Wrestling: Oakland Mills Defeats Catonsville to End Regular Season

Just down the street from the UMBC campus in Catonsville, the Oakland Mills wrestling team took on the host Catonsville Comets and came out with the win, 50-18. The Scorpions dominated the Comets, getting five pins while Catonsville only recorded one during the match.

“We’re just starting to loosen up our reigns and let the boys get the wheels burning trying to peak here at the end of the season,” said Oakland Mills Coach Brad Howell. “I got several guys biting at the bits to get after it, and now we’re opening up the flood gates for that. The training room’s been really intense, and the guys are hungry and healthy.”

Oakland Mills never trailed in the final match of the regular season, jumping out to the lead after the first match when the Scorpions Kinney was able to defeat Catonsville’s Jake Ward in the 119-lb weight class.

The first pin fall of the match came in match number three when Richie Randall from Oakland Mills took down Hunter Ruane. That gave the Scorpions the 10-3 lead, and they would never be up by less then that for the remainder of the evening.

Catonsville would try to keep it close, but to no avail. Up 13-6, Oakland Mills went on a 21-point run behind three straight pins from David Uylsse, Alex DoQuang, and Joey Rice, which all but sealed the victory for the Scorpions.

“They came against tough, strong opponents,” said Howell. “All three of them stayed in their game early on, weathered the storm and kept in their game plan. That’s the key; not conceding your game plan no matter how the match is going.”

Both teams had only one forfeit in the match, both coming in the last three matches. The lone pin from Catonsville came too little too late from Comets football star Tyler Weedon, who pinned Tyrone Gaines from Oakland Mills on a nice cradle that ended the match.

Other Oakland Mills victories came from Jerry Fumba who picked up three points in a great match with Chris Nickerson. Dom Clark also took a decision from Brandon Dixon.

Up next Oakland Mills can only hope to make the dual meet regionals, which will start later this month.

“We’re hoping to get into regional duals, the sweet sixteen,” said Howell. That’s what we’re focused on and, next practice, we’re going to get after it – get stronger, get smarter, and get better.”