Archbishop Spalding wins its second straight MIAA Wrestling Tournament title

by Billy Buckheit

In the preview for the MIAA season, it was speculated that this year, Archbishop Spalding would cruise through the competition with little trouble and was certainly the clear number one in the MIAA and state of Maryland. It’s cliché to say, but there’s a reason they actually wrestle the matches.

And when the wrestling occurred, the Eagles of McDonogh, once again, were the thorn in the side of Spalding as they beat them in a dual meet as they did in 2025. A week later, Mount St. Joseph handled McDonogh in a dual, putting them in the driver’s seat for the “A” Conference Dual Title.

Spalding visited St. Joe shortly after that, and wouldn’t you know it, the Cavaliers beat the Gaels. This left McDonogh, Mt. St. Joe, and Spalding in a three-way tie for the dual title. With that kind of parity, no assumptions were made about the final MIAA Tournament pecking order as any one of those three teams had a strong case that they could win it.

When action ceased on Saturday evening at Gilman, it was Spalding collecting the first-place team trophy, keeping St. Joe at bay, 274.5-266. McDonogh was in third with 237 points. Spalding also crowned the most champions with four, and one of them made history while doing so.

Taina Fernandez has won World Championships the last two years and is ranked number one in the nation amongst female wrestlers at 140 pounds by High School On SI. Fernandez has collected just about every title imaginable, and now, in her first MIAA Tournament appearance, she becomes the first ever golden girl.

The 138-pound final was a rematch with Mt. St. Joseph’s Ben Scheiner, who she defeated 4-1 in the dual meet. Scheiner was holding a late 4-2 lead with time running down when Fernandez was able to capture a dramatic takedown to take the lead and win the title, 5-4.

Fernandez pinned both of her earlier foes, sticking Boys’ Latin’s Devon Pringle in the second period of their semifinal meeting, 3:57. In the quarters, the junior took out John Carroll’s Harrison Desai in the opening round, 1:21. Fernandez received the Charles R. Gamper Award as the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.

Zane Leitzel repeated as champion and won it over a St. Joe foe again. Last year, it was Tyler Stephens at 138, this year, Brooklyn Pickett at 157 pounds. Leitzel and Pickett are nationally ranked and are the top two guys in Maryland. It went into overtime, but Leitzel got the 2-1 victory.

Eli Gabrielson’s title winning effort at 126 pounds came on a 5-3 decision. It was the closest Loyola-Blakefield’s Jayden Jackson has been to Gabrielson after suffering three previous shutout losses. Gabrielson’s win also kept Jackson from standing atop the MIAA podium for a fourth time.

Charlie Mutschler put up a major decision of McDonogh’s Jacob Naylor, 10-2, in the 113-pound final. Three other Cavaliers reached the finals but could complete their title quests, Isaac Cicchetti (132 pounds), Ryder Kolat (150), and Luke Barulli (215).

Placing third were Lane Gowl (106 pounds), Eli Chesla (120), and Josh Taylor (165). Coming in fifth for the Cavaliers were Will McDonough (144 pounds), Luke Winkler (190), and Mike Byrne (285).

Another milestone was achieved by Our Lady of Mount Carmel, who crowned the school’s first ever MIAA Champion in Tavon Mitchell at 215 pounds. Mitchell won an overtime affair with Spalding’s Barulli, 4-1.

St. Joe’s three titlists were the second most of the field. Jake Tamai won his second title with an 8-0 major decision of the Cavaliers’ Cicchetti at 132 pounds. Stephens claimed his first MIAA gold with a 6-0 blanking of Loyola’s Josh Hale at 144. At 150 pounds, Connor Allsion decked Spalding’s Kolat in the third period, 5:48.

The other six champions came from three teams, with each having two, McDonogh, Loyola, and Gilman.

McDonogh’s champs were Dominic Manna (165 pounds) and Giuseppe DiMonte (190). Manna handled Gilman’s Sawyer Peck, 10-5. DiMonte decked top-seeded Hayden Myers of St. Paul’s in the first period with six seconds left on the clock, 1:54.

Loyola’s titles came from freshman Charles Cooper with a 20-4 technical fall of McDonogh’s Braidyn Taby in the 106-pound finals. Immediately after Cooper, Tyler Verceles claimed the 113-pound crown with an 8-5 decision of Mt. St. Joe’s Nathan Matthis. This was the rubber match as Verceles won at Beast of the East with Matthis winning the dual and gaining the number one seed.

Gilman’s Arthur Konshak was another repeat titlist and did so with a 16-5 major decision over Calvert Hall’s Izaac Robertucci. The top two seeded heavyweights met with the number one seeded Noah Lawrence securing another Gilman Gold with a 4-2 decision of McDonogh’s Logan Brown.

St. Paul’s 33 points placed them tenth in the overall standings but was enough to win the B-Conference Championship.

Team Scores (Top 10):

1-Archbishop Spalding 274.5

2-Mount St. Joseph 266

3-McDonogh 237

4-Loyola-Blakefield 165.5

5-Gilman 153.5

6-Archbishop Curley 135

7-Calvert Hall 116.5

8-Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 67.5

9-Boys’ Latin 51.5

10-St. Paul’s 33

Individual Results

106

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Charles Cooper of Loyola-Blakefield

2nd Place - Braidyn Taby of McDonogh School

3rd Place - Lane Gowl of Archbishop Spalding

4th Place - Alessandro Barrios of Mount Saint Joseph

5th Place - Dominic Blocker of Archbishop Curley

6th Place - Tyler Saville of The Saint Paul`s School for Boys

1st Place Match

Charles Cooper (Loyola-Blakefield) 30-3, Fr. over Braidyn Taby (McDonogh School) 40-7, Fr. (TF-1.5 4:08 (20-4))

3rd Place Match

Lane Gowl (Archbishop Spalding) 16-9, Fr. over Alessandro Barrios (Mount Saint Joseph) 21-12, Fr. (Fall 1:52)

5th Place Match

Dominic Blocker (Archbishop Curley) 31-10, Fr. over Tyler Saville (The Saint Paul`s School for Boys) 15-13, Fr. (Fall 2:39)

113

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Charlie Mutschler of Archbishop Spalding

2nd Place - Jacob Naylor of McDonogh School

3rd Place - Miles Molina of Gilman School

4th Place - James Wright of Mount Saint Joseph

5th Place - Liam Rose of Archbishop Curley

6th Place - Logan Myers of Loyola-Blakefield

1st Place Match

Charlie Mutschler (Archbishop Spalding) 28-3, So. over Jacob Naylor (McDonogh School) 44-4, So. (MD 10-2)

3rd Place Match

Miles Molina (Gilman School) 29-8, Jr. over James Wright (Mount Saint Joseph) 18-5, Sr. (Dec 7-1)

5th Place Match

Liam Rose (Archbishop Curley) 39-14, So. over Logan Myers (Loyola-Blakefield) 13-13, Fr. (Dec 7-3)

120

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Tyler Verceles of Loyola-Blakefield

2nd Place - Nathan Matthis of Mount Saint Joseph

3rd Place - Eli Chesla of Archbishop Spalding

4th Place - Christian Wirts of Gilman School

5th Place - Cody Lehman of Calvert Hall College

6th Place - Robbie Garcia of Boys` Latin School

1st Place Match

Tyler Verceles (Loyola-Blakefield) 30-4, So. over Nathan Matthis (Mount Saint Joseph) 36-8, Fr. (Dec 8-5)

3rd Place Match

Eli Chesla (Archbishop Spalding) 19-8, Sr. over Christian Wirts (Gilman School) 20-10, So. (SV-1 6-3)

5th Place Match

Cody Lehman (Calvert Hall College) 22-12, Jr. over Robbie Garcia (Boys` Latin School) 9-14, Sr. (M. For.)

126

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Eli Gabrielson of Archbishop Spalding

2nd Place - Jayden Jackson of Loyola-Blakefield

3rd Place - CJ Votta of Mount Saint Joseph

4th Place - Damian Manna of McDonogh School

5th Place - Evan Kaliakoudas of Archbishop Curley

6th Place - Noa Restencourt of Gilman School

1st Place Match

Eli Gabrielson (Archbishop Spalding) 23-4, Jr. over Jayden Jackson (Loyola-Blakefield) 31-7, Sr. (Dec 5-3)

3rd Place Match

CJ Votta (Mount Saint Joseph) 27-12, So. over Damian Manna (McDonogh School) 20-7, Fr. (Fall 0:31)

5th Place Match

Evan Kaliakoudas (Archbishop Curley) 41-14, So. over Noa Restencourt (Gilman School) 11-11, So. (TF-1.5 4:16 (16-0))

132

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Jake Tamai of Mount Saint Joseph

2nd Place - Isaac Cicchetti of Archbishop Spalding

3rd Place - Wes Baumgartner of McDonogh School

4th Place - Brendan Tobin of Loyola-Blakefield

5th Place - Cooper Monroe of Boys` Latin School

6th Place - JD Vassar of Gilman School

1st Place Match

Jake Tamai (Mount Saint Joseph) 32-4, Sr. over Isaac Cicchetti (Archbishop Spalding) 16-6, So. (MD 8-0)

3rd Place Match

Wes Baumgartner (McDonogh School) 37-9, So. over Brendan Tobin (Loyola-Blakefield) 23-10, So. (MD 12-4)

5th Place Match

Cooper Monroe (Boys` Latin School) 22-6, Jr. over JD Vassar (Gilman School) 16-11, Jr. (M. For.)

138

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Taina Fernandez of Archbishop Spalding

2nd Place - Ben Scheiner of Mount Saint Joseph

3rd Place - Mason Comegys of McDonogh School

4th Place - Reef Kneidl of Archbishop Curley

5th Place - Evan Durand of Loyola-Blakefield

6th Place - Devon Pringle of Boys` Latin School

1st Place Match

Taina Fernandez (Archbishop Spalding) 15-1, Jr. over Ben Scheiner (Mount Saint Joseph) 33-12, Jr. (Dec 5-4)

3rd Place Match

Mason Comegys (McDonogh School) 33-9, So. over Reef Kneidl (Archbishop Curley) 26-20, Sr. (Fall 2:45)

5th Place Match

Evan Durand (Loyola-Blakefield) 6-3, Fr. over Devon Pringle (Boys` Latin School) 17-8, So. (MD 23-11)

144

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Tyler Stephens of Mount Saint Joseph

2nd Place - Joshua Hale of Loyola-Blakefield

3rd Place - Cole Genua of McDonogh School

4th Place - Joshua Jackson of Calvert Hall College

5th Place - Will McDonough of Archbishop Spalding

6th Place - Lincoln Holmes of Friends of Baltimore

1st Place Match

Tyler Stephens (Mount Saint Joseph) 39-6, Jr. over Joshua Hale (Loyola-Blakefield) 26-8, Sr. (Dec 6-0)

3rd Place Match

Cole Genua (McDonogh School) 37-9, Jr. over Joshua Jackson (Calvert Hall College) 7-4, Sr. (Fall 2:51)

5th Place Match

Will McDonough (Archbishop Spalding) 18-10, So. over Lincoln Holmes (Friends of Baltimore) 31-7, Sr. (TF-1.5 2:36 (17-2))

150

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Connor Allison of Mount Saint Joseph

2nd Place - Ryder Kolat of Archbishop Spalding

3rd Place - Oscar Davis of Archbishop Curley

4th Place - Blake Taylor of McDonogh School

5th Place - Evan Clarke of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

6th Place - Seth Perks of The Saint Paul`s School for Boys

1st Place Match

Connor Allison (Mount Saint Joseph) 35-7, Jr. over Ryder Kolat (Archbishop Spalding) 8-1, Sr. (Fall 5:48)

3rd Place Match

Oscar Davis (Archbishop Curley) 45-8, Jr. over Blake Taylor (McDonogh School) 33-13, Fr. (Dec 11-6)

5th Place Match

Evan Clarke (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) 46-13, Jr. over Seth Perks (The Saint Paul`s School for Boys) 19-11, Jr. (Dec 8-4)

157

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Zane Leitzel of Archbishop Spalding

2nd Place - Brooklyn Pickett of Mount Saint Joseph

3rd Place - Caden Gardner of McDonogh School

4th Place - Michael DeCosta of Gilman School

5th Place - Keegan Wengert of Loyola-Blakefield

6th Place - Bradlee Anderson of Archbishop Curley

1st Place Match

Zane Leitzel (Archbishop Spalding) 30-5, Sr. over Brooklyn Pickett (Mount Saint Joseph) 34-5, So. (TB-1 2-1)

3rd Place Match

Caden Gardner (McDonogh School) 24-12, Sr. over Michael DeCosta (Gilman School) 11-14, Sr. (Dec 8-4)

5th Place Match

Keegan Wengert (Loyola-Blakefield) 12-8, Fr. over Bradlee Anderson (Archbishop Curley) 26-18, Fr. (Fall 2:07)

165

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Dominic Manna of McDonogh School

2nd Place - Sawyer Peck of Gilman School

3rd Place - Josh Taylor of Archbishop Spalding

4th Place - Kayden Tyler of Mount Saint Joseph

5th Place - Jack Garland of Calvert Hall College

6th Place - Ammar Muhammad of Friends of Baltimore

1st Place Match

Dominic Manna (McDonogh School) 40-8, Jr. over Sawyer Peck (Gilman School) 20-10, Jr. (Dec 10-5)

3rd Place Match

Josh Taylor (Archbishop Spalding) 18-11, Sr. over Kayden Tyler (Mount Saint Joseph) 25-14, Fr. (Fall 2:03)

5th Place Match

Jack Garland (Calvert Hall College) 13-8, Fr. over Ammar Muhammad (Friends of Baltimore) 21-12, So. (TF-1.5 4:03 (16-0))

175

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Arthur Konshak of Gilman School

2nd Place - Izaac Robertucci of Calvert Hall College

3rd Place - Max Solis of Mount Saint Joseph

4th Place - Jakayveon Burton of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

5th Place - Adeoluwa Adewuyi of Archbishop Curley

6th Place - Jay Greene of Boys` Latin School

1st Place Match

Arthur Konshak (Gilman School) 26-6, Jr. over Izaac Robertucci (Calvert Hall College) 13-7, Jr. (MD 16-5)

3rd Place Match

Max Solis (Mount Saint Joseph) 34-12, Fr. over Jakayveon Burton (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) 41-15, Jr. (Fall 2:54)

5th Place Match

Adeoluwa Adewuyi (Archbishop Curley) 39-16, Sr. over Jay Greene (Boys` Latin School) 12-13, Sr. (Fall 0:12)

190

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Giuseppe DiMonte of McDonogh School

2nd Place - Hayden Myers of The Saint Paul`s School for Boys

3rd Place - Bailen Boutz of Archbishop Curley

4th Place - Riley Miller of Loyola-Blakefield

5th Place - Luke Winkler of Archbishop Spalding

6th Place - William Ennis of Mount Saint Joseph

1st Place Match

Giuseppe DiMonte (McDonogh School) 39-7, Sr. over Hayden Myers (The Saint Paul`s School for Boys) 23-4, Sr. (Fall 1:54)

3rd Place Match

Bailen Boutz (Archbishop Curley) 40-9, Sr. over Riley Miller (Loyola-Blakefield) 25-12, Jr. (Fall 2:34)

5th Place Match

Luke Winkler (Archbishop Spalding) 19-7, So. over William Ennis (Mount Saint Joseph) 24-20, Jr. (Fall 1:46)

215

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Tavon Mitchell of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

2nd Place - Luke Barulli of Archbishop Spalding

3rd Place - Josiah Williamson of Archbishop Curley

4th Place - Mac Ridgely of Calvert Hall College

5th Place - Jonah Selassie of Mount Saint Joseph

6th Place - Foster Anderson III of St. Vincent Pallotti

1st Place Match

Tavon Mitchell (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) 36-7, Jr. over Luke Barulli (Archbishop Spalding) 19-10, Jr. (SV-1 4-1)

3rd Place Match

Josiah Williamson (Archbishop Curley) 47-8, So. over Mac Ridgely (Calvert Hall College) 19-12, Sr. (Fall 2:23)

5th Place Match

Jonah Selassie (Mount Saint Joseph) 18-21, Jr. over Foster Anderson III (St. Vincent Pallotti) 26-3, Sr. (Dec 9-6)

285

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Noah Lawrence of Gilman School

2nd Place - Logan Brown of McDonogh School

3rd Place - Owen Stewart of Calvert Hall College

4th Place - Christian Mcleer-Irons of St. Vincent Pallotti

5th Place - Mike Byrne of Archbishop Spalding

6th Place - Cole Bryant of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

1st Place Match

Noah Lawrence (Gilman School) 23-10, Sr. over Logan Brown (McDonogh School) 20-3, So. (Dec 4-2)

3rd Place Match

Owen Stewart (Calvert Hall College) 25-5, Fr. over Christian Mcleer-Irons (St. Vincent Pallotti) 2-2, Sr. (Fall 0:50)

5th Place Match

Mike Byrne (Archbishop Spalding) 15-10, Jr. over Cole Bryant (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) 39-14, Jr. (Dec 1-0)