenkins (Glenelg) (Fall 1:19); 113: Dominic Esposito (Long Reach) won by fall over Bennett Custodio (Howard) (Fall 1:18); 120: Leo Saravia (Guilford Park) won by decision over Jonathan Maslan (Atholton) (Dec 7-3); 126: Phil Key (Glenelg) won by tech fall over David Small (Wilde Lake) (TF 17-2); 132: Orlando Castelan-Cortez (Oakland Mills) won by decision over Isaac Choi (Glenelg) (Dec 2-1); 138: Andrew Dolezel (Reservoir) won by tech fall over Jonathan Sexton (Glenelg) (TF 17-0); 144: Jose Lazo (Reservoir) won by tech fall over Grady Conrad (Centennial) (TF 19-1); 150: Calvin Kraisser (Centennial) won by fall over Josh Choi (Glenelg) (Fall 2:32); 157: Raul Rodriguez (Oakland Mills) won by major decision over Malachi Patterson (Atholton) (Maj 18-10); 165: Gavin Baravik (Glenelg) won by decision over Thomas MacKenzie (Atholton) (Dec 6-0); 175: Jonah Obitz (Marriotts Ridge) won by fall over Jaden Asaah-Timothy (Hammond) (Fall 1:57); 190: Xavier Nichols (Hammond) won by major decision over Matthew Sedor (Centennial) (Maj 11-3); 215: Peter Danko (Glenelg) won by tech fall over Iyanuoluinmi Ogunsakin (Mount Hebron) (TF 20-4); 285: Elijah Fields (Guilford Park) won by decision over Kalen Mackall (Reservoir) (Dec 8-6).

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Steinberg at jsteinberg@baltsun.com, 443-442-9445 and x.com/jacobstein23.