North Hagerstown’s Hub Cup is one of the longest running tournaments in Maryland and this past weekend was the most recent addition, which was won by Legacy Wrestling’s No. 7 ranked Middletown comfortably over Mechanicsburg from Pennsylvania, 250-188. Southern Maryland’s North Point was third with 150 points.
“The team wrestled very well and gave me their best effort at all times on the mat,” Middletown coach Chad Strube said. “They have improved a lot since the beginning of the season, and I know they will be even better when they get to states. They are a hard-working group and are learning and improving each day.”
The Knights placed thirteen wrestlers on the podium, crowning two champions out of four finalists. No. 3 Alex DeVriendt posted a technical fall over Perry Hall’s Justin Kavanagh in 2:08 in their 150lb title bout.
“My finals win shows that we’ve been working hard in the room, and it’s been translating to our matches,” said DeVriendt. “My plan for the rest of the season is to keep working hard and win a state title. And I’m proud of our team for winning the tournament, and having nine people wrestling back for third shows we have a lot of heart and don’t give up. “
No. 21 Henry Graham spent less time on the mat than DeVriendt as he registered a fall in the first period over Muneer Muneer (Musselman, WV) in 1:32 (the name is correct, we did some research, it was not a misprint on the brackets).
“It was very impressive on how nearly the whole team placed and we have a bright future,” offered Graham. “I feel like I wrestled good in the finals and my plan for the rest of the season is to keep improving and win states.”
Coming up short in their title quests for Middletown were Calvin Smith (120) and No. 12 Carter Canale (175). Canale had the misfortune of running into Perry Hall’s No. 2 Victor Marks-Jenkins, who is a national honorable mention in Sports Illustrated’s High School rankings. Marks-Jenkins planted Canale in the first frame, 1:53.
“It’s back-to-back (Hub Cup) titles so that is good,” remarked Perry Hall coach Doug Yoakum. “We go to that event to see wrestlers from other areas but the way the weight class panned out he ended up with three Maryland kids. The next few weeks we have some potential match ups that might be interesting as I have no problem as a coach bouncing Victor around weight classes. Even though he’s still only sixteen, he’s able to compete versus grown men. He’s competed in several college opens over the last year and holds a significant winning record at those events.”
Two of the Knight’s bronze medalists were unranked in the state and took down ranked foes in their victories. At 106, Cam Bowman decked Perry Hall’s No. 9 Hegan Chhantayal in the opening period, 1:33. Liam Soe (113) downed returning 4A/3A state placer No. 14 Gabe Helmen (Urbana), 4-1. Dasean Watts also took third at 215.
No Middletown wrestlers placed lower than fourth with six of them landing in the fourth spot. They were No. 17 Ryker Keeney (126), No. 20 Xavier Ford (132), Sammy Sword (138), Arturo Manajarrez (144), Zach Landis (165), and Hayden Smith at 190.
“It is very impressive to have 13 of 14 wrestlers place in the top four,” added Strube. “The effort they put in the room really showed out on the mat. They don't quit and are always going the extra mile. I look forward to each and every match.”
North Point’s three champions were the most of any squad. Two of them just came down in weight after the holiday break with Dylan Robey (No. 18 at 120) now at 113 and Austin Wood (No. 5 at 126) residing at 120 now.
Robey won a close match, 4-2, over Sherwood’s No. 7 Cade Munoz and Wood posted a 10-1 major decision of Middletown’s Smith. No. 7 Gable Pauole pinned Washington D.C.’s Jasson Lopez (Bell) in 54 seconds at 144.
Two Eagles settled for silver, Dylan Gautier (No. 22 at 132) at 126 and heavyweight Bruce Torres. Torres beat Southern Garrett’s Joel Dove in the semis after Dove upset No. 10 Baen Summerlin (Maryland School for the Deaf) in the quarters. Placing fifth was Ian Baucum (138). Ryan Pickerel was sixth at 106.
La Plata’s Owen Hannah defeated the Rams’ Bradly Hamilton 7-4 in the 132lb finals. To reach the final, Hannah upset the Knights’ Ford, who placed at the 4A/3A state tournament last year for Tuscarora.
No. 3 Vince Corso (Urbana) locked down top honors at 190lbs with a third period tech fall of the Southern Garrett’s Ben Nazelrod, 4:11. At 138, Richard Montgomery’s Isisah Womack (No. 9 at 144) teched Cole Sweitzer of Mechanicsburg. Thomas Johnson’s Brendan Hubbard’s pin at 215, 1:37, over Musselmen’s Brett Damico gave Maryland its final champ.
Stonebridge from Virginia crowned two champions and both beat guys who are ranked in Maryland. At 106, Moose Richardson blanked No. 11 Damian DuChez (Urbana), 5-0. William Brooks used a tech fall in 1:49 versus No. 15 Connor Flickinger (Sherwood) at 165lbs.
Spring Mills’ Dallas Owens posted a 12-0 major decision of Gautier at 126 and Mechanicsburg’s Collin Stare also pitched a shutout major decision versus a North Point grappler, 9-0, over Torres at 285.
Team Scores (Top 10)
1-Middletown 250
2-Mechanicsburg (PA) 188
3-North Point 150
4-La Plata 133.5
5-Stonebridge (VA)
6-Perry Hall 116.5
7-Spring Mills (WV) 113.5
8-Urbana 111.5
9-Southern Garrett 109
10-Musselmen (WV) 98