For Damascus Senior, Practice Makes Perfect

In the hours after placing fifth at last season's 4A/3A state tournament, Damascus senior Josh Frederick made a promise to himself that he would never enter the tournament unprepared again. He promised himself that he would also go undefeated and win a state title.

So during the summer, Frederick traversed the area to find a wrestling tournament nearly every weekend. His dedication to wrestling made him late for the football team's preseason conditioning program.

It didn't matter. Frederick was already in superb shape and, once football season finished, his focus returned to wrestling, where he was ready to show his hard work.

Frederick kept his promise, going undefeated (33-0) this season and winning the state title Saturday at Cole Field House at the University of Maryland, beating friend Dake Williams from Quince Orchard, 8-7, in the 215-pound final.

"I wanted it more this time," Frederick said. "I knew I could be good."

Frederick lost to North Carroll's Jason Thomen, 6-4 in overtime, in last season's quarterfinals. Thomen went on to wrestle in the state finals, where he lost to Wilde Lake's Zach Brown.

This year, Frederick was rooting for Thomen to beat Severna Park's Billy Nichols so he could get a rematch. Thomen won, and Frederick beat Thomen 8-6 in overtime before facing Williams for the ninth time.

"This kid has gone from nowhere to a state champ," Damascus Coach Dave Hopkins said. "A lot of people don't understand the magnitude and the dedication it took. It's a lot of hard work that the youngster put in. He's got a work ethic that was just outstanding. To this day, I'm still impressed."

During running drills, Frederick, just one weight class short of the heaviest, would keep up with the team's lightweights. "He is competitive in everything," Hopkins said. "He just always wanted to wrestle."

Hopkins gave Frederick the nickname "Baby Bull" for his aggressive, charging style.

Frederick was one of the four Damascus seniors who begged Hopkins to stay and coach a 31st season this year. After four years of work, Frederick wanted to go out on top with the man who helped get him there. After his state championship win, Frederick went to the bench and gave Hopkins a hug.

"He almost broke my back," Hopkins said. "He gave me a bullish hug. But that's okay, that was a good one."

Frederick was the only state champion from a Montgomery County school. Blake's Rasheim Smith, Paint Branch's Danny Lethbridge, Northwest's Sean McCarty, Sherwood's Steven Gamble and Quince Orchard's Williams and Terrence Stephens were runners-up.