Trio shines with mat finish
Wolley, Gammill, Overmiller wrestle to state championships
All season long, Seneca Valley junior wrestler Bernard Wolley has had a singular goal: Beat Danny Lee of Whitman.
The 215-pound duo had split their previous meetings this season. Wolley won at the Mad Mats tournament in December, while Lee was victorious in the Class 4A/3A West Region finals last week.
Wolley defeated Meade's Mwanza Wamulumba, 5-3, in overtime of the title bout at Cole Field House on the University of Maryland campus in College Park.
"It's unbelievable," Wolley said as he fought back tears. "I got to thank all my coaches, the athletic director and everyone. ... I'm smaller than most guys and people think they can pick on me and my short legs. Everyone says I am a junior and I couldn't win. But thank God I did. This is great."
Wolley was able to frustrate a much taller and stronger Wamulumba. In the extra time, Wolley was able to stay inbounds on a reshot to secure the sudden victory takedown with three seconds remaining.
While Wolley would have preferred to sweep all the postseason events Lee won the county and regional titles for the second consecutive year he also credited Lee, in part, for his success. The Whitman senior lost in the quarterfinals but was able to wrestle back for third place.
"Danny pushed me all season," said Wolley, who is also a football standout for the Screaming Eagles "Everything that I won I credit him. He was my inspiration since he beat me in wrestling and kept us out [of the football playoffs]. I was hoping he would get back to the state finals this year."
Gammill stings Neubaum again
Moments after the 160-pound championship bout, Damascus senior Zeke Gammill (28-4) calmly walked off the mat with a small smile on his face.
Meanwhile, his coach, John Furgeson, jumped for joy and called several friends to inform them of Gammill's 3-2 upset victory over Quince Orchard's Reed Neubaum.
"It hasn't hit me yet," Gammill said. "It just feels like any other match. I don't know what's wrong with me."
After choosing the down position to start the second period, Gammill built a 3-0 lead on an escape and takedown. Neubaum's lone points came on escapes late in the second and early third period.
Neubaum (32-2), the county and Class 4A West Region champion, ends his career as the Cougars' all-time wins leader, with 132. Both of his setbacks this year were to Gammill.
A walk in the Parke
Less than a year after transferring to Magruder from Georgetown Prep, junior Parke Overmiller has made his mark in the public-school ranks.
The 119-pounder helped the Colonels to a sixth-place finish (63.5 team points) with a 7-2 decision over River Hill's Cameron Kirby.
"[Head coach Max] Sartoph has been wanting me to go to Magruder since middle school," Overmiller said. "I guess he can finally be happy."
Leading 4-1 in the third period, Overmiller was called for an illegal hold. But moments later, he was able to turn Kirby with a half-nelson for three back points.
"I've worked so hard for this," said Overmiller, who dropped a weight class last month for the postseason. "In regional duals I didn't wrestle that well, but once I got down it was easy to stay and get my energy up. ... I figured it would be easier [to win] at 119 since I saw a lot of really good kids going 125."
Previously undefeated teammate Jordan Tolbert (39-1) was runner-up at 130 pounds.
Other notables
Quince Orchard sophomore Eli Bienstock (112) placed third. Northwest senior Michael Henning won the 119-pound consolation bracket.