By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.com
Sidwell Friends has won the DC City wrestling championships by much larger margins, been much more impressive and had finer seasons than this year.
But Saturday’s third straight city title is by far the sweetest, Coach Lou Heberer said.
That’s because Sidwell Friends won it with two hands tied behind its back. Wrestling without defending tournament champion Nick Raab and captain Josh Tobin, the Quakers still beat the competition by 34.5 points.
“It was harder,” Heberer said. “We took more pleasure winning this one.”
Sidwell Friends (15-5) notched five individual champions in Justin Young (103), AJ Parks (125), Nathaniel Howell (130), Brian Hirsh (140) and Alex Regulirski (189). The Quakers had seven finalists.
But even more satisfying was placing 11 of its 12 entered wrestlers in the top four, which met a challenge Heberer assigned his team before the tournament started.
“Coach Lou, he made it clear that we were all going to have to step up as a team to fill those spots,” Regulirski said. “Losing three weight classes, that’s nothing to sniff at.”
Tobin was at the tournament on crutches while Raab was, according to Regulirski, in Hawaii.
That meant the door was open for Gonzaga to perhaps come in and knock off Sidwell Friends. The Eagles last won the tournament during the 2005-2006 season, but since the Quakers have ruled the roost. Sidwell Friends won by 96.5 points last year.
“It’s pretty important to us and our coaches to make sure that legacy is upheld,” Regulirski said. “It’s a big deal to win this tournament, especially when you’re winning without a lot of key wrestlers.”
In Raab’s stead, Nick Jones advanced all the way to the 215-pound finals. Howell emerged from a jumbled 130-pound weight class, where he was seeded No. 3, to win the title. Michael Jones reached the 135-pound finals while not being seeded in the top two either.
Sidwell Friends had five first-year varsity wrestlers place in the tournament.
“It’s a real testament to our strength and our coaching staff and hopefully us that we were able to pull this win out,” Parks said.
GONZAGA BLUE, NOT PURPLE
The Eagles certainly felt like they let a chance at the city championship, a goal to win since before the season started, slip through their fingers.
Sidwell Friends’ absences opened up the first for Gonzaga, but the Eagles, who were coming off a solid showing at WCAC’s and St. Albans had some disappointing losses.
At 130 pounds, Andrew Estes led second-seeded Charlie DeCell, 4-0, before getting pinned in the third period. At 135, Paolo Rigor led Sidwell’s Michael Jones, 9-0, before having to injury default because he dislocated his shoulder.
Pair those with a loss by top-seeded Anthony Oliverio (145) in his first match and it was impossible for Gonzaga to win.
There were some bright spots for the Eagles for sure, however. Paul O’Neill was named Outstanding Wrestler for beating St. Albans’ Beau Young by pin at 3:53. He moves on to National Preps, where he came one win away from placing last season.
“Hopefully I’ll win a couple matches there, maybe place if all goes well,” O’Neill said. “Just train hard and hope for the best.”
Zak Thompson also continued his standout wrestling since coming back from a knee injury in January, winning the 119-pound championship via pin.
DIFFERENT LEARNING CURVES
For St. John’s wrestler James Wenzloff, winning the DC City title is just another step towards proving himself on the national level.
Wenzloff won one match and lost two at national preps last year. He said the scene was a little too much to handle.
“You come here and you win this or win WCAC’s, you’re a big fish in a little pond,” Wenzlaff said. “There, you’re a little fish in a big pond. It’s really overwhelming.”
Wenzlaff is expecting major improvements now that he has one year under his belt.
“I’m looking to place there, I think I will,” Wenzlaff said. “I feel like I’ve learned how to wrestle a little better now. I strategize better now. … It’s like the game of chess and I’ve figured it out by now.”
Kevin McReynolds, however, was ecstatic just for the chance to go to preps. Reynolds, who is in his first year of wrestling, missed last week’s WCAC competition because he said he was sick and had things to take care of.
But he made sure to be back for the DC championships in order to fulfill his season-long goal of reaching National Preps.
“As the season went on I found that I could definitely be a contender at National Preps,” McReynolds said. “I’ve definitely had it on my mind and worked hard to get to it.”
INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS
103 – Justin Young (SID) major Jimbo Briody (ZAG), 14-2
112 – Paul O’Neill (ZAG) pin Beau Young (ALB), 3:53
119 – Zak Thompson (ZAG) pin Sebastian Zaki (ANS), 3:59
125 – A.J. Parks (SID) major Stephane Guillou (ZAG), 16-8
130 – Nathaniel Howell (SID) major Thomas Francis (MSD), 10-1
135 – Eric Klockowski (MSD) pin Michael Jones (SID), 0:54
140 – Brian Hirsh (SID) pin Daniel Moynihan (ALB)
145 – Jesse Hartheimer (EB) dec Grayson Shepperd (GDS), 8-6 OT
152 – Jake Schaufeld (ALB) dec. Ethan Slater, 12-6
160 – James Wenzlaff (SJC) pin Michael Davies (SID), 3:23
171 – Miracle Amasiatu (MSD) dec Tyler Dykes (SJC), 6-4
189 – Alex Regulirski (SID) major Albert Blake (MSD), 12-3
215 – Satchel Kaplan-Allen (GDS) dec. Nick Jones, 6-1
275 – Kevin McReynolds (SJC) major David Green (ZAG), 12-0
TEAM SCORES
1. Sidwell Friends – 183.5
2. Gonzaga – 149
3. Model – 101.5
4. Georgetown Day – 101
5. St. Alban’s – 100
6. St. John’s – 68
7. St.. Anselm’s – 41
8. Edmund Burke – 39
9. Maret – 15
10. Hyde – N/A
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