(March 8, 2013) The Stephen Decatur wrestling season wrapped up last weekend, with the 4A/3A state championship at the University of Maryland’s Cole Field House.
Seahawks’ captains, senior Ryan Kail (285-pound weight class) and junior Andrew Borradaile (160) competed in the tournament, held March 1-2, along with teammates Adam Bargar (195) and Nate Rosenblatt (113), both juniors.
The Decatur grapplers failed to crack the top six in their respective weight classes. Despite fierce competition, Coach Todd Martinek did not think the boys wrestled to their full potential.
“[They] missed an opportunity to be considered one of the top wrestlers in the state,” he said.
The Seahawks finished the 2012-13 season with a 16-3 record. Decatur went undefeated, 13-0, against Bayside Conference opponents. The Berlin squad finished in second place during the Bayside championship, scoring 196 points. Kent Island won the conference title with 294 points.
“It was a great season and I will really miss the seniors who led us through this season,” Martinek said.
Three full-time starters — Kail (4A/3A East Regional champion), who has committed to wrestle for the University of Maryland, and captains Kaelan Patterson (152) and Alex Schiffer (145), both Bayside Conference champions in their respective weight classes — will graduate in May.
Senior Steve Redner (138) started a few matches for the Seahawks and will also graduate.
“It was an enjoyable, but difficult year. In my 20 years coaching, I have never had so many injuries, flu, kids missing weight and just bad luck,” Martinek said. “To have such a successful team is a testament to how our back-ups filled in for our starters and how my assistant coaches — Danny Kominos, Dave Moquin and Dylan Drew — prepared our kids.”
The program may be losing a few wrestlers, but the team should be solid again next year.
“Our upper and lower weights are going to be great, but filling in [for] Schiffer (145) and Patterson (152) will be the toughest,” Martinek said.
Borradaile, Bayside champion in the 160-pound division, will be the only captain back to compete next season.
Returning varsity grapplers and junior varsity participants who hope to move up to the next level will have to step up and prove worthy of a starting spot.
