Green Hornets Wrestlers Cap Outstanding Comeback Season

The Green Hornets wrestling program took a year off from competition last winter, but they returned with success this season.

Severna Park’s season concluded on February 20 as Green Hornet wrestlers competed in the county championships at Arundel High School. Severna Park had six wrestlers place in the competition, highlighting a strong weekend by the entire organization.

“We had all first-year kids, and it was amazing to see their progress over the course of the season,” said Green Hornets wrestling commissioner Tom Wheeler.

There were many standouts this season for Severna Park, which rostered about 30 wrestlers, most all of whom were first-year wrestlers under the age of 10. Leading the pack for Severna Park were Leo Wheeler and Josh Taylor, who both took the top step on the podium this winter. Leo Wheeler took first place at the Anne Arundel County Youth Wrestling Tournament as well as first place at the Southern Youth Wrestling Tournament earlier this season, and Taylor took first place at Southern. Sawyer Latchaw, Parker Housel and Oliver Seely all took second place in their brackets at the Anne Arundel County tournament, while Landin Dewald placed third and Landon Goller placed fourth. Henry Bell took third place at Southern.

The Green Hornets also had strong seasons by Axel Cornett, Max Cornett, Paxton Fowler, Liam Hawse, Dylan Jones, Gavin Keefer, Noah Keefer, Lincoln Latchaw, Tristan Mackey, Ryan Maher, Ares Mason, Charlie Peery, Emmett Polansky, Joel Porcher, Nathaniel Porcher, Joel Proulx, Jorge Rodriguez, Jack Seely, James Switzer, Memphis Utz and Matthew Wilson, and coach Wheeler credited the support of the parents and the community in helping the kids thrive as a team and individuals.

“Our families have been nothing less than outstanding,” Wheeler said.

Following a season away as the organization lacked a commissioner, the Green Hornets made an impact this season in their return. The kids made huge strides on the mat and likewise reaped the many off-the-mat benefits of participating in wrestling, all while re-establishing the sport at the youth level in Severna Park.

“They went from their initial introduction to the sport to scoring points and winning matches,” said coach Wheeler. “This was all due to our kids’ hard work and determination and due to the tremendous support from their families. This year wasn’t about wins and losses as [much as] it was about getting better from practice to practice or match to match. We tried to preach getting better each and every day. Whether in school, at home or on the mat, we wanted our kids to take strides forward.

“We definitely saw our team buy into this concept as the year went on,” said Wheeler. “We saw them become better wrestlers, but more importantly, better people as the season progressed. And that’s what our program is all about. Hopefully the momentum that we built over the course of the season will carry on for years to come. We need to continue to see the support from the community to help us build our program into a feeder program for the high school.”