Senior Grapplers Honored at Wolverines' Final Home Meet

Article by Jon Roetman; photos courtesy of Dalin Rodrigues Photography.

The final home meet of Steven Rodriguez’s Watkins Mill wrestling career began with the senior pinning an opponent in less than two minutes. It ended with Rodriguez sitting on the bench—a fierce competitor left frustrated as he could only watch others compete with the outcome hanging in the balance.

The Wolverines finished second in a three-team dual meet on Saturday at Watkins Mill High School, defeating Einstein 46-21 in the opening matchup and losing to Northwood 45-33 in the finale. Northwood defeated Einstein 48-21 in the second match of the afternoon.

The 152-pound Rodriguez gave Watkins Mill a 6-0 lead against Einstein, pinning his opponent with seven seconds remaining in the opening period of the afternoon’s first match. Rodriguez’s second and final turn on the mat came against Northwood with the Wolverines trailing 39-27 and two matches remaining. While he secured a victory and six points, Rodriguez didn’t get the opportunity to compete as he was awarded a win via forfeit, leaving him to watch as Watkins Mill needed a pin in the final match to tie.

The Wolverines came up empty.

“I didn’t want the forfeit,” Rodriguez said. “That’s the bad part about [winning both my matches].”

Rodriguez was one of four Watkins Mill seniors honored at their final home meet. Fellow senior captain Carlos Molina won both his matches at 132 pounds, pinning his Einstein opponent with 1:35 remaining in the second period and beating his Northwood opponent by decision, 14-8.

“It was a good experience wrestling for three years,” Molina said. “It had to come to an end eventually. I’m glad it came to an end with two wins.”

Senior Davon Nichols received a pair of forfeit victories at 182 pounds. Senior Sam Thompson was injured in the first meet of the season.

“Steven Rodriguez is one of our best wrestlers on the team,” said first-year Watkins Mill head coach Tony Rodrigues. “He’s meant a whole lot getting the kids motivated, helping teach kids how to wrestle. Carlos Molina, same thing. Both of them are captains. He’s the same way: helps all the younger guys. We’re going to miss both of them, having them both in the room.

“Davon Nichols is a first-year wrestler, but he’s just an all-around athlete. He loves the sport, so he’s at every practice and he goes 150 percent. I’m kind of upset they didn’t have a match for him today. We’re going to miss having him in the room, too.”

Johnny Lam (106 pounds) won twice for Watkins Mill, pinning his Einstein opponent and receiving a forfeit victory against Northwood. Kripesh Paudel (113) pinned both of his opponents and Rodrigo Montero (195) received a pair of forfeit wins. Brandon Luis (170/160) and Bryan Slater (136) each went 1-1 for the Wolverines.

Watkins Mill has two regular season meets remaining—at Whitman on Jan. 31 and at Seneca Valley (also facing Gaithersburg) on Feb. 4—before the postseason. After not having a wrestler qualify for states last year, the Wolverines focused on producing a different outcome in 2012.

“We’re definitely aiming for that,” Rodrigues said. “We are trying to get somebody into states. That’s our main goal. It’s going to be tough. Carlos, Steven, maybe Davon might be a long shot to get in there.”