South Carroll's top-ranked sophomore defending Class 2A-1A state champion JoJo Gigliotti (132) is one to watch heading into this weekend's regionals, which are a precursor to the state tournament on March 1-2 at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro.
Gigliotti won his second straight Carroll County championship last weekend, improving to 44-1 on falls in 2:16 and 30 seconds, the latter in the title match with freshman Beau Snell of Manchester Valley.
The son of Anthony Gigliotti, a former Class 4A-3A state champion at Sherwood in 1999, Jo Jo has a two-year record of 92-3 that includes last year's 9-3 decision over Mount St. Joseph senior Carter Nogle, who is a two-time champion in both the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and private schools state tournaments.
Gigliotti went 48-2 a year ago, culminating with a 3-2 state championship victory over Boonsboro sophomore Tanner Halling, who entered at 45-0.
Gigliotti finished second at 127 pounds in December's Trojan Wars Tournament at Chambersburg Area High in Chambersburg, Pa., going 4-1 with two pins, a technical fall and a major decision.
Gigliotti had reached the finals following a 17-2 technical fall, an 85-second pin, a 12-4 major decision and a fall in 3:23, the latter in his semifinal bout against eventual third-place finishing freshman Stephen Myers of Parkersburg High of Parkersburg, West Virginia. Myers improved his record on the year to 16-1 following a 7-5 victory for third place.
Gigliotti lost his title bout, 7-3, after leading, 2-0, against senior Lucas Fye of Bald Eagle Area, who also won last year's Trojan Wars event at 120 pounds.
"I just hold myself to a higher standard because I know how good I can be," said Jo Jo Gigliotti, who was disappointed in his runner-up finish at Trojan Wars. "It's tough knowing that my three career losses were at this tournament. I don't like losing at all."
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