Wrestling team places third and prepares for Nationals

Working together as a team, the JC wrestlers earned fourth place at the MD Independent School State Tournament on Feb. 15 and 16 at McDonogh School in Owings Mills. They finished behind McDonogh, Good Counsel, and Mount Saint Joseph high schools.

In the tournament finals, junior Hunter Ritter beat Good Counsel’s Nick Miller by 14-2 and won first place for his weight class for the second time. Junior Chris Almony won the Most Falls in Least Time award.

Since the wrestling season started in November, the team has practiced and worked out several days a week, accumulating a winning record of 15-5. JC wrestlers got third place at the MIAA championship tournament on Feb. 7 and 8. Varsity wrestlers are now preparing to compete in the National Prep School Championships on Feb. 21 and 22.

Last year, the team won third place out of 38 teams at States. The wrestlers went on to win sixth place at Nationals out of 151 teams.
Wrestling coach Keith Watson plans on the team going to Nationals better and stronger than last year.

According to Watson, “We always want to be moving forward and improving.”

Erica Kelble is a Multimedia Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.

Varsity women’s lacrosse gains new head coach

Former JC teacher and assistant lacrosse coach Stephanie Maychack will coach women’s varsity lacrosse this year. Last year’s coach Krystin Porcella chose not to renew her one-year contract because family matters would conflict with the growing lacrosse coach responsibilities.

“I love [Maychack]. I had her freshman year for JV. We are going to be in such great shape and really organized,” senior Alex Gromacki said.

In Gromacki’s freshman year, the JV team finished with a 10-1 record, losing only to McDonogh.

This year’s varsity team has high levels of talent to take onto the field. Already, 15 varsity team members have committed to playing college lacrosse after graduation.

“[Maychack] is coming to a familiar place. Many of the upperclassmen are familiar with her,” Athletic Director Larry Dukes said. “I’m really happy we’re able to make this transition.”

Eric Johnson is a Staff Writer for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.