(Individual and team rankings can be found here.)
“I think Ben takes a lot of pride in crushing them,” Kubik said. “We put 15 minutes on the clock, and he likes to see how much pain he can inflict.”
Kubik said the result is the best conditioned team he’s ever had, and the focus on fitness has paid off on the mat. Georgetown Prep (9-0) has started strong this season and moves into the top spot in The Post’s latest rankings. The Little Hoyas edged out No. 3 Spalding to capture the 14-team Arundel Holiday Tournament last week as they continue to drive for an eighth straight Interstate Athletic Conference title.
At the beginning of the season, there was, as expected, some grumbling about the increased conditioning, but senior 152-pounder Thomas Wilson said the Little Hoyas have accepted it into their routine as they continue to reap the benefits.
They will be tested as they navigate a grueling month that is slated to include 22 dual matches — starting with an appearance at the Pallotti Duals this weekend.
“It makes a difference in the third period,” said Wilson, who is 10-6 this season. “We can continue to push the entire match, and I think that makes a big difference.”
Georgetown Prep had the personnel in place for a special season after graduating just two wrestlers off the team that placed fifth at last year’s Maryland Independent Schools Tournament. The Little Hoyas began the season by posting their best-ever finish at the Ray Oliver Invitational last month, coming in second behind host McDonogh, an Owings Mill private school.
Seniors Patrick Hutton (19-4, 126) and Ryan Schneider (14-4, 285) and juniors Troy Murtha (21-4, 170) and Daniel Sanchez (20-3, 132) have paced the team so far.
While nationally-ranked McDonogh is the favorite to take the Maryland Independent Schools team title, the Little Hoyas, buoyed by their recent success, are at least starting to talk about challenging for its first state crown.
“At the beginning of the year, we weren’t really sure what we were going to be,” Wilson said. “We hadn’t thought a lot about the state championship. Everyone said McDonogh would be tough to beat, but I think it would be great to take a shot at them. We’ll just keep wrestling hard and hope for the best.”
Colonial Forge moves ahead
Colonial Forge has begun to separate itself from the other local Virginia public school wrestling powers, and the No. 2 Eagles enter the Battlefield Duals in their home gym this weekend looking like the area’s strongest early contender in the state’s AAA classification.
Forge has been the highest local finisher in each of the four multi-state tournaments it has entered so far, including a sixth-place finish in the prestigious 96-team Beast of The East tournament held last month in Newark, Del.
Senior David Reck placed second in the 182-pound bracket there, while seniors Michael Hayes and Mark Garrity finished sixth at 126 and 195 pounds, respectively.
Colonial Forge is 5-0 in dual meets against area opponents, including a 57-19 win over No. 4 Robinson and a 58-10 win over No. 8 Forest Park during a quad meet at Robinson on Dec. 22.
Forge won three consecutive Virginia AAA team championships from 2007-2009, has won 10 consecutive AAA Northwest region titles and 11 straight AAA Commonwealth District crowns.
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