Mohlhenrich said Bauerlein "knows it. No matter how good you are, someone is going to catch up to you sometime."
However, right now it appears that if any county school catches North Carroll in the near future, it will be Francis Scott Key or South Carroll.
Hyson had the Eagles closing in on the Panthers two years ago (a 31-24 dual-match loss) and early last season. But Key was hurt badly by mid-season academic and disciplinary problems and fell further back in the regular-season dual meet.
Key regrouped for the state tournament last year and stole a lot of North Carroll's thunder, finishing third in the 1A-2A standings to fifth for the Panthers.
The Eagles had three state champions -- Randy Owings, Chris Beale and Zac Yinger. North Carroll's top finisher was Kiler in third place. Owings and Yinger return.
South Carroll has come on strong in recent years and has closed the gap on Francis Scott Key for the right to be second-best.
The Cavaliers have a state 160-pound champion, junior Mike Chenoweth, to build their program around. Chenoweth recorded pins in a 31-1 performance last season.
"Until North Carroll is beaten, they're still the champs," said Olson. "But some people believe the county championship could be won by any one of three teams this year -- North Carroll, Key or South Carroll."
