Blair wrestlers overpower Magruder

JAN 8, NELSON H. KOBREN MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM-

Beginning the match with a 24-point deficit from the four slots unfilled on the team, Blair came on strong, earning a remarkable 46 points, and defeated Magruder High School by ten points. Of the ten matches wrestled, eight were Blair victories and all but one resulted from a pin.

Blair's wrestling team was not half the size of its opponent's, giving the clear edge to Magruder. However, motivated by a stunning JV victory with pins by senior Mohammed Bah, junior Ben Payes, freshman Max Epstein and sophomore Eric Wu, the Blazers were fired up and came away with a victory. Clearly showing no mercy, Blair outscored Magruder by 34 points, not including the forfeits, launching Blair into a 2-3 season record.

Coach Jacob Scott knew that the wrestlers could not merely win their matches, they had to dominate their opponents to earn back the forfeit points. "What we needed to win were pins," explained Scott, "and that's just what we got." Without the large number of pins that Blair racked up, the victory could not have been achieved.

The excitement grew by the end of the match, as Blair found itself behind by four points. Juniors Hansel Cedeno (172) and Muamba Muanankese (189) both intensified the excitement. The two wrestled in close matches, and both ended up on top when the whistle blew.

Juniors Herb Morsha-Taylor (heavyweight) and Scott Nguyen (103) both showed their stuff, starting the match by earning two consecutive pins, with a combined time of only 59 seconds.

The next wrestling match will pit Blair against both Wheaton and Seneca Valley high schools at Wheaton on Saturday, January 18 at 1:00 pm. If the Blazers triumph over these two teams, the wrestlers will have their first winning record of the season.