Vikings valiant, but finally beaten

Not many people saw it coming, but Whitman’s wrestlers expected it long, long ago.

‘‘The first practice is when we knew,” said 125-pounder Nick Robison, who pinned Decatur’s Brickell Tingle on Saturday. ‘‘I don’t think anyone expected us to do that well, but as soon as we got in the room, we knew we had a lot of talented guys. It’s not over; I think everyone can place at countys, regionals and states. But this was a great season overall.”

Ultimately, the Vikings ran into a team having just as good a season as they did — the Seahawks were also undefeated entering the duals, and showcased some dominant performers of their own. Skylar Snead (145), who took fourth place at last year’s 4A-3A state tournament, pinned one of Whitman’s best, junior Eric Beverly. They also showcased perhaps the most impressive wrestler in the entire tournament in junior Danny Miller (189), a reigning state champion who pinned Viking senior Paul Havenstein early in the second period.

Though it didn’t win, Whitman showed the heart of a champion. Its biggest strength this year was depth up and down the lineup, signified by four wrestlers — Beverly, junior Aaron Norris and sophomores Taylor Leighton and Danny Lee — who had over 20 regular-season wins.

It was truly a team, not a roster with one or two stars like a year ago. Perhaps no one symbolized this more than senior Matt Broullire. Though he weighs less than 200 pounds, Brouillere usually wrestles at either 215 or heavyweight. This often gave Whitman a matchup advantage because Lee was usually able to dominate challengers at 215.

That was the case Saturday, as well. By wrestling heavy, Brouillere allowed Lee to face Decatur’s Dylan Drew at 215, pinning him with one second left in the second period. Brouillere was subsequently outweighed by Seahawk heavyweight James Reid by upwards of 75 pounds, but he never got put on his back, falling only by a 5-1 count. In essence, that was a three-point victory for the Vikings.

‘‘[It’s] so we can win,” said Broillire. ‘‘I kind of got used to it. I’ve been doing it all season long.”

Pins by Robison, Lee, Leighton and junior Michael Harder (130), along with decisions by Norris, juniors Shane Davis (140) and Steve Fisher (152) made the match close. But Decatur clinched the match with two weight classes to go when Vinny Artrip pinned Whitman senior Joe Hancher (119).

It was the first defeat first-year Whitman head coach Derek Manon had been a part of, but he couldn’t be too disappointed. After all, his wrestlers fulfilled the potential he saw back in November.

‘‘That’s what I told the guys,” Manon said. ‘‘I mean, 16-1, state duals, you know we wrestled with the best of the state today and one point in one match goes a different way and we’re in the finals. ...

‘‘To be honest, I was [an assistant] at Whitman last year, so I knew our guys very well. I thought that this was within our reach. I don’t want to say I expected to be here, but I thought it was within our capabilities. I’m proud of my guys for working hard all season.”

Results

2008 Maryland Independent Schools Championships

Team results (Top 5, county entrants)

McDonogh 317; 2. Mount St. Joseph’s 220.5; 3. DeMatha 169; 4. Curley 166; 5. John Carroll 154; 7. Georgetown Prep 141; 11. Landon 73; 14. Good Counsel 52; 21. Bullis 29; 23. St. Andrew’s 16; 26. McLean 9; 28. Heights 6.

Individual results (county entrants only)

First-place results

135 – Danny Orem (Mt. St. Joe’s) d. Matt Danielson (Bullis), 9-8 (4 OT)

215 – Chancellor Gaffney (G. Prep) d. Ben Hatef (DeMatha), 5-3

Third-place results

130 – Ryan Owens (John Carroll) d. Jenkins Monzey (G. Prep), 4-3

160 – Joe Foster (Curley) d. Mike Kelly (Landon), 3-1

215 – Doug Schenk (McDonogh) p. Trey Smith (Landon), 1:25

285 – Bryan Murray (G. Counsel) p. Anthony Ferguson (Gilman), 2:36