March 17, 1996
Greg Plitt, Gilman, Sr., 189, (32-1): The muscular Plitt (76-14 career), who hopes to attend the Naval Academy, racked up 20 pins, including one over Class 1A-2A champion Willie Broadnax (Owings Mills). He also had a 2-0 decision of last year's Class 3A-4A champion Joon Kim (Centennial), and won the MIAA and private school state titles. Plitt, who had two technical falls, also won tournaments at Annapolis, McDonogh and Gilman Duals and was a National Prep runner-up.
Gene Reid, South River, Sr., 119 (30-4): Reid, a two-time county ++ champion, put together a dream season by becoming his school's first state champion. He ends the year ranked No. 4 in Maryland. After being pinned by Mardela's Rodney Stine in the ** finals of the regions, Reid scored a 7-5 overtime upset in the state finals. Stine had come off a 7-5 semifinal upset of last year's champion, Sparrows Point's Tommy Free. Reid, who has 103 career victories, also defeated Prince George's County champion Lorne Correia, who was third at states.
Mike Young, Sparrows Point, Jr., 130 (35-1): After a disappointing fourth place at counties, Young rebounded to win region and Class 1A-2A state crowns. Young, ranked No. 2, had wins over Baltimore County champions Grant Ohler (Lansdowne) and Shawn Ohl (Catonsville), two-time city champion Garfield Thompson (Mervo), Prince George's champion Fred Dalton (Central), and two-time Carroll County and region champion Ryan Etzler (Francis Scott Key). Young pinned Thompson, Ohl and Dalton.
Jared Zillmer, Hammond, Fr., 112 (35-3): Zillmer is only the second freshman to earn All-Metro wrestling honors Steve Kessler (Owings Mills) was the first. Zillmer burst onto the county wrestling scene by setting a school record with 29 pins. He pinned his way to the Howard County and region crowns, in 1: 19 and 1: 48 respectively. Zillmer's only losses of the year were to No. 1-ranked Jason Gabrielson (Northern), Class 1A-2A state champ Davey Blake (Kent), and by 2-0 when he moved up to 119 to face SMAC and region runner-up Joe Hinshaw (Westlake).
The teams
Wrestler of the Year: J. R. Plienis, McDonogh.
Coach of the Year: Jeff Starnes, Hammond
First team
Weight, Name, School, Year
103 Will Filbert McDonogh Sophomore
112 Jared Zillmer Hammond Freshman
119 Gene Reid South River Senior
125 Kevin Jeffress Liberty Senior
125 Chuck Jones Kenwood Junior
130 Mike Young Sparrows Point Junior
135 Dan Simancek Dundalk Senior
140 Tommy Kiler North Carroll Senior
140 Tyrone Neal Southern Senior
145 Steve Kessler Owings Mills Junior
152 Jeremy Lignelli Glenelg Junior
160 Tyran Dungee Mount St. Joseph Senior
160 Charlie Conaway South Carroll Senior
171 Mike Chenoweth South Carroll Senior
189 Greg Plitt Gilman Senior
Hwt J.R. Plienis McDonogh Senior
Second team
103 Kevin Carter Aberdeen Senior
103 Chris Hanlon Calvert Hall Sophomore
119 Tommy Free Sparrows Point Junior
125 Todd Betz Broadneck Senior
130 John Horrigan St. Mary's Senior
130 Mike Boettcher Curley Sophomore
135 Jake Lissau Mount St. Joseph Senior
135 Ari Dolid Owings Mills Junior
140 Dan Mattson Mount St. Joseph Junior
140 Jay Queer Northeast Senior
145 Sal Aquia Curley Junior
152 Isaac Haertel Arundel Junior
152 Jason Leaneau Boys Latin Sophomore
171 Willie Broadnax Owings Mills Senior
189 Greg Forbes Milford Mill Junior
189 Joon Kim Centennial Senior
Picking the teams
The Baltimore Sun 1996 All-Metro Wrestling Teams were selected by Lem Satterfield after consultation with staff writers and area coaches.
Pub Date: 3/17/96
