On January 4, 2024, a physician informed Archbishop Spalding’s Eli Chesla that his 106-pound sophomore season was over.
“A year ago today, I found out that I had torn the ACL in my left leg and would have to sit out for 10 months,” Chesla told Legacy Wrestling on Saturday. “That included a surgery, so I just stayed involved with the sport, worked hard in rehab and prayed to God for the rest of it to work out.”
That hard work has reaped dividends exactly one year later for the third-ranked Chesla, who experienced perhaps his biggest career victory on Saturday at Stephen Decatur High in Berlin, Maryland.
That’s where Chesla won a clash of 113-pound juniors by 6-2 decision over South Carroll’s fourth-ranked defending Class 2A-1A state champion Grayson Barnhill for the title at the War On The Shore Tournament.
“Being back on the mat doing what I love feels amazing on its own,” said Chesla, whose record improved to 10-5. “I had a lot of good matches this weekend and I have a lot of respect for the kids I wrestled.”
Chesla was joined on the victory podium by senior Sean Garretson (126) and junior Zane Leitzel (138), each of whom is top-ranked by Legacy Wrestling as the fourth-ranked Cavaliers (225.5 points) overcame second-ranked runner-up South Carroll (217) for the overall crown.
The Cavaliers’ eighth-ranked senior Henry Gessford (144) finished third, sixth-ranked freshman Charlie Mutschler (106) and fourth-ranked sophomore Quentin Bailey (120) were fourth, and 14th-ranked senior Roc Zang (132) and 15th-ranked senior Danny Briles (157) each took fifth as the Cavaliers placed eight wrestlers within the top five of their weight classes.
Chesla’s freshman season included placing third in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament as well as fourth at the Maryland Independent Schools’ State tournament.
“I just went out there and wrestled my style and tried to score some points,” Chesla said. “I never really got worked up about any of the kids’ accolades I wrestled against.”
Chesla reached his championship bout following a fall in 2:58, an 8-0 major decision, and an 8-5 overtime, semifinal win over Stephen Decatur’s fifth-ranked senior Juan Hinojosa, a returning state runner-up.
“Against Juan in my semifinals match, I got in on some of my attacks, but he was quick to counter my shots,” said Chesla, whose father, Mark, graduated in 1995 from Arundel High as a two-time state champion. “In overtime, I knew I just had to dig deep and score. I had an underhook against him and I scored on the edge of the mat with an ankle pick on the opposite side.”
Next up was Barnhill, who registered falls in 27, 47 and 85 seconds and another in 1:49, the latter in his semifinal against senior Kevin McFadden of Pennridge High in Pennsylvania. McFadden lost his third-place match to Hinojosa, 10-7, in overtime.
Barnhill went 34-0 last season with 33 pins and one forfeit, earning his second straight Carroll County and Class 2A-1A North regional titles, winning his first Class 2A-1A state title after being a runner-up as a freshman, and being named a Legacy Wrestling Lower Weight Wrestler of The Year.
At states last year, Barnhill used pins in 8, 15 and 39 seconds to reach his title bout against Hinojosa, who was decked in 59 seconds despite entering with a record of 39-3. Barnhill went 38-9 with 30 pins as a ninth grader, with one of his losses being against Chesla.
“The first time I beat Grayson, it was 6-0. That gave me an idea of what his style is, but I didn’t really count on using it as an advantage because that was two years ago,” said Chesla of Barnhill, whose record on the year slipped to 13-2. “Grayson and I have both changed things in our wrestling. I knew Grayson was a big pinner who is really strong. So, I just had to keep myself in the match and stay away from any vulnerable positions. I knew that if I did that, things would open up.”
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