Kane Desch was ready for it to be over.

His senior wrestling season was just beginning earlier this winter, but the sport he’d taken part in since childhood was growing tiresome. He wanted to have a successful final season, of course, but part of him was also looking forward to its conclusion.

Then Desch suffered a concussion. He was sidelined for several weeks and missed some key dates on the calendar. C. Milton Wright participated in Iron Horse Duals and War on the Shore, two of Maryland’s toughest tournaments. But Desch didn’t.

“It gave me a different perspective,” the senior 120-pounder said. “Sitting out made being able to wrestle after that so much better.”

He returned to the mat with a fresh outlook that propelled him to a stellar end to his final wrestling season. Desch led the Mustangs to a state dual semifinal appearance, won an Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference championship, then won the third-place match at the individual state tournament. And he’s The Aegis’ 2024-25 Wrestler of the Year.

Desch finished the campaign with a 28-4 record. He was the only Harford County wrestler to finish third or better in the coed division of the state tournament and one of three C. Milton Wright grapplers to win a UCBAC championship and place at states.

“I was just more happy to wrestle this year,” Desch said. “After the concussion, whenever I was on the mat, I was happy to be there.”

Desch’s season ended with a hint of revenge and satisfaction. C. Milton Wright came up short of its lofty expectations in the dual state tournament, falling to eventual state champions Huntingtown in the semifinals. Desch won his match, but the score was already out of reach by the time he got to the mat. That offered a freedom he was rarely able to wrestle with, he said, which helped in a victory by fall within the first minute of the contest. “I just went into it with anger,” he said.

Then he saw the same Huntingtown wrestler in the third-place match of the individual tournament, and he leaned on that past experience in the back-and-forth final match. Desch thwarted a takedown attempt late in the first period but started the second on bottom. There, a locked hands call awarded Desch points, then he added on with an escape late in the period. In the third, Desch pinned him.

“I felt confident going into it knowing I had already pinned him before,” he said. “Even though he’d beaten people who beat me, I just knew that I more than likely had him. His style does not go very well with how I wrestle.”

Wrestling requires a unique blend of individualism and team-oriented priorities. The ones who balance those two contrasting approaches the best are usually the ones who come out on top most frequently.

It was too late for Desch to help his team. But he left his senior season, which started in disaster, with solace.

Said Desch: “It was revenge for my team.”

All-Aegis team

Bryn Cespedes, North Harford, senior, 100 pounds

Cespedes won a UCBAC title in the girls’ 100-pound division, one of three Hawks to win a conference championship.

Rory Sweeney, C. Milton Wright, freshman, 106

The lone freshman on the All-Aegis team won a UCBAC championship in his debut season.

Havre de Grace's Madison Birth tries to pin Eastern Tech's Ariana Carnahan in the final of the girls 110 weight class during the MPSSAA Wrestling State Championships at The Show Place Arena on Saturday. (Brian Krista/Staff)
Havre de Grace’s Madison Birth tries to pin Eastern Tech’s Ariana Carnahan in the final of the girls 110-pound weight class during the MPSSAA wrestling state championships. (Brian Krista/Staff)

Madison Birth, Havre de Grace, sophomore, 110

Birth won her second consecutive state championship in the girls’ 110-pound class this season.

Sarah Alkhatib, Patterson Mill, junior, 110

One of the area’s top girls wrestlers won a UCBAC title.

Zaden Tablan, Harford Tech, senior, 113

Tablan had one of the most successful state tournament runs of any Harford County wrestler, placing fourth after also winning a UCBAC title.

Conner Birth, Havre de Grace, senior, 126

Madison’s older brother became a two-time state qualifier this year.

Mitchel Nguyen, C. Milton Wright, senior, 132

After falling short in the UCBAC Tournament, Nguyen placed fourth at states.

Edward Caldwell, Aberdeen, senior, 138

Caldwell was one of three Aberdeen seniors to win their respective brackets at UCBACs.

Nikolai Chervak, Harford Tech, senior, 144

Chervak was one of two Cobras to win UCBAC titles.

Liam Peterson, Aberdeen, senior, 150

Peterson joined Caldwell and Chase Lineberry on the podium at UCBACs.

Aberdeen's Chase Lineberry celebrates his win over Bohemia Manor's Josh Allen in 157 weight class final during the UCBAC Wrestling Championships at Edgewood High School on Saturday. (Brian Krista/Staff)
Aberdeen’s Chase Lineberry celebrates his win over Bohemia Manor’s Josh Allen in the 157-pound final at the UCBAC Tournament. (Brian Krista/Staff)

Chase Lineberry, Aberdeen, senior, 157

Lineberry took fourth at the state tournament after winning a UCBAC title.

Devin Sweeney, C. Milton Wright, senior, 165

Rory’s older brother placed fourth at the state tournament after winning at UCBACs.

Jordan Lawson, North Harford, senior, 170

Lawson’s fourth-place finish in the girls state tournament was the second-best finish by a Harford County girls wrestler behind Birth.

Aaron Moccia, C. Milton Wright, junior, 175

The John Carroll transfer won the UCBACs and helped his new squad secure the team conference title.

Andrew Coakley, North Harford, junior, 190

Coakley won a UCBAC crown as part of a dominant overall showing for the Hawks.

Holden Young, North Harford, senior, 215

Young lost in the UCBAC 215-pound title match, but then placed fifth at the state tournament.

Owen Reilly, Bel Air, sophomore, 285

Reilly won a UCBAC title then placed sixth at the state tournament.

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