Here’s what you need to know for the 2024-25 high school wrestling season in the Baltimore area:
Storylines to watch
New year, new scoring
The National Federation of High Schools has adopted the NCAA guidelines for several new rule changes. This year, three points will be awarded for a takedown instead of two. Also, the number of near-fall points awarded is now based on time. An offensive wrestler will now earn two points for two seconds, three points for three seconds and four points for four seconds. Like any change, it could take some adjusting for many wrestlers and coaches.
Can anyone catch Gilman?
The Greyhounds won the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference last year to end a long stretch of titles by Mount Saint Joseph, and they return most of their firepower this season. The league looks to be stronger this year, but Gilman appears to still be the class of the group. There’s strength up and down coach Bryn Holmes’ lineup, and Gilman has managed to fill the four spots of wrestlers who graduated last year. Though Mount Saint Joseph, Loyola Blakefield and Spalding have formidable lineups, it will take a Herculean effort to knock the Greyhounds from the top spot this year.
Who will rule in Anne Arundel County?
Always one of the area’s better counties in wrestling, Anne Arundel looks to be stacked with championship-level teams. “This is the deepest our county has been for a while,” longtime Old Mill coach Jim Grim said. “The county is awesome this year.” In addition to champion Chesapeake and dual-meet powerhouse South River, Broadneck, Annapolis, Crofton, Old Mill and Arundel could also make some noise. “We are absolutely loaded as a county,” Chesapeake coach Randy Curtin said. “It should make for a fun season this year.”
Can Calvin Kraisser make it a clean sweep?
Kraisser, a senior, is aiming for his fourth state title this year at Centennial. If he wins, it would mark the 16th in the family, the 15th among the Kraisser brothers, and make three Kraissers among the nine wrestlers to ever win four Maryland public school championships. It all started with Nathan, a 2012 graduate who won four titles, and Austin followed by winning three after falling in the state final as a freshman. Jason became the eighth in state history to win four, and Calvin has a chance to become the ninth. For their father, Cliff, who is Centennial’s coach and also won a state title in the 1980s, it’s the end of a long road as Calvin is the youngest sibling. “Austin gets a lot of grief for losing [as a freshman], but they are really each other’s biggest fans,” Cliff Kraisser said. “As for me. I won’t know what to do with myself when Calvin graduates.”
Is South Carroll even better this year?
The Cavaliers have been the dominant public school team in the state for the current decade, but this year they might be even better than in previous years. “This is one of the most balanced teams we’ve ever had,” South Carroll coach Bryan Hamper said. “From a dual meet perspective, I think this is the most complete team from top to bottom that we’ve ever had.” Ten state place-winners return, including senior Manny Rodrigues, a 2023 state champion who missed all of last year with an ACL injury. Also returning is junior JoJo Gigliotti, the defending state champion at 132 pounds. Also returning are state champions and juniors Grayson Barnhill (113), Landon Hamper (190) and Anthony Rodrigues (175).
Wrestlers to watch
Corey Brown, Mount Saint Joseph, freshman, 106 lbs.
Even though he’s new to high school, Brown is already ranked No. 8 in the country by Sports Illustrated in its preseason rankings. He will make a strong Gaels team even better.
Sean Garretson, Spalding, senior, 126 lbs.
Garretson won 51 matches and was a first-team All-Metro pick last year for a young Spalding squad. The defending MIAA champion and National Preps placer will be leaned upon as one of the Cavaliers’ top-scoring threats.
JoJo Gigliotti, South Carroll, junior, 144 lbs.
A two-time state champion who went 51-1 a year ago, the two-time returning first-team All-Metro pick is ranked nationally by Sports Illustrated and is committed to Maryland.
Jayden Jackson, Loyola, junior, 120 lbs.
Jackson is already a two-time MIAA champion and a two-time National Prep All-American. He will be counted on to lead an improving team as the Dons try to unseat Gilman for A Conference supremacy as a returning All-Metro first-team selection.
Calvin Kraisser, Centennial, senior, 150/157 lbs.
It’s the last dance for the Kraisser family as Calvin seeks to become the third Kraisser brother to win four state titles. He is the heavy favorite in Class 2A/1A after being a first-team All-Metro pick last year.
Victor Marks-Jenkins, Perry Hall, junior, 175 lbs.
Marks-Jenkins continues to get better each year. He went 47-0 and won the state Class 4A/3A title last year at 157 pounds and will look to continue his unbeaten streak this year.
Liam McGettigan, Gilman, sophomore, 113 lbs.
McGettigan burst onto the scene last year, winning both the MIAA and Maryland Independent School tournament titles as a freshman while going 44-5. He was a first-team All-Metro pick last season.
Evan Owen, South Carroll, senior, 138 lbs.
A two-time first-team All-Metro pick, Owen returns to lead a Cavaliers squad looking to win its fourth straight Class 1A dual meet state title. He is seeking to get over the hump after back-to-back runner-up finishes at the state tournament.
Anthony Rodrigues, South Carroll, junior, 175 lbs.
The defending Class 2A/1A state champion at 175 pounds, Rodrigues will look to defend his title. His leadership is instrumental for the three-time defending dual meet state champions.
Emmitt Sherlock, Gilman, senior, 175 lbs.
The Baltimore Sun’s Wrestler of the Year last season as the MIAA and MIS tournament champion, he represented the United States and placed fifth in the world at the freestyle under 17 championships in Jordan in September. He will wrestle at Virginia next season.
Preseason top 15 poll
1. Gilman
Coach: Bryn Holmes
Last season: 12-1 overall, ranked No. 1
Postseason: MIAA and MIS tournament champions, seventh at National Preps
Outlook: Four starters are gone from last year, but the Greyhounds are loaded once again and are the team to beat again in the MIAA. They will feature a senior-laden lineup, led by Emmitt Sherlock, The Sun’s Wrestler of the Year last season, John Jurkovic and Sawyer Enright. Gilman has three wrestlers in Sports Illustrated’s national rankings in Sherlock at 175 pounds (sixth), sophomore Liam McGettigan at 113 pounds (honorable mention) and Jurkovic (honorable mention) at 157. Junior Zach Glory (third in MIAA last year) and senior Gabriel Smith (second in MIAA) also return. The A Conference will be as tough as it always is, but Gilman will be the class of the bunch until proven otherwise.
2. South Carroll
Coach: Bryan Hamper
Last season: 29-0, No. 5
Postseason: Carroll County and Class 1A state champions
Outlook: The Cavaliers seem to have gotten even stronger since last season when they had 10 state place-winners at the Class 2A/1A state tournament. The three-time defending state dual meet champs don’t seem to have any holes in their lineup. They will be led by four returning state champions, all juniors, starting with 144-pounder JoJo Gigliotti, who has already committed to Maryland, Grayson Barnhill (113), Landon Hamper (190) and Anthony Rodrigues (175 pounds). Evan Owen (126) returns after two straight trips to the final and Manny Rodrigues, who missed his entire junior year last season, is also back a 215 pounds after missing last season with a knee injury.
3. Loyola Blakefield
Coach: Steven Truitt
Last season: 16-5, No. 3
Postseason: Third at MIAA and MIS tournaments, 16th at National Preps
Outlook: Loyola returns an intimidating lineup that would be the envy of most programs. The Dons will be led by an experienced group of juniors and seniors, with two-time MIAA champion Jayden Jackson leading the way at 120 pounds. Truitt is high on freshman Tyler Verceles, a 106-pounder who was a finalist in the under-16 category at the freestyle national championships in Fargo. Senior Cayden Farver, who won an MIAA title in 2023, also returns after an injury last season. Luke Randazzo, the MIAA runner-up at heavyweight, is back too.
4. Mount Saint Joseph
Coach: Harry Barnabae
Last season: 8-1, No. 2
Postseason: Second at MIAA Tournament, fourth at MIS Tournament, 17th at National Preps
Outlook: Last year was the first time in a long time that the Gaels haven’t been at the top of the MIAA, but this team has the potential to reclaim their spot atop the conference. Barnabae is high on a group of freshmen — Corey Brown, Brooklyn Pickett and C.J. Votta — who have entered the program. The Gaels lost a lot to graduation and transfers, but it’s more a reload than a rebuild as the nucleus of a good junior varsity will help. They don’t have any returning league champions.
5. Spalding
Coach: Michael Laidley
Last season: 21-5, No. 4
Postseason: Fourth at MIAA Tournament, fifth at MIS Tournament, ninth at National Preps
Outlook: The Cavaliers return a solid core but suffered a blow when senior heavyweight Delmar White, the defending MIAA champion, suffered a knee injury while playing football that will sideline him for the wrestling season. Still, Spalding will be strong in the middleweights, where MIAA champion Sean Garretson returns at 126 pounds. MIAA runner-up Zane Leitzel at 138 also returns, as does Ryder Kolat, who finished third at 144. Laidley is excited about his squad, which was young last year and on the rise.
6. St. Frances
Coach: Doug McClain
Last season: 14-6, No. 7
Postseason: Fifth at MIAA Tournament, Seventh at MIS Tournament
Outlook: The Panthers are only in their third year as a program and have benefited from some transfers coming in. Senior Elijah Josey (190) was a New Hampshire state champion and junior Colby McIntosh (132) arrives from Massachusetts. Chase Carpintieri, who finished fourth in the state at 157 pounds last season, returns while Joseph Cooper, an MIAA runner-up at 113 pounds a year ago for Mount Saint Joseph, has transferred in but will be unable to compete in MIAA events. He’ll wrestle at 126 pounds. McClain said this team will be better than previous years but has to prove itself in a loaded conference.
7. Manchester Valley
Coach: David Dodson
Last season: 38-6, No. 6
Postseason: Class 2A West Region finalist
Outlook: The Mavericks are always in the mix and will be again this season. There’s quality at all levels with senior Cru Boog (heavyweight), junior Bradyn VanDerVoort (150) and sophomore Beau Snell (144). Dodson likes the competition he’s seen in the room, and they had a large turnout for tryouts. The challenge will be to get the lineup to jell quickly. They hope to battle South Carroll for the league title and be a step ahead of up-and-coming Francis Scott Key.
8. C. Milton Wright
Coach: John Thornton
Last season: 18-6, No. 12
Postseason: Class 2A state semifinalist
Outlook: The Mustangs might be better this year after advancing to the Class 2A state semifinals last season. They will be led by three senior state place-winners — Kane Desch (126), who finished fourth, Devin Sweeney (165), who placed fifth, and Mitchell Nguyen (132), who came in sixth. Though the team lost four seniors, Thornton said the roster is much more balanced this year. Nonetheless, it will be important for the Mustangs to grow up quickly if they want to build on last year.
9. McDonogh
Coach: Pete Welch
Last season: 6-6, not ranked
Postseason: Seventh at MIAA Tournament, 10th at MIS Tournament
Outlook: The Eagles, once a dominant power in the MIAA A Conference, are resurging. Welch said participation is up and he will look to build on the growth that he saw last season. The nucleus will center around junior J.J. Dimonte, who was injured all of last season after finishing second in the conference at 165 in 2023. He will wrestle 190 this season. MIAA place-winner Cole Genua, a sophomore who will wrestle at 144, returns, and so does Dominic Manna, another sophomore who finished seventh at 138 last season. He will wrestle at 150.
10. South River
Coach: John Klessinger
Last season: 35-6, No. 9
Postseason: Anne Arundel County champions, Class 3A state finalist
Outlook: The Seahawks, who made the Class 3A final last season after winning the 4A crown the previous year, are a title contender again with Jackson Peeples, a 120-pound sophomore, back after winning a state championship at 106 pounds. Busayo Balogun, a state runner-up at heavyweight, also returns. According to Klessinger, the challenge will be blending all of the returnees with the newcomers.
11. Chesapeake-AA
Coach: Randy Curtin
Last season: 29-3, No. 10
Postseason: Class 3A East Region finalist
Outlook: The Cougars lead a deep field of hopefuls in Anne Arundel County, and Curtin is excited about his returners and their chances in the area’s deepest public school league. That deep group will be led by senior Xander Dodd, a state runner-up at 215 and the county champion. Senior Matthew Curtin, third in Anne Arundel County at 175 pounds, also returns. Junior Braden Roberts (126) and senior Ethan Mills (144) round out the core.
12. Glenelg
Coach: Matt Bichner
Last season: 19-12, not ranked
Postseason: Class 2A West Region semifinalist
Outlook: The Gladiators had an uncharacteristically down year last season, but the team has reloaded this season. Phil Key (126), a junior transfer from Loyola who finished second in the MIAA last season, will add to a potent lineup. He joins Isaac Choi (138), who finished fifth in the state last year, and Howard County runner-up Collin Szczepanksi (157) to form a solid core. Glenelg has a few holes that could prevent them from postseason titles but Bichner describes the team as scrappy — and they might have to be to meet the standard he has set.
13. Broadneck
Coach: Reid Bloomfield
Last season: 25-7, not ranked
Postseason: Class 4A state finalist
Outlook: The Bruins came out of nowhere last year to finish as the 4A state runner-up last season. They will be out to prove that it was no fluke. The top returnee will be Brandon Whyte-Taylor, who finished as the state runner-up at 120 pounds last season. Senior team leader Cam Williams also returns at 126 pounds. Bloomfield says the team is much more experienced this year, and the Bruins learned from their successes last season. If Broadneck can fill some holes in their upperweights, they should be in the mix for a run at the county title and another dual meet title appearance.
14. Marriotts Ridge
Coach: Vince Muscato
Last season: 28-6, not ranked
Postseason: Howard County champion, Class 3A state semifinalist
Outlook: This will be Muscato’s second season at Marriotts Ridge, and the Mustangs took a huge step last year by winning the Howard County Tournament. The Mustangs return almost everybody, and Muscato has the luxury of experience with a senior-laden lineup. They will be counting on freshmen twins Max and Kaden Hargrove, as well as returnees Jonah Obitz (182), Alex Gladstone (152) and defending county champion Boden Pistorio (138). Like many schools in the area, Marriotts Ridge has benefitted from strong participation and is expected to battle Glenelg for the league title.
15. Sparrows Point
Coach: Mike Whisner
Last season: 24-6, not ranked
Postseason: Baltimore County champion, Class 2A North Region finalist
Outlook: Graduation was not kind to the Pointers, but they have enough to win Baltimore County. Sparrows Point will look to continue its dual meet dominance in the league, where the Pointers have not lost a county dual meet since 2019. The most impressive returnee is senior Russell Fary, who was the Class 2A/1A state champion at 150 pounds. Wyatt Rossi, who finished fourth at the state tournament last season at 106 pounds, also returns. Whisner is also excited about the addition of freshman Chase Carnahan, a four-time Maryland junior league champion.
Others considered: Bel Air (20-13), Calvert Hall (8-5), Francis Scott Key (17-8), Harford Tech (20-6), Liberty (28-6)
Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13.
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