SMWC All-Stars Clinch CAWL The Gwynn Park HS based SMWC All-Stars, the region's top youth wrestling team, clinched the Capital Area Wrestling League duel meet title for this season with a 58-23 victory over previously unbeaten Gaithersburg on Sunday, January 17th. The quad matches, held at Parkside Middle School in Chantilly, pitted the All-Stars against Bull Run in the opener. SMWC scored an 89-6 pounding of Bull Run in the turn-up for their big match.
According to SMWC All-Stars Asst. Coach Bruce Gabrielson, "Last year when we faced Gaithersburg, we had less than a full team plus we were recovering from several cases of flu. This year we were ready and at full strength."
In the Gaithersburg match, SMWC started off in the hole with 50 lb.
Jamie Clark loosing a close 6-5 decision to Gaithersburg's Tim Wooden. This proved to be Gaithersburg's only lead. SMWC's Eastern National Runner-up Jonathan Ferringer of Upper Marlboro put the Timber Wolves ahead with a major decision. What followed were three very close decisions for the All-Stars and two big victories for Gaithersburg before the Wolves reached their big guns.
First, SMWC's AAU National Champion Rudy Rueda scored an easy pin at 80 lbs giving the Wolve's a large team lead. Then Brandywine's Mike Rock (shown above), a doubtful starter because of family reasons, came on and pounded Gaithersburg's John Halloway 9-2 stretching the team lead ever farther. The final nail was pounded when SMWC's 90 lb. Eli Black handed Reid Raven a technical fall (16-0) to assure the victory.
According to SMWC Coach Rick Jones, "We knew it was pretty much over after Eli's win. We have Steve Ratley and state champ Mike Vashon in the upper weights, and they can handle about anyone."