Boonsboro’s Tanner Halling wins his first state wrestling title, capping unbeaten season
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — With a 130-2 record for his high school wrestling career, it’s hard to imagine that Boonsboro junior Tanner Halling gets teased very often.
But kids will be kids, and Halling finally got the last laugh Saturday at the MPSSAA wrestling championships at the Show Place Arena, capturing his first state title.
“Next year is going to be nice because everybody keeps making fun of me because I don’t have one,” said Halling, who finished second at states last year and third in 2022. “Now, I have one.”
Halling went 4-0 to capture the 126-pound crown in Class 2A-1A. He won by technical fall against each of his first three opponents and then beat Northern Garrett’s Devon Opel 8-4 in the final to finish 48-0 for the season.
“I am super happy to win,” he said. “This whole tournament, I wrestled really good, scoring points. You just have to be tough, and I felt like I was tough out there and did what I had to do to get it done.”
Washington County had two other finalists. Williamsport junior Adin Hastings was the 2A-1A runner-up at 190 pounds, and Smithsburg freshman Rileigh Romberger placed second in the girls division at 115.
The 2A-1A title bout at 126 was a rematch of last week’s West region final, in which Halling defeated Opel by technical fall, 18-3.
Although Saturday’s match was tighter, Halling was never threatened as he led 2-0 at the end of the first period, 6-1 at the end of the second and 8-3 midway through the third, finishing with three takedowns and a reversal.
“(Opel) obviously saw what I was going to do all tournament, and game-planned towards defending what I do,” Halling said. “It’s fine. It’s what people do. I just have to get better at changing up what I do.”
He said that he’s hungry for more.
“I’m happy, but I don’t feel satisfied,” Halling said. “I just want to keep improving and, obviously, win another state title. But I’m looking forward to this offseason — NHSCA nationals (next month at Virginia Beach). I want to place higher at that. That’s really my goal. That’s what I strive for, not really states but those bigger tournaments where I know I’ll get pushed and challenged and taken down and those things.”
Returning champs fall short
Boonsboro’s Amelia Mikus and Williamsport’s Hastings — Washington County’s two state champions last year — both fell short in their title defenses.
After reaching the final with a pin and two decisions, Hastings lost 3-0 to Rising Sun’s Mason Testerman, who scored the only takedown of the match with one second left in the first period.
The Wildcats junior clearly was heartbroken, finishing 49-2 for the season.
“A lot of people would trade places with him to be in that finals match,” Williamsport coach Mike Rechtorovic said. “I know it didn’t turn out the way he wanted it to, but he had a good year, he’ll keep working and try to end up on top next year. I know his work ethic and what kind of mindset that kid has. He’ll come back even stronger next year. That’s what he does.”
Mikus, a senior, who won the girls title at 135 last year, placed fifth at 135 on Saturday. She finished 4-2 for the tournament with three pins. In her final bout, she pinned Crofton’s Breyon Thompson in 1:55.
“It’s not how I wanted it to go, but I finished out strong,” Mikus said.
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Smithsburg’s freshman finalist
Smithsburg’s Romberger showed great poise in her run to the girls final at 115 pounds, especially for a freshman. She won four straight bouts, including three by fall.
In the final, she fell 8-1 to Southern-Anne Arundel junior Domenica Gladwell, who also beat her for the 2A-1A West region title last week.
“I knew that there was a very good chance that I’d be facing her again,” Romberger said. “I’m proud of myself because I did a lot better than I did last time. I improved with my offensive skills, but I could do better defending some of the moves that she does.
“Overall, I’m happy with how it went and definitely very proud of myself for being a freshman, one of three freshmen in my weight class. I’m very happy that I got to the finals.”
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Sowers' surge
Boonsboro junior Trevor Sowers put on a show with his charge to third place at 165 pounds in 2A-1A.
After losing 5-1 in the first round Thursday to South Carroll’s Landon Hamper, the eventual champion, Sowers won five straight bouts, pinning every opponent he faced.
In the consolation final for third place, he decked Owings Mills’ Cregg Ngounou in 39 seconds.
“I was down at first, but I have a lot of people helping me, a lot of good people surrounding me,” Sowers said. “They got me back on track.
“My mindset was just power through. I just had to power through. I’m really happy, especially after that first day.”
Other top-six podium finishers included Williamsport senior Nicky Anderson, who placed fifth at 120 in 2A-1A, and North Hagerstown senior Garcia Ndosa-Kadiobo, who finished sixth at 285 in 4A-3A.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Boonsboro’s Tanner Halling wins Maryland 2A-1A state wrestling title
