South Carroll Wins County Mat Title in Close Match

The third time was the charm, and it was worth the wait, as South Carroll edged Winters Mill 29-27 for the county dual meet title.

Winter weather had postponed the match twice, but the two teams got together Saturday morning in Westminster. The win gave South Carroll the county title with a 7-0 record. They are 18-2 overall. The loss for the Falcons was their first of the season. They are 6-1 in the county and 11-1 overall.

The back of the South Carroll warm-ups reads "Go get you some,’’ and Saturday they got some.

"We started right out of the blocks hard. We went on a five-match win streak. We really came out and took it to them," said Cavalier Coach Bryan Hamper.  "After that 215 match, the momentum seemed to turn and they came right back out and that is what a wrestling match is supposed to look like. Two very even teams. It comes out to who scores bonus points and who doesn’t."

Hamper said he really liked the way his kids fought. "Everyone was pushing the pace and they worked very hard,’’ Hamper said.

The two teams could match up again Wednesday in the state dual meet which will be held at South Carroll.

"You knew it was going to be that tight. It will be tight again next time,’’ said Winters Mill Coach John Lowe.

The Cavaliers were up by five points entering the final match at 130 pounds. South Carroll’s Sam Willingham came against Winters Mill Keith Steine. Steine won the match, but Willingham won the meet.

All Willingham had to do was stay off his back. Steine earned four takedowns, but couldn’t turn Willingham over for a pin. The Cavaliers and their fans jumped to their feet as the final seconds ticked off the clock for the win.

"Sam Willingham wrestled to win that match. Sam took it to him. At no point have we told the kids to keep it close. We go out there to win 14 matches and that’s what our boy did, he fought to the last whistle against a kid ranked number one in the state,’’ said Hamper.

The visitors jumped out to a 23-6 lead, but Winters Mill hung in there to take a one point lead after a pin at 112. Billy Atwell and Chris Wampler earned decisions at 119 and 125 to set up the final match.

The Cavaliers got a pin from Steve Schmitz and a technical fall from Jake Pooton in the victory.

"We are proud of our team. We are one step closer to our goal, a state championship,’’ said Hamper.

The Falcons got pins from Justin Kozera, Flavio Valdez and Taylor Logue.

"There are going to be some guys mad with their performances and we are going to have to clear our heads. We are going to have to walk away a little bit, so we are going to be alright,’’ said Lowe.