Calvert High School junior Ethan Valdisera captured the 2A/1A state title in the 113-pound weight class last year and is seeking to defend that title this winter after capturing his second consecutive SMAC championship in that same weight class last Saturday at La Plata.
Lackey High School’s Ethan Vayro celebrated a 2A/1A state title last winter in his first season with the Chargers and last weekend continued his bid for a state crown repeat by capturing the SMAC championship in the 175-pound weight class last Saturday afternoon at La Plata.
Calvert High School junior Ethan Valdisera captured the 2A/1A state title in the 113-pound weight class last year and is seeking to defend that title this winter after capturing his second consecutive SMAC championship in that same weight class last Saturday at La Plata.
Southern Maryland News file photo
Lackey High School’s Ethan Vayro celebrated a 2A/1A state title last winter in his first season with the Chargers and last weekend continued his bid for a state crown repeat by capturing the SMAC championship in the 175-pound weight class last Saturday afternoon at La Plata.
Among the numerous Southern Maryland Athletic Conference male wrestlers who were looking to garner a SMAC title en route to a possible state crown in their respective classification and weight class were several grapplers who already have a state belt on their resume.
Last Saturday afternoon in the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference, each of the three counties whose schools comprise the conference boasted at least a pair of champions although Calvert county could boast of having the most winners and finalists.
In the opening finals match, Northern’s Jake Kurtz edged Huntingtown’s Parker Arigo 3-0 to capture the 106-pound title, then Calvert junior Ethan Valdisera (113), one of the reigning state champions on hand seeking a second consecutive crown, defeated Northern’s Adrian Olivares by technical fall 17-1 early in the second round of their match.
In the 120-pound final, Patuxent’s Giovanni Barone edged Leonardtown’s Cobi Samuel 3-0 in a match where the only points earned occurred in the first period. Leonardtown’s Dominique Herbert then defeated Chopticon’s Landen Leiendecker by technical fall 19-3 early in the second round of their all-St. Mary’s County final, then Huntingtown’s William Stewart (132) topped Great Mills’ Jacob Hartness 5-0.
In another all-Calvert final, Huntingtown’s Logan Boyle (138) defeated Patuxent’s Angelo Ciriaco 16-3, then teammate Landen Vercoe upended Patuxent’s Robbie Asten by tech fall 18-1.
La Plata’s Owen Hannah got the hosts on the board by defeating Great Mills’ Ajenor Moreno 12-1, then Northern’s Hayden Tyree (157) edged La Plata’s Brett Wilkinson 5-3 in the most contentious final on the card.
Lackey coach Brandon Paulin then watched a pair of his male wrestlers, William Chism (165) and Ethan Vayro (175) garner SMAC titles on Saturday — he would also have three female wrestlers earn the same distinction — and noted both of them are poised to make similar runs in next week’s state tournament at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro.
“Ethan is one of those guys who is never going to sit back on his laurels,” said Paulin, who is also the mayor of Indian Head while referring to Vayro, a 2A/1A State champion last winter. “He won the state title last season as a sophomore and I don’t think he’s going to be satisfied with just one state title. He’s one of the hardest working kids in the room.”
Chism topped Leonardtown’s Grant Futch 12-6 then Vayro defeated Chopticon’s Logen Grimm by technical fall 21-4 just past the midway point of the second round. McDonough senior Kosi Ukiwe (215) then edged Westlake’s Kareem Dyson 3-0 in an all-Charles county final, while Patuxent’s Jakhiye Dixon (285) upended La Plata’s Sima Saavedra 10-2 in their heavyweight bout.
