Wrestlers from Sherwood and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School congratulate each other after the Warriors won their match up at Springbrook on Saturday.
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By Kyle Wannen
For DigitalSports.com

With their team tied at 27 against Springbrook, Sherwood wrestlers Josh Hertz and Jose Ledesma had a lot of pressure riding on their final two matches.

Both were able to rise up and succeed as the Warriors won a huge match against the previously undefeated Blue Devils, 33-30.

“We sent the kids out telling them what they needed to do and they went out and did it,” said Sherwood coach Scott Beattie. “We always wrestle them tough. It’s always been right down to the wire the last three or four years. We’re just grateful to come out with a win. They’re a very good program and very tough wrestlers.”

First, Hertz went against the Blue Devils’ Girish Sankar and after two minutes and 36 seconds, pinned him to give the Warriors a six-point lead. The Ledesma came out strong against Abel DaSilva and avoided a pin late in the match. Although DaSilva won the match by decision, 7-5, it was not enough to catch Sherwood (4-1).

“That was a pretty big pin,” said Hertz. “If I pinned him we pretty much won the whole thing if Jose did his thing and he held up in his match. He did a good job.”

“I was like ‘Man, I can’t get pinned’,” said Ledesma. “That was the only thing. He was a real good kid too.”

James Kerrick (119) also had a big win for the Warriors when he pinned Erik Aguilar after trailing 1-3 in points.

“I knew it was a big win,” said Kerrick. “I knew the team needed it. So I was really happy but I never lost confidence throughout the match. The whole time, with a sense of urgency, I knew I had to get it done and I always knew the importance of finishing.”

Josh Lowy (152) and Steven Gamble (160), two of the Warriors’ top wrestlers, each had pins which tied the score and then gave Sherwood a 6-point lead late in the match.

Springbrook (12-1) had a huge pin by Nadjitade Badge (171) which tied the score at 27 before the heroics by Hertz and Ledesma. Brothers Vincent (112) and Joseph Galeano (130) both won their matches by decision.

In the first match of the day between Sherwood and Bethedsa-Chevy Chase the Warriors won by fall in eight of their 11 match victories including pins by Lowy, Gamble and Hertz, on their way to a 60-14 victory

The Barons (4-3) got a great effort from James Roach (140) who pinned Sherwood’s Michael Mucci in 2:39.

“There is a lot of stuff we need to work on,” said Roach. “Mostly we just have to wrestle more aggressively.”


Sherwood 33, Springbrook 30

285 - Gerrad Brown (SP) win by decision (4-3) over Andrew Midgette (SH)
103 – Ben Housmann (SH) win by forfeit
112 – Vincent Galeano (SP) win by decision (5-0) over Oleg Laughner (SH)
119 – James Kerrick (SH) win by fall (4:30) over Erik Aguilar (SP)
125 – Andy Tran (SP) win by decision (9-2) over Montgomery Barnsley (SH)
130 – Joseph Galeano (SP) win by decision (4-0) over Ray Mencia (SH)
135 – Tyler Tockman (SH) win by decision (7-4) over Niyi Akande (SP)
140 – Alex Abramson (SP) win by fall (1:20) over Michael Mucci (SH)
145 – Miche Ulysse (SP) win by decision (11-7) over Chris Constantino (SH)
152 – Josh Lowy (SH) win by fall (1:53) over Dan Cazeau (SP)
160 – Steven Gamble (SH) win by fall (0:58) over Sasha Barrow (SP)
171 – Nadjitade Badge (SP) win by fall (1:23) over Simon Cook (SH)
189 – Josh Hertz (SH) win by fall (2:36) over Girish Sankar (SP)
215 – Abel DaSilva (SP) win by decision (7-5) over Jose Ledesma (SH)


Sherwood 60, B-CC 14 

215 – Brian Altman (BCC) win by decision (8-5) over Jose Ledesma (SH)
285 – Andrew Midgette (SH) win by fall over Mike Hill (BCC)
103 – Ben Housmann (SH) win by forfeit
112 – Oleg Laughner (SH) win by fall (0:38) over Ethan Ebinger (B-CC)
119 – James Kerrick (SH) win by decision (7-5, OT) over Adam Pereira (B-CC)
125 – Montgomery Barnsley (SH) win by fall (1:56) over Marlon Circo (B-CC)
130 – Ray Mencia (SH) win by fall (1:08) over Jonah Goldman (B-CC)
135 – Tyler Tockman (SH) win by decision (8-7) over Nick Pelecannos (B-CC)
140 – James Roach (B-CC) win by fall (2:39) over Michael Mucci (SH)
145 – Jeff Ralph (SH) win by fall (2:39) over Chris Scott (B-CC)
152 – Josh Lowy (SH) win by fall (1:02) over Lance Ingram (B-CC)
160 – Steven Gamble (SH) win by fall (2:33) over David Kunsberg (B-CC)
171 – Noah Joseph (B-CC) win by fall (4:11) over Simon Cook (SH)
189 – Josh Hertz (SH) win by fall (5:35) over Collins Nitcheu (B-CC)