LaPlata’s Oriana Boling won a clash of 105-pound seniors by second-period fall against Legacy Wrestling’s top-ranked, two-time state champion Aly Conley of Queen Anne’s during last weekend’s Maverick Duals at Manchester Valley.
Going 5-0 for the victorious Lions were juniors Lily Hammond (145) and Maggie Rooney (285), senior Kaylynn Bryant Sr (190) and sophomore Annalise Michael (105, 110). Conley finished at 4-1, and junior Addie Dickens Jr (170) at 3-1.
Boling was pinned by Conley during a tournament matchup last year, but returned the favor after building a five-point lead last Saturday.
“Ori hit a double leg and had a half and hand in going on top,” said coach John Pankhurst, a former Southern Maryland Athletic Conference champion and winner of two regional crowns who placed second and third at Class 4A-3A states before graduating from LaPlata in 1995. “Ori was up 5-0 after the first period, and Conley took down for the start of the second but did not survive. Ori turned her and then proceeded to pin her.”
Conley was a state champion as a freshman, placed sixth in that event as a sophomore, and returned to the state championship podium as a 100-pound junior.
Queen Anne’s went 5-0 in dual meets for the overall title, winning the event for the second straight year. The Warriors won three of five matches, but Boling was 5-0 with as many pins.
“It feels great that I was able to have a rematch against a very good wrestler, Aly Conley, who had previously beaten me,” Boling said. “My hard work and dedication helped me to overcome and defeat her by a pin in the second period.”
Conley pinned three of four opponents at states last year, including Whitman freshman Kelani Ramos at 3:34 of their title bout. Conley won a semifinal clash of defending champions, 6-3, over senior Faith Day of Manchester Valley, who finished third.
Ramos is a sophomore who is presently ranked second at 100 pounds by Legacy Wrestling.
Boling went 16-10 last season: 8-4 against boys, and 8-6 against girls. She was a regional runner-up last year to Western Tech senior Leian Wright, a returning third-place state finisher at 105 pounds. Wright is currently the top-ranked, 105-pounder by Legacy Wrestling.
“Ori lost in the regional final at 105 pounds to the Western Tech girl who had been 120 pounds the year before,” Pankhurst said. “But Ori also reactivated a back injury during the regionals. She gave it a go at states, but she just wasn't physically able.”
Boling lost her initial bout at states by the score of 8-3 before being eliminated, 11-0, in her consolation match.
“Ori was devastated last year because she had worked so hard,” Pankhurst said. “She had grown so much, and she was technically prepared to do well before going 0-2 at states.”
Boling grew up playing softball before transitioning to field hockey. Boling spent her freshman season as the team statistician. She decided to wrestle as a sophomore during the inception of the Warriors’ girls program.
“She put down the book and put on some headgear. In Ori’s first year, she went 5-5, but she fell in love with the sport and started training seriously. She sustained a back injury in late January that was reactivated at regionals and continued to be problematic as we closed out at states. I truly believe Ori was a podium-level wrestler last year although that didn't happen,” Pankhurst said. “Ori was very disappointed in her performance, but adversity training makes us stronger in the long run. After some forced recovery and rehab, Ori started training again. She went to Disney duals and made All-American there. Ori decided to stop playing field hockey this year. She’s trained throughout the fall to prepare for the season, and she committed to Frostburg last week where she’ll continue her academic and athletic wrestling career.”
Boling’s record is 9-0 with six pins and a technical fall.
“I’m looking forward to this year’s competition,” Boling said. “I’m working hard to improve on my performance at states.”
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