Sports Notes: South Carroll wrestling closing in on elusive state duals title

South Carroll's wrestling program has plenty of success at the state championship level in its history, with team titles from 2014-17 and seven other top-four performances along the way.

The year-end state tournament has since done away with team scoring, so the only state title left up for grabs is the dual-meet tourney, which to me is the real test of a true team champ. The Cavaliers have made a state duals finals just once, back in 2005, to go with four state semifinal appearances (most recently in 2010).

The Cavs are back in a final four for the first time in 12 years, and they should be considered a favorite to win the Class 1A crown when the state duals commence Feb. 12 at North Point High School in Waldorf.

South Carroll won the 1A North duals tourney title by beating Dunbar 69-0 in the finals Feb. 9 at Francis Scott Key High School.

The Cavs defeated FSK in the semifinals, 63-12, before exacting a little school revenge against Dunbar. The Poets, if you recall, took care of SC to win the 2A-1A football state championship back in early December.

The wrestling matchup went South Carroll's way in a big way -- pins came from Evan Owen (106 pounds), Gage Owen (138), Anthony Bond (145), Manny Rodrigues (152), Rylan Moose (182), and Jarnell Davis (220). Ryan Athey (126) added a technical fall and the Cavaliers ran their dual-meet record to 23-0 heading into the state tournament.

SC has four wrestlers with undefeated records so far this winter -- Ryan Athey (120) is 26-0, Michael Pizzuto (126) is 30-0, Gage Owen is 28-0, and AJ Rodrigues (160) is 31-0. 

Dunbar faced Liberty in the other 1A North semifinal and won 36-33 to advance. Dominic Marsico earned a 14-13 win at 152 pounds for the Lions (14-14), whose other points came from forfeits.

Francis Scott Key (8-16) earned a pin from Nate Taylor at 120 in its semifinal match against South Carroll.

Now, the Cavs are two wins away from their first state duals title. South Carroll takes on Harford Tech in the first 1A state semifinal of the day on Feb. 12 at noon. The winner gets either Lackey or Northern Garrett in the championship set for 4 p.m.

You can visit the MPSSAA's website to see the rest of the state dual-meet tourney participants from other classifications. And here's some CMSportsNet highlights from South Carroll's 58-18 county win over Winters Mill on Feb. 2.

Boys Basketball

Winters Mill 60, River Hill 56 (OT)

Recap: Dallas Johnson had 16 points and Ben Weller scored 14 for the Falcons, who ran their record to 10-6. Owen Case finished with 13 and Winters Mill won its third game in a row.

Girls Basketball

Fallston 53, Century 32

Recap: The Knights fell to 12-6 despite eight points from Mackenzie Mowder and seven from Mia Graff.

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