At 11-2, Blazer wrestlers bring on the pain

Blair's wrestling team lost to defending state champion Paint Branch High School, 33-24, in the Blazers' first appearance in the Maryland South Region Dual Meet Tournament. Paint Branch beat Quince Orchard High School to advance to the state tournament on Feb 9.

Though the Blazers won five of 13 matches, they were not mathematically eliminated until after the twelfth match. Blair began the meet with a win by senior Junior Gossin on a decision in the 160-pound weight class, but did not score again until the fifth match with a pin by 103-pound sophomore Scott Nguyen. Nguyen's win was especially significant because Paint Branch's 103-pounder pinned him when the two schools squared off earlier in the season.

Blair's other wins were a decision victory by 125-pound senior co-captain Mario Bracamontes and two accepted forfeits in the 135 and 152-pound weight classes.

This year the wrestling team's regular season record of 11-2 may have dropped from last season's 13-1 mark, but Coach Jake Scott still believes the team has improved, as shown by the team's qualification for the regional duals. "We accomplished what we wanted to accomplish," said Scott. "We have no regrets."

Blair came from behind in their last meet of the regular season on Feb 2 to qualify for the regional dual meets (see Plays that Amaze, page 24) by beating Sherwood High School, 30-27. The tri-meet at Sherwood included Springbrook High School, whose team Blair faced first and trounced, 54-6.

The Blazers took first place as a team at Springbrook High School's annual Grapple at the ‘Brook tournament on Jan 28. Individually, Bracamontes and senior co-captain Cuong Vo both took first in their weight classes. Senior co-captain Michael Immerman took second, and Nguyen, Gossin and seniors Gibb Witham and Zach Davis all took third in their weight classes.