Some highlights of our 2007-2008 Cougar Wrestling Season:

With the retirement of Coach Joe Hawkins and the graduation of the biggest senior class in years at the end of last season, it looked to be a year of transition and change for the Cougar wrestling team. 

But with this year’s performance, a solid groundwork was clearly laid for the success of a new generation of wrestlers and a new team of coaches.

To fill Quince Orchard’s coaching shoes, wrestling brothers Chris and Tim Tao were brought in to take over the program.  Coming from one of the bigger wrestling families in Montgomery County and with several years of experience of coaching and collegiate wrestling, the Tao brothers looked to build upon the strong traditions of excellence and dedication at Quince Orchard.  From early on, it was clear that’s where the season was headed.

The season’s first weekend of wrestling saw the Cougars down a few of their heavy hitters – well, all of their heaviest hitters actually – as the football team was vying for a State Title under the brightest of Friday night lights at Ravens Stadium while the wrestling team traveled to the Bowie Duals.  Without their three starting upper-weights the team scores were a bit unbalanced, however, Bowie provided a chance for some of its up and coming grapplers to take their place at center-mat.

Graduating from his duties as team camera-boy last season, Arthur “Thor” Holland posted an impressive undefeated record at the Bowie Duals – taking down several wrestlers already ranked in the state.  Close behind him was last year’s stud freshman, Reed Neubaum, who also left Bowie with nothing but wins on his record.  Some new faces to the Varsity team also posted strong performances, with Casey Wolt, Ian “Butch” Harding, and Taylor Boyd all showing marked improvement by the last match on Saturday afternoon after shaky starts on Friday.

After brushing aside the Poolesville Eagles, the Cougars traveled to Blair High School for a tri-meet against their hosts and Sherwood.  The Cougars dropped a heart-breakingly close match to the Sherwood warriors to open the afternoon, but bounced back for a win over the Blazers. 

The Cougars handled their next three dual-meets easily, defeating the Clarksburg Coyotes, Watkins Mills’ Wolverines, and the Seneca Valley Screaming Eagles by over 20 points each.   But then perennial foe Damascus stopped the winning streak, and presented a preview for some of the season’s toughest individual opponents.  Both Dake Williams and Reed Neubaum had their first crack at Damascus opponents they would see several times as the season continued, and had their frustrating first losses of the year. 

Later that same afternoon, Arthur Holland would drop his first match to eventual state runner-up Sean McCarty – who he too would see again and again throughout the season.  Coming back from winter break with two tough losses, the team looked to collect itself and tune up for January’s upcoming weekends of tournaments.

After winning a hard-fought match against Head Coach Chris Tao’s former Blake team, (that saw Brendan Wills wrestle one of his favorite opponents) the team packed up and headed up to the Hub Cup at North Hagerstown High School.  Once again the Hub Cup provided the stage for strong new Cougar talent to emerge, as freshman Austin “Tex” Williams proved that Quince Orchard’s tradition of talented wrestling brothers would go on.  As big brother Dake made it into the tournament finals, Tex posted a strong showing alongside fellow freshman Taylor Boyd, as well as junior Matt Boeckl and sophomores Casey Wolt and Arnold Olali.

Three Cougar wrestlers made it into the Hub Cup finals, in what would be a preview of several more frustratingly-close tournament finals for Dake, and sophomore Reed Neubaum and junior Terrence “Big T” Stephens’ first high school tournament championships.

Next up was the Delmarva Classic, which thankfully had been moved to a full-sized high school gym after last year’s sardine-like confines.  A handful of tough Delaware wrestlers looked to meet up with some of the top Cougar wrestlers in their respective brackets in what would prove to be a dramatic and eventful weekend.

Fighting off both some skilled opponents and a nasty infection, Arthur Holland battled through adversity with the help of his trusty Merkle to bring back his first tournament title.  And although Reed Neubaum lost a tight match in the tournament finals, Big T wasn’t slowed down by the snow and brought home his second title in as many weeks after defeating a highly-ranked opponent – who in the small world of wrestling turned out to have been coached by the college roommate of his defensive line coach.  

The weekend also provided some invaluable bonding time for the team, and for our new managers, freshmen Alexa Hunter and Taylor Corydon to come out of their quiet and conservative shells to get to know the team and their families better.  And Blake’s team, and their families, and Sherwood’s team and their families, and Poolesville’s team and their families, and Damascus’s team and their families. 

But the real competition didn’t begin until the team returned to the hotel and geared up for the annual belly-flop contest.  Phil Valencia was unable to defend his Team Belly-Flop Title, and Big T put his sizable weight-advantage to good use in the pool for his second title of the weekend.  The style portion of the night, however, was decisively won by Coach Tim Tao’s dramatic front-flip flop.  A concussion and a late-night trip to the hospital was a small price to pay for the picture-perfect flop, and when asked later that night if he’d do it again, Coach Tao replied: “Do what? Where am I?  …How come I’m wearing a bathing suit – do I know you?”

With the regular season tournaments over, the Cougars returned to their dual meet schedule, and after dropping a tough match to Magruder, strung together four wins to close out the season.  The last was by far the most dramatic, as Senior Night provided the team’s lone senior, Corey Light, one last chance to defend his home mat – this time against the surging Springbrook Blue Devils.  

Although the Blue Devils were poised to take an easy spot in the Dual Meet Tournament, Corey Light and the Cougars had other ideas.  An impressive performance by Corey spurred the Cougars onto victory, which was further sealed by clutch performances by Casey Wolt, Tex Williams, Taylor Boyd, and especially Arnold Olali – who made like the football state title game and battled back from an early deficit to rally for the win.  With Olali’s victory putting the match in reach, Dake and Big T won thrilling matches to close the door on the Blue Devils and help the team finish the season with double-digit wins, 10-4. 

Following that thrilling home victory all that was left was post-season competition.  Despite being unable to defend their County Title, the Cougars made a strong argument that they’ll be bringing it back to Quince Orchard next year as three wrestlers made it into the finals of the County tournament and several others placed high enough to qualify for the Regional tournament.  One wrestler who didn’t move on but wrestled his best match of the year was freshman Butch Harding, who gave returning County Champ Steven Miller and his impressive thatch of chest hair all they could handle.  Casey Wolt also closed his season out with an impressive performance, despite giving up the loss, he gave another eventual County finalist all he could handle. 

The Regional Tournament finals ended up presenting the Cougars with several rematches, and although Thor and Dake weren’t quite able to upset their opponents, Big T continued his undefeated season with yet another tournament championship.  After Regionals, there was one place left to wrestle – Cole Field House.

It was Arthur Holland’s first trip to Cole, and after a shaky 1-0 start Thor found his groove, hitting a beautiful diving counter against a Hub Cup champ and the little brother of a three-time State Champ in the quarterfinals to advance along with Dake and Big to the semis.  Here Thor met the eventual State Champ and dropped a tough match to DDR extraordinaire Peter Tatanish, but didn’t look back and wrestled back to a strong fourth place finish.  Not bad for last year’s camera boy. 

Both Dake Williams and Terrence Stephens advanced to the State Finals with relatively little trouble, but here both faced their toughest opponents of the year.  For Dake Williams it was good friend and worthy opponent Josh Frederick, who in the past two years he’d matched up against almost ten times, and many more than that if you counted the football games they’d lined up against each other in during the past two years.  Dake wrestled Josh the closest he had all year, but ended up losing a bittersweet match by just one point.

Terrence’s opponent was a feisty heavyweight and with some highly questionable officiating, a stalling call proved to be the one move Big T was unable to counter this season, ending his quest for a perfect record just one devastating point short.  However, all of the wrestlers in the State Tournament were juniors, setting the stage for a strong showing next year. 

Results for Away Match 12/20/07 vs. Watkins Mill
103: Velasquez (WM) pins Taylor Boyd (QO) 0-6
112: Matt Boeckl (QO) ff (WM) 6-6
119: Ryan Garey (WM) pins Adam Hall (QO) 6-12
125: (WM) pin Dmitri Chrissos (QO) 6-18
130: Arthur Holland (QO) md Tanner (WM) 10-18
135: Ian Harding (QO) ff (WM) 16-18
140: Corey Light (QO) dec (WM) 19-18
145: Reed Neubaum (QO) md (WM) 23 - 18
152: George Murphy dec Phil Valencia (QO) 23-21
160: (WM) dec Austin Williams (QO) 23-24
171: Casey Wolt (QO) pin (WM) 29-24
189: Arnold Olali (QO) pin (WM) 35-24
215: Dake Williams (QO) ff (WM) 41-24
285: Terrance Stephens (QO) pin (WM) 47-24
Final Outcome – Quince Orchard 47 – Watkins Mill 24
 
Results for Home Match on 12/18/07 vs. Clarksburg
135: Stepherson Dec Ian Harding (QO) 3-0
140: Corey Light (QO) dec Muslimari 3-3
145: Reed Neubaum (QO) pin Williams 3-9
152: Phil Valencia (QO) pin Z Wrublick (Clarksburg) 3-15
160: Austin Williams (QO) dec KO 3-18
171: Casey Wolt (QO) pin C Amava 3-24
189: T Turner dec Olali (QO) 6-24
215: Dake Williams (QO) pin C Dove 6-30
285: Terrance Stephens (QO) pin B Berry 6-36
103: Taylor Boyd (QO) receives forfeit 6-42
112: Matt Boeckl (QO) maj. dec B Asadi 6-46
119: A Myles dec Jake Kowalski (QO) 9-46
125: Acedera pin Demetri Chrissos (QO) 15-46
130: Arthur Holland (QO) pin D Hall 15-52
Final Outcome – Quince Orchard 52 – Clarksburg 15
 
Results for Away Match at Blair 12/15/07
 
vs. Sherwood
103- Taylor Boyd (QO) dec Ben Hausman 3-0
112- Alex Hakspeil pin Jacob Kowalski(QO)  3-6
119- James Kerric pin Matt Boeckl (QO) 3-12
125- Michael Mucci pin Demitri Chrissos (QO) 3-18
130- Arthur Holland (QO)  pin Ray Mencia 9-18
135- Tyler Tockman pin Ian Harding (QO) 9-24
140- Reed Neubaum (QO)  dec Josh Lowy 12-24
145- Corey Light (QO) dec Stephen Ajamian 15-24
152- Phil Valencia (QO)  pin Gerald Chrales 21-24
160- Chris Casialo dec Steven Abbett (QO) 21-27
171- Steven Gamble receives Forfeit 21-33
189- Josh Hertz pin Michael Langston (QO) 21-39
215- Dake Williams (QO) pin Jose Ledesneu 27-39
285- Terrence Stephens (QO)  receives Forfeit 33-39
Final Outcome – Quince Orchard 33 – Sherwood 39
 
vs. Blair
103- Taylor Boyd (QO)  dec Aaron Sacks 3-0
112- Matt Boeckl (QO)  receives Forfeit 9-0
119- Jacob Kowalski (QO) dec Aubrey Greer 12-0
125- Kekura Musa pin Demitri Chrissos (QO) 12-6
130- Arthur Holland (QO) pin Dwight A 18-6
135- Ian Harding (QO) dec Johni Meeks 21-6
140- Reed Neubaum (QO) receives Forfeit 27-6
145- Haben Ghebremeschel tech Corey Light (QO)  27-11
152- Bereket Kebede pin Phil Valencia (QO) 27-17
160- Phine Ulysse pin Steven Abbett (QO) 27-23
171- Alhaji Janreh pin Casey Wolt (QO)  27-30
189- Denis Flores pin Michael Langston (QO) 27-36
215- Dake Williams piin Charles Chikehe 33-36
285- Terrence Stephens pin Santos Guevara 39-36
Final Outcome – Quince Orchard 39 – Blair 36
 
Results for Home Match vs. Poolesville HS – 12/12/07
103: Taylor Boyd (QO) pinned Billy Coombs (Poolesville)
112: Matt Boeckl (QO) majored Tommy Coombs (Poolesville)
119: Jeff Tallia (Poolesville) pin Jake Kowalski (QO)
125: Henry Field (Poolesville) pin Dmitri Chrissos (QO)
130: Arthur Holland (QO) majored Kyle Flick (Poolesville)
135: Logan Wilson (Poolesville) majored Ian Harding (QO)
140: Corey Light (QO) pin David Stevens (Poolesville)
145: Reed Neubaum (QO) pin Tommy Klein (Poolesville)
152: Phil Valencia (QO) receives forfeit
160: Steven Abbett (QO) receives forfeit
171: Joe Gilpin (Poolesville) pin Casey Wolt (QO)
189: Matt Bosnick (Poolesville) pin Arnold Olali (QO)
215: David Johnson (Poolesville) majored Mike Langston (QO)
285: Dake Williams (QO) pin Dan Wolohojian (Poolesville)
Final Score – Quince Orchard 44 – Poolesville 32
 
Results for Bowie Duals on 12/7/07 and 12/8/07
SUMMARY: The QO wrestling team kicked off the season last weekend with the
Bowie Duals. The team went 2-6, with all the matches being relatively close.
“We were missing 4 of our starters who were playing for the state
championship game, so our performance doesn't reflect what our team is
capable of,“ Head Coach Chris Tao said.
NOTABLES: Reed Neubaum and Arthur Holland both went 8-0 to capture the
individual crowns at their respective weight classes.
Final Outcome – Quince Orchard went 2-6