Published: February 16, 2008 12:10 am         

Southern wrestlers win region, go for state title today

OAKLAND — Southern added to its undefeated record by winning the Maryland 2A/1A West Region Dual Tournament Thursday evening and will wrestle for the dual state championship today.

The Rams, who are the second-ranked team in Maryland, claimed the region title by beating Williamsport 72-6 in the semifinals and Mountain Ridge 41-25 in the finals. The Miners beat South Carroll 41-25 to reach the finals.

Southern will look to go to 18-0 and bring home a state title today in the Maryland 2A/1A state tournament today at noon, at North Carroll High School. The top-seeded Rams will face No. 4 Glenelg in the semifinals, and then the winner of No. 2 Owings Mills versus No. 3 Rising Sun if they reach the finals. The finals would begin at 6 p.m.

Thursday, in the region championship win over Mountain Ridge, the Rams won the six lightest divisions with Matt Armstrong winning the 103-pound division, and Nicholas Brant winning the 130 by pin. Lex Ozias (112) and Josh Arnold (119) won 10-4 decisions, and George Scheffel won a 23-7 technical fall. Jakob Scheffel won a 11-7 decision at 135.

Jordan Skipper (152) got a pin in 52 seconds, and Nick Farmer won a decision at 171. Sean Sisler (285) pinned his opponent as well.

Mountain Ridge’s Nathan Payne (189) and Noah DeVore (215) earned wins in 2:54 and 1:03, respectively. Stephen Whetstone (145) got a pin in 44 seconds, and Brandon Kyle (160) won a major decision.

The Rams lost only one classification in the match with Williamsport.

Matt Armstrong (103), Josh Arnold (119), Nicholas Brant (130) and Jakob Scheffel (135) scored four of Southern’s 10 pins. Davey Sweitzer (140), Kody Lewis (152), Nick Farmer (171) and Ryan Bennett (189) also won by pinning their opponents. Ryan Fitzwater won the 215-pound class by pinfall, and San Sisler won the 285 the same way.

Armstrong recorded the fastest pin with a time of 20 seconds.

George Scheffel (125) won a technical fall, 18-3, and Jordan Skipper (145) earned a 10-1 major decision.

In the Miners’ semifinal win over South Carroll, Nathan Payne (189), Noah DeVore (215) and Derrick Sisk (285) won the three heaviest classes with pins.

Glenn Johnson (112), Ryan Clark (125), Adam Kolberg (140) and Josh Guy (152) won decisions, while Stephen Whetstone won a 10-0 major decision.

Southern improved to 16-0 on the season, while Mountain Ridge moved to 10-3 with all three loses belonging to the Rams.