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"I'd say this is a statement," said state runner-up Dan Bichner, whose Gladiators knocked off two of the Lions' four previously unbeaten wrestlers.
Glenelg's Dan Bichner (right) bumped up from 135 to 140 pounds to hand Walkersville's Ty White (left) his first loss, 1-0. Bichner's Gladiators won the dual meet, 55-13.
by Lem Satterfield
Glenelg poured all of the emotion of its bad memories into Saturday afternoon's, 55-13 dual meet victory over visiting Walkersville.
There were those of their bitter finish at last year's Class 2A-1A state tournament, where the Gladiators were within striking distance of winning entering the championship finals, only to have Brian Marcoux, Chris Stinnett and Dan Bichner suffer narrow defeats, respectively, at 119, 125 and 130 pounds.
And there were the memories of last month's 10-point loss at two-time defending Class 4A-3A state duals titlist LaPlata, during which the Gladiators, collectively, were out-hustled by an intensely focused Warriors' squad.
The loss at LaPlata added to the perception that the Gladiators were a team that couldn't finish what it starts.
But Saturday's matchup, coming on the heels of last month's Glenelg win at the prestigious Damascus Tournament, offered the defending Howard County duals and tournament champion Gladiators an opportunity to clear up some wreckage.
The dual meet was a chance for the Gladiators to step out and accept their role as prohibitive favorites to dethrone Rising Sun of Cecil County as Class 2A-1A duals and tournament titlists.
And that's what they did, losing in only three of the 14 weight classes, and knocking off two of the Lions' (4-3) previously unbeaten wrestlers to improve to 5-1 on the season.
State runner-up Dan Bichner bumped up from 135-to-140 pounds to hand previously unbeaten Tyler White his first loss in 13 bouts, 1-0. Their bout was a rematch of last year's state semifinal, also won by Bichner, 8-6.
And county and regional champion Tim Chase (160), who was third at states last year at 171 pounds, beat Marc Nielson for the second time in less than 10 days.
This time, Chase's 4-0 victory was the result of a takedown and three nearfall points -- all in the final 13 seconds of the first period -- instead of having to secure the same move in the final minute of the match to break a 5-5 tie for a 9-6 win as he did in their previous matchup.
The Gladiators' Brian Marcoux was among those at the center of attention, his 8-6 decision at 130-pounds being over the Lions' previously unbeaten C.J. Cotterman (12-1 record). The victory avenged Marcoux's dual meet loss of a year ago at 119 pounds.
"I think they wrestled a lot smarter than we did. They out-smarted us and on the matches," said Walkersville coach Butch Cotterman. "The close ones, according to how the match was called, it could have gone differently. But with all that being said, they wrestled a lot smarter than we did in the key matches."
The Gladiators also received pins from Nick Caffrey (103), Zach Gerber (112), Gary Keister (171) and Zach Cross (215). Mike O'Leary (145) scored a 17-0 technical fall, adding to the intensity of the first-period falls by Gerber, Keister and Cross.
"The main goal is to get pins, especially in the county and in big matches like today against Walkersville," Keister said. "A lot of the younger guys stepped up and did their jobs, getting big points."
The Gladiators also got forfeits to third-place state finisher Brendon Conway (119), Jack Borkowski (125) and Craig Brindza (135).
"This was awesome. Our whole team wrestled well. I'd say it's a statement to show that we have more depth than just our top wrestlers," Bichner said. "It shows that other guys on our team can step up. We have a solid team all the way through."
The Gladiators, ranked 10th in the Digital-Maryland State Wrestling Association Top 20 poll, still are awaiting the return of the injured Stinnett, a returning county and regional champion who went 33-1 last season.
"If Chris would have been back, they would have probably only won two matches," Bichner said. "I think he would have taken out another guy and we might have put up 60 points."
The only winners for the Lions were state champion Jordan Walsh (189) and Tim Garlington (285) registered first-period pins, and their 152-pound Zach White edged the Gladiators' county champ, Alex Hufnagel, 4-1.
"They just showed us that we need the one thing that we've never lacked in the past, and that's heart and pride. But how do you teach that?" Walsh said. "Danny Bichner did what he had to do. He rode Tyler out, stalled on him for a period, but any wrestler's going to do what he has to do to win."
"C.J. fought hard, showed our guys what it's like to be in an actual battle. The only problem is that, with Marcoux, he went out with aggression," Walsh said. "And when he expected Marcoux to actually wrestle him in center instead of working the edge, C.J.'s level was up, Marcoux would take a low shot, and C.J. wasn't ready for it."
Unlike last season, when Marcoux was taken down three times by Cotterman, the senior engaged his Lions' opponent more. Marcoux scored three takedowns on the way to building leads of 4-1, and, 6-3, before Cotterman closed the gap to 7-6 with a takedown of his own with 48 seconds left in their match.
"Last year, I came out and wrestled a horrible match. I got caught in the same move twice. This year, I came out and knew what to do. I had to set up my shots, not dive in. I took advantage of his weaknesses and played to my strengths this time," said Marcoux, who was a runner-up at states last year, where Cotterman finished fifth.
"This was the match I needed to win. I embarrassed myself, and I had to redeem myself," Marcoux said. "This season, we have to come back from last year and build on it. We lost to LaPlata, which showed us that we're still not there yet. I think, in a couple of weeks, we'll show that we are there and that we're the team to beat at states."
Glenelg 55, Walkersville 13
(Walkersville deducted two team points; Glenelg, one team point)
Started at 160:
160- Tim Chase (G) d. Marc Nielson, 4-0
171- Gary Kiester (G) p. Clinton Holley, 1:59
189- Jordan Walsh (W) p. John Mullinex, 0:46
215- Zach Cross (G) p. Kyle Heppner, 1:27
285- Tim Garlington (W) p. Derek Patrick, 1:51
103- Nick Caffrey (G) p. Kyle Snyder, 3:48
112- Zach Gerber (G) p. Dana Cooley, 1:09
119- Brendon Conway (G) by forfeit
125- Jack Borokowski (G) by forfeit
130- Brian Marcoux (G) d. C.J. Cotterman, 8-6
135- Craig Brindza (G) by forfeit
140- Dan Bichner (G) d. Ty White, 1-0
145- Mike O'Leary (G) tf. Sam Conrad, 17-0
152- Zach White (W) d. Alex Hufnagel, 4-1
Glenelg poured all of the emotion of its bad memories into Saturday afternoon's, 55-13 dual meet victory over visiting Walkersville.
There were those of their bitter finish at last year's Class 2A-1A state tournament, where the Gladiators were within striking distance of winning entering the championship finals, only to have Brian Marcoux, Chris Stinnett and Dan Bichner suffer narrow defeats, respectively, at 119, 125 and 130 pounds.
And there were the memories of last month's 10-point loss at two-time defending Class 4A-3A state duals titlist LaPlata, during which the Gladiators, collectively, were out-hustled by an intensely focused Warriors' squad.
The loss at LaPlata added to the perception that the Gladiators were a team that couldn't finish what it starts.
But Saturday's matchup, coming on the heels of last month's Glenelg win at the prestigious Damascus Tournament, offered the defending Howard County duals and tournament champion Gladiators an opportunity to clear up some wreckage.
The dual meet was a chance for the Gladiators to step out and accept their role as prohibitive favorites to dethrone Rising Sun of Cecil County as Class 2A-1A duals and tournament titlists.
And that's what they did, losing in only three of the 14 weight classes, and knocking off two of the Lions' (4-3) previously unbeaten wrestlers to improve to 5-1 on the season.
State runner-up Dan Bichner bumped up from 135-to-140 pounds to hand previously unbeaten Tyler White his first loss in 13 bouts, 1-0. Their bout was a rematch of last year's state semifinal, also won by Bichner, 8-6.
And county and regional champion Tim Chase (160), who was third at states last year at 171 pounds, beat Marc Nielson for the second time in less than 10 days.
This time, Chase's 4-0 victory was the result of a takedown and three nearfall points -- all in the final 13 seconds of the first period -- instead of having to secure the same move in the final minute of the match to break a 5-5 tie for a 9-6 win as he did in their previous matchup.
The Gladiators' Brian Marcoux was among those at the center of attention, his 8-6 decision at 130-pounds being over the Lions' previously unbeaten C.J. Cotterman (12-1 record). The victory avenged Marcoux's dual meet loss of a year ago at 119 pounds.
"I think they wrestled a lot smarter than we did. They out-smarted us and on the matches," said Walkersville coach Butch Cotterman. "The close ones, according to how the match was called, it could have gone differently. But with all that being said, they wrestled a lot smarter than we did in the key matches."
The Gladiators also received pins from Nick Caffrey (103), Zach Gerber (112), Gary Keister (171) and Zach Cross (215). Mike O'Leary (145) scored a 17-0 technical fall, adding to the intensity of the first-period falls by Gerber, Keister and Cross.
"The main goal is to get pins, especially in the county and in big matches like today against Walkersville," Keister said. "A lot of the younger guys stepped up and did their jobs, getting big points."
The Gladiators also got forfeits to third-place state finisher Brendon Conway (119), Jack Borkowski (125) and Craig Brindza (135).
"This was awesome. Our whole team wrestled well. I'd say it's a statement to show that we have more depth than just our top wrestlers," Bichner said. "It shows that other guys on our team can step up. We have a solid team all the way through."
The Gladiators, ranked 10th in the Digital-Maryland State Wrestling Association Top 20 poll, still are awaiting the return of the injured Stinnett, a returning county and regional champion who went 33-1 last season.
"If Chris would have been back, they would have probably only won two matches," Bichner said. "I think he would have taken out another guy and we might have put up 60 points."
The only winners for the Lions were state champion Jordan Walsh (189) and Tim Garlington (285) registered first-period pins, and their 152-pound Zach White edged the Gladiators' county champ, Alex Hufnagel, 4-1.
"They just showed us that we need the one thing that we've never lacked in the past, and that's heart and pride. But how do you teach that?" Walsh said. "Danny Bichner did what he had to do. He rode Tyler out, stalled on him for a period, but any wrestler's going to do what he has to do to win."
"C.J. fought hard, showed our guys what it's like to be in an actual battle. The only problem is that, with Marcoux, he went out with aggression," Walsh said. "And when he expected Marcoux to actually wrestle him in center instead of working the edge, C.J.'s level was up, Marcoux would take a low shot, and C.J. wasn't ready for it."
Unlike last season, when Marcoux was taken down three times by Cotterman, the senior engaged his Lions' opponent more. Marcoux scored three takedowns on the way to building leads of 4-1, and, 6-3, before Cotterman closed the gap to 7-6 with a takedown of his own with 48 seconds left in their match.
"Last year, I came out and wrestled a horrible match. I got caught in the same move twice. This year, I came out and knew what to do. I had to set up my shots, not dive in. I took advantage of his weaknesses and played to my strengths this time," said Marcoux, who was a runner-up at states last year, where Cotterman finished fifth.
"This was the match I needed to win. I embarrassed myself, and I had to redeem myself," Marcoux said. "This season, we have to come back from last year and build on it. We lost to LaPlata, which showed us that we're still not there yet. I think, in a couple of weeks, we'll show that we are there and that we're the team to beat at states."
Glenelg 55, Walkersville 13
(Walkersville deducted two team points; Glenelg, one team point)
Started at 160:
160- Tim Chase (G) d. Marc Nielson, 4-0
171- Gary Kiester (G) p. Clinton Holley, 1:59
189- Jordan Walsh (W) p. John Mullinex, 0:46
215- Zach Cross (G) p. Kyle Heppner, 1:27
285- Tim Garlington (W) p. Derek Patrick, 1:51
103- Nick Caffrey (G) p. Kyle Snyder, 3:48
112- Zach Gerber (G) p. Dana Cooley, 1:09
119- Brendon Conway (G) by forfeit
125- Jack Borokowski (G) by forfeit
130- Brian Marcoux (G) d. C.J. Cotterman, 8-6
135- Craig Brindza (G) by forfeit
140- Dan Bichner (G) d. Ty White, 1-0
145- Mike O'Leary (G) tf. Sam Conrad, 17-0
152- Zach White (W) d. Alex Hufnagel, 4-1
Glenelg's Brian Marcoux (foreground) bumped up from 125 to 130 pounds to avenge a loss of a year ago, 8-6, against Walkersville's C.J. Cotterman. Marcoux's Gladiators won the dual meet, 55-13.
