Landon Wrestling IAC undefeated regular season Champions and IAC Tournament Champions

Report from Coach Katz—

February 3, 2018

For the first time this season, we were able to present our strongest line-up.  Everyone made weight and our injured wrestlers were cleared to go for the championship.  It was an amazing day.  Many alumni, students and teachers made their way to St. Albans to watch history being made.  We appreciate all of the support! This title is the first outright title since 1994.  It was the first time Landon has won the tournament in my 23-year career at Landon.

In the first round, the tone was set quickly.  We won 5 of our 6 matches.  We had 3 pins (Lopez, Gherman & Desroches), a major (Schermer) and a decision (Haller).   The tournament was decided early by the semi-final round.  We won 9 of the 12 matches.  Axel Giron (120), Lorenzo Lopez (126), Patrick Kielb (132), Brendon Gallagher (160), Jelani Machen (170), Carter Johnson (182), and Terrance Bridgers (285) all pinned their opponents. Jonny Gherman (152) won by technical fall, and Luc Schermer (138) won by decision.

In the consolations, we won 3 of the 4 matches which gave us 12 of our 13 wrestlers wrestling for a place in the top 4.  I want to note the effort of Matt Amitay.  He was the only wrestler eliminated, but it was not because he did not give his best effort.  In order to have our best line up, we moved Matt up a weight into a tough group.  Five of the six guys in this weight have split matches between each other.  On any given day, any one of these guys could win.  Matt knew this and gave his best effort in both matches.  He came close in both, but tough calls and bad luck held him back.

The highlight of the tournament was definitely the finals.  Our first wrestler up was Axel Giron.  The pinning routine continued as he ended the match in the second period for his first IAC championship as a Bear.  Lorenzo pinned his guy 19 seconds in the second period for his second consecutive title.  Patrick Kielb pinned his guy in the first period with a beautiful headlock earning his second straight title. At 138, Senior Luc Schermer had a tough match against a returning state place winner for his first visit to the finals. At 152, Jonny Gherman had an exciting match.  He went down 4-1 about midway through the second period which is where he started his come back with a reversal to make it 4-3. His opponent escaped in the 3^rd to make the score 5-3.  Jonny scored a take down to tie it up with about 20 seconds left.  Jonny took control and turned his guy to his back to end the period with 3 more points for the win and his first championship. At 160, Brendon Gallagher pinned his man quickly (49 seconds).  We moved Brendan up a weight to face some good wrestlers and he did his job rather easily to earn his 2^nd IAC title.  At 170, Jelani Machen earned his first IAC title with another quick pin (36 seconds).  At 182, we had another very exciting match.  Carter Johnson went down 2-1 in the first period. After the second period he was down 4-2. In the 3^rd, he chose down.  He escaped with 45 seconds left to make the score 4-3.  With 15 seconds left, Carter got under his man and took him down for the lead, 5-4. Unfortunately, he could not hold down his opponent and he escaped to tie it up at 5.  The Episcopal wrestler went after Carter and almost scored a takedown at the buzzer.  In a 1 minute sudden victory period.  Carter got under his guy for a second time and earned the takedown for the victory and his second IAC championship. Our last finalist was Terrance Bridgers.  He also had a close and exciting match.  Just like the other close ones, he gave up a takedown in the first period and went down 2-1. He tied it in the second with an escape.  His opponent went back ahead in the 3^rd with an escape making it 3-2.  Terrance worked hard for a take down for most of the third period. With about 10 seconds left the ref called the Bullis wrestler for stalling for the second time giving T one point to tie it up.   No take down occurred in the first overtime.  T gave up a reversal in the second overtime, in the third overtime, T got the escape and was down one point.  He again worked hard for a takedown and could not get it.

In the consolations, Patrick Townsend and Joel Desroches took 3^rd , while Nick Haller took 4^th after losing 1-0.

This title was a team effort across the board.  These Bears made us all proud.

To add icing to the cake, Lorenzo Lopez was voted Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament by the coaches.  In addition, Senior Luc Schermer was voted All-IAC at large.  Joining him were all the Champions to give Landon 8 All-IAC wrestlers.  This is the most on record.

Place     Score     Name                   1st 2nd 3rd 4th

1             199.50 Landon                7    2     2      1

2             127.00   St Albans            1    5     2      4

3             122.00 Georgetown Prep 3  2   1      4

4             109.00 Bullis                    2    3    2      2

5             66.00    St Stephens & St Agnes 1 1 3 1

6             51.00     Episcopal             0   1   4  0

CONGRATULATIONS BEARS AND COACHES KATZ, SMITH, FOLEY, OBERG and TORRESCONGRATULATIONS BEARS AND COACHES KATZ, SMITH, FOLEY, OBERG and TORRES