Broadneck’s Smith, Severna Park’s Adams Win Girls County Titles

Trailing by two points halfway through the third period, Broadneck freshman Jahzara Smith knew it was now or never.

Down big in the second period, Smith crept back to within striking distance of Old Mill’s River Heslep in the 100-pound round of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools girls wrestling county championships, but there was still more work to do.

From the down position to start the period, Smith escaped to close to within a point. Then with 18 seconds left and the adrenaline flowing, she landed her go-to move: the cement mixer.

It’s a move that involves getting the opponent in a headlock while both wrestlers are standing and then rolling the opponent to the ground and onto their back in one fluid move.

Heslep managed to stay off her back, but Smith made the takedown stick to score the match’s decisive points, winning the county title by an 8-7 decision.

Smith scored two points in the final eight seconds of the second period, one on an illegal hold and the other on an escape that barely beat the clock, setting the stage for her late-match heroics.

“I didn’t want to tie up, so I kept faking, faking, and I got her to the cement mixer. I tried to pin her, but I got the points,” Smith said. “It was determination and repeating to myself that not giving up is important. I’m very proud of myself … to accomplish more than I thought I could.”

Smith was one of two local wrestlers to win a title in the girls division. Severna Park’s Alanna Adams secured victory in the 135-pound bracket, pinning Crofton’s Breyon Thompson with just five seconds remaining in the match.

Adams led 3-1 late but Thompson scored a takedown in the final 30 seconds to tie the match. The move caught Adams off-guard, but she quickly reversed Thompson to go back ahead and finished the move to end the bout.

“I didn’t know how much time was left on the clock, so I thought you’ve got to go as fast as you can, and hope for the best,” Adams said. “I didn’t get to wrestle on the first day (because of byes), so it’s been a lot of mental preparation and things to get ready for this moment.”