The hard work has been faithfully put in, and for much of the Gilman wrestling team, it goes back way before the start of this promising season.
Now, the No. 1 Greyhounds firmly believe the foundation is in place — a quality mix of returning talent with a burst of energy from a gifted freshman class — for them to make history.
On Saturday, in their home gym, they’re determined to win the program’s first Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament championship. The program’s last league tournament title came in 1990, when it competed in the defunct Maryland Scholastic Association.
“The first week of the season, coach [Bryn Holmes] told us this season could be special and we got to do something with it. So we all have the same goal, which is to win an MIAA title,” junior standout Emmitt Sherlock said. “Every time we walk into the gym we see the banner — that 1990 was the last year we did anything — so it really inspires us.”
Momentum started with last year’s second-place finish behind two-time defending champion Mount Saint Joseph. Joining the dedicated returning core was a gifted freshman class that has provided plenty of inspiration. The Greyhounds prepared with a challenging slate of early tournaments and then went undefeated during the league’s dual meet season.
In Saturday’s tournament, they will be led by three top seeds: Sherlock (36-4 at 165 pounds); his older brother, senior Tyson Sherlock (33-7 at 144); and freshman Liam McGettigan (35-4 at 106).
Other key contributors include freshman JD Vassar (21-10 at 113), junior Zach Glory (25-11 at 132), junior John Jurkovic (26-10 at 150), freshman Arthur Konschak (27-11 at 157), senior Nick Haughey (22-13 at 175) and junior Gabe Smith (23-9 at 190).
Gilman’s depth proved superior in its dual meet wins over fellow league powers No. 2 Mount Saint Joseph, No. 3 Loyola Blakefield and No. 4 Archbishop Spalding, and Holmes is banking on it carrying the day Saturday in what’s expected to be a tightly contested tournament.
“I think our guys are in a spot now where they’ve had some success and that’s brought confidence and they’re wrestling really well,” said Holmes, now in his 13th season. “I feel pretty confident, but I also think if you look at seedings and placements — it’s going to be super tight with four legitimate potential champions.”
Since they arrived, the Sherlock brothers, both defending MIAA and Maryland Independent School champions, have set a positive tone to trigger the team’s upward trend. Holmes recalls Tyson having free time on a Saturday and driving up to Patterson Mill to support the junior varsity team. That extra effort from one of the team’s best wrestlers has a tremendous influence.
“The Sherlocks are special people. They’ve done a great job of coming in and helping nurture our culture and they kind of put us on the map in terms of wrestling ability,” Holmes said. “They’ve been outstanding in the practice room, they’re just so passionate about wrestling and about our team. When you have kids that are brand new to wrestling, sometimes if a guy is unbelievable, he doesn’t have time for them. Not these guys. They’re ready to help at all times.”
Tyson, a Davidson commit, and Virginia-bound Emmitt started wrestling in their early grade school years, taking it seriously from the onset and constantly pushing each other to max out their potential. At Gilman, they’ve taken the same approach with their teammates.
“I just go in the wrestling room every day happy to be there,” Emmitt said. “What I try to do is have these guys see how much I like the sport and how much I give to the sport and if they can come in and do something similar, then everybody is going to get better.”
In his four years, Haughey has witnessed the program’s steady climb and the daily grind it took. One of his favorite moments was when he was named a captain. He thought back to his younger days and how he looked up to his former captains and the stability and knowledge they provided.
Now that it’s his turn, he says that experience made him a better wrestler and leader.
“I think that responsibility has pushed me to be better,” Haughey said. “I’m grateful my teammates chose me for that role and I’ve been able to fulfill that to the best of my abilities.”
That tight bond is what the Greyhounds believe will pull them through Saturday, but they’re well aware that they will have to earn the coveted title.
Mount Saint Joseph, winners of four of the past five MIAA tournaments, boasts four top seeds who all were named to last year’s All-Metro team: Jake Tamai (120), Carter Nogle (138), Nicolas Barnabae (157) and Austin Lewis (170). Loyola Blakefield has three top seeds, while Archbishop Spalding boasts two.
“I’d have to say for the first time in seven or eight years, Mount Saint Joe goes in as an underdog. I’d give Gilman the edge,” Gaels coach Harry Barnabae said. “We’re bringing our guys into the tournament as prepared as we can be and barring everybody is healthy, it’s going to be a tight race. Don’t count out Loyola.”
With the title possibly coming down to bonus points, the talk all week at Gilman has been the attention to detail come Saturday with everybody doing their part and a little more.
“We’re definitely looking forward to the challenge. Everybody is going to have to be as on as much as they can and we’re talking about everybody getting every bonus point we can,” Haughey said. “So we’re definitely prepared for a really close matchup with these teams and we’re excited at the chance of coming out on top.”
The wrestling banner that hangs on Gilman’s gym wall lists 16 years of league championships in the MSA, the first coming in 1953 with that final one in 1990. The plan on Saturday is to add 2024.
“It would mean so much,” Tyson Sherlock said. “Since I’ve been wrestling for Gilman, I think it’s been Mount Saint Joe [just about] every year, so it would be great for us to get the trophy and bring it to Gilman. It sure would make for a fun locker room with a lot of screaming and I know the alumni would love it, too.”
