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MCPS tournament seeds were released this week and there will be some great action at the upcoming 60th annual MCPS Wrestling Tournament. This will be the first complete season since 2020 with no restrictions related to COVID-19. This year’s field of MCPS wrestlers are talented and are looking to prove that they represent some of the best in the state. There are potential state placers and champs in almost every weight class, which makes this year’s county tournament one of the most competitive in recent history. Several weight classes have multiple state ranked wrestlers and a few state #1’s in their division.
The preview below provides some of the possible matchups and predictions of how things will shake-out on Saturday night. The summaries are based on state rankings and not county seeds. Congratulations to all MCPS wrestlers this regular season and good luck with the upcoming postseason!!!
106: This weight class boasts 5 wrestlers ranked in the state, according to Billy B’s latest rankings. The top 3 county seeds are currently ranked top 4 in the 3A/4A MD State division. Neal Sharma (MD State #5) is the county frontrunner this weekend and could find himself at the top of the state podium in March. The predicted semi final matches could get interesting as it would showcase some of the best wrestlers in the state in Sharma, Spadoni (MD State #13), Randall (MD State #15) and Munoz (MD State #16). MCPS Tournament Seeds:
1 Neil Sharma, Magruder
2 Solomon Randall, Whitman
3 Harrison Spadoni, QO
4 Sean Torres, Springbrook
5 Ethan Makle, BCC
6 Brody Matson, Blake
Others to watch:
Cade Munoz, Sherwood
113: This is another weight class with state level talent. Yuen (MD State #15) and Dixon (MD State #19) are notable ranked wrestlers who should be right there in the mix on Saturday. Isaiah Womack (MD State #14), a 2x Junior League Champ and MD State Youth Champ, has the skills to shake-up things in his freshman year. MCPS Tournament Seeds:
1 Alex Alfelor, WJ
2 Jaedyn Ellis, Churchill
3 Dixon, Springbrook
4 Stone Yuen, Einstein
5 Damian Melendez, Rockville
6 Brenten Prestcott, Clarksburg
Others to watch:
Isaiah Womack, RM
Quinn Weaver, Blake
120: Jace Munoz (MD State #5) is the wrestler to beat in this weight class. Until his injury last season, Munoz was predicted to win his first Maryland state title. Based on his results this year, he looks poised to finish in dominating fashion in his senior year. Jacob Gaum (MD State #11), last year’s state runner up, is a strong, tough competitor and is expected to be high on the podium again this year. Messer (MD State #21) and Nixon are both looking to make some noise this weekend. MCPS Tournament Seeds:
1 Jace Munoz Sherwood
2 Jacob Gaum Whitman
3 Mason quintana Clarksburg
4 Jason Weber QO
5 Jimmy Messer Magruder
6 Adam Mathew Springbrook
Others to watch:
Gavin Grange,Wootton
Daniel Wu, Blair
Max Trujilo, Damascus
126: Gabe Hernandez (MD State #16) is a scrappy sophomore with loads of junior league experience. He has the skills to win the title so this should be interesting to see how the finals shake out. Chase Corpuz is looking to capture his first county title. A state qualifier as a ninth grader, Corpuz has had a strong senior season and expects to be standing alone after day 2 this weekend. Jaden Cheung is a tough kid who is a serious threat in this weight class. Conrad Randall is also in this weight class and the senior will be making noise on Saturday. MCPS Tournament Seeds:
1 Gabe Hernandez Damascus
2 Acxel Barrios Tobar PB
3 Jaden Cheung Blair
4 Max Pasquier Magruder
5 Chase Corpuz NW
6 Alex Osorio-Mendez Blake
Others to watch:
Conrad Randall, Argil Bilegsaikhan, Tommy Peluso, Brian Williams
132: Last year’s county and region champion, Owen Palaez (MD State #12) is looking to win back-to-back titles as a sophomore. Moffitt (MD State #18) and Gruner (MD State #24) are both solid competitors and will make things interesting in this weight class. Michael Carillo is a gritty competitor and is capable of placing higher than his seed.
MCPS Tournament Seeds:
1 Owen Palaez, Clarksburg
2 Porter Gruner, Damascus
3 Samuel Moffitt, BCC
4 Michael Carrillo
5 Chris Lindstrom
6 Jeremiah Ramirez
Others to watch:
Bryan Lopez, Magruder
Jeremy Kwon,Churchill
138: Three wrestlers in this weight class could each be sitting on the podium at the state tournament representing Montgomery County in March. Jonathan Chang (MD State #7) and Jason Beale (MD State #14) are serious studs with a bevy of wrestling experience. They are predicted to finish top 5 in the highly competitive 3A/4A state division and there could be some fireworks in the anticipated county finals should the two meet. Womack (MD State #22) has been surging since his freshman year and is a threat in this weight class. Vasili Siarkis may have something to say when the afternoon arrives on Day 2. MCPS Tournament Seeds:
1 Jonathan Chang, Clarksburg
2 Jason Beale, NW
3 Vasili Siarkis, Sherwood
4 Lucas Laender, Rockville
5 Gavin Hill, QO
6 Maurice Womack, RM
Others to watch:
Chris Mendoza, Nathen Morales, Selim Demirakn, Darrell Quansah, Thomas Trenkamp, Nathanael Tao
145: Sam Stempler, the senior, is the heavy favorite here. A returning state placer, Stempler has the experience and determination to capture the title. A state qualifier last season, Fernando Mejia (MD State #18) has the ability to win this weight class. Taigh Merola is a solid wrestler and has a great coaching staff in his corner. Anthony Castro is a former solid junior league wrestler with the skills to be in the mix. He lost a close 1 point decision to Mejia in their dual meet.
MCPS Tournament Seeds:
1 Sam Stempler, Poolesville
2 Fernando Mejia, NW
3 Taigh Merola, Churchill
4 Wyatt Kent, Einstein
5 Luke Porterfield
6 Tanner Harman
Others to watch:
Meran Elakel Whitman
Daniel Clark Wootton
Anthony Castro SV
152: This weight class could be interesting but Tsvi Margolis is the favorite. He has wrestled as high up as 170 pounds and has pinned some good wrestlers. Nebi Tsarni is a Fargo National Girls Freestyle Champion and ranked nationally. Aidan Gathman is a strong senior with lots of experience and could end up in the finals. Look out for young Connor Flickinger. The 9th grader has some serious upside and to be seeded 6th is a huge accomplishment. Seth Weaver will turn some heads all weekend. This will be an intriguing weight class.
1 Tsvi Margolis, Clarksburg
2 Seth Weaver, BCC
3 Aidan Gathman, NW
4 Nebi Tsarni, Watkins Mill
5 Joe Gruner, Damascus
6 Connor Flickinger, Sherwood
Others to watch:
Chace Limardo, SV
Josh Heimlich, Churchill
Shimma Wexler, Poolesville
160: Nelson Mazoeto (MD State #8) and Lincoln Wendel should be in the finals but Mazoeto is not a lock to win it all. We’ll see on Saturday afternoon. 3rd through 6th place could be a toss up. There are some solid wrestlers that round out this weight class.
1 Nelson Mazoeto, Blair
2 Lincoln Wendel, Springbrook
3 Enzo Yamasaki, WJ
4 Mattias Onel, Wootton
5 Walker Smith, Sherwood
6 Jacob Jenkins, Poolesville
Others to watch:
7 Andrew Zapata, Rockville
8 Matthew Drengwitz,NW
9 Mike Herrera, Clarksburg
170: Sean Douglas (MD State #7) is the favorite and has put together an incredible resume in his senior season. Sagbe Sieh (MD State #23) and Joseph Drengwitz (MD State #24) expect to be high on the podium and are hungry for a county title in their senior seasons. The finals matchup will be one to watch for sure.
1 Sean Douglas, Damascus
2 Sagbe Sieh, Springbrook
3 Joseph Drengwitz
4 Josh Ogunlade
5 Connor Murphy
6 Jon Aron Whitman
Others to watch:
Hudson Barrett, WJ
Adin Eisler, BCC
Adrian Taylor, Magruder
182: Ivan Carillo (MD State #9) Charlie Trenkamp (MD State #11) are the two stars in this weight class. Carillo is just a sophomore and seeking his first of possible multiple county titles. Trenkamp has the experience and the toughness to challenge for the top spot. AJ Lopez, a 9th grader, wrestled on the same junior league team as Carillo has had a sensational season. This is a good, young crop of wrestlers who will represent MOCO very well for years to come.
1 Ivan Carrillo, NW
2 Charlie Trenkamp, Churchill
3 AJ Lopez, Sherwood
4 JP Pfaff, Rockville
5 Ivan Anishchenko, Wootton
6 Dennis Peakcock, Magruder
Others to watch:
Sawyer Chism, WJ
Ebuka Chukwurah, Blair
195: Other than the 106 weight class, this bracket will feature 3 highly ranked state wrestlers and we could see two MOCO wrestlers in the state finals. Dangelo Da Silva (MD State #7), Samire Brown (MD State #8) and Jacob Ehret (MD State #9) should give the fans a lot of fireworks. Sam Dickey (MD State #19) will be very competitive and has a shot to pull off an upset. The top 3 are capable of winning a state title which make this the most exciting weight class to see this weekend.
1 Dangelo Da Silva, Wootton
2 Samire Brown, NW
3 Jacob Ehret, Damascus
4 Kurt Hull, Clarksburg
5 Isaac Ogunlade, Einstein
6 Sam Dickey
Others to watch:
Nicholas Neely, Andrew Fraser, Jonathon Ventura
220: Wayne Tabb (MD State #23) is the clear favorite among this group, but Lance Awode has the skills to capture a county championship for Gaithersburg. This would be Gaithersburg’s first in many years. Tabb himself is looking to break a decade old drought for Seneca Valley, which is the last time they had a county champion:
1 Wayne Tabb
2 Lance Awode
3 Shane Kelly
4 Jake Watts
5 John Batekey
6 Jaden Friedson, Churchill
Others to watch:
Matthew Basso Luca Sherwood Aiden Navarro-Norris Clarksburg Jack HardwickBlair
285: There is no wrestler ranked in the state here, but that is what will make it interesting. Maxim Loukinov does have state recognition and should come out on top. The rest of the heavyweights will decide the rest of placement rounds on the mat. We’ll see how this weight class shakes out.
1 Maxim Loukinov, Wootton
2 Aboubakar Sherif, SV
3 Tristan Cabugwas, QO
4 Bryan Silva, Damascus
5 Raheem Upshaw, PB
6 Luke Smith
Others to watch:
Jaylen Mahoney Robert Leblanc
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1 comment
Porter Gruner was Regional champ last year at 113. Definitely a solid competitor this year.