MCKIM KNIGHTS WRESTLING TEAM

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANTHONY "ANTMAN" WILLIAMS STATE CHAMPION AT 140LBS. CONGRATULATIONS TO TYSHAWN WILLIAMS 2TIME STATE CHAMPION AT 65LBS.  MCKIM ALSO HAD 3 OTHER PLACE WINNER AT THE MD/VA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS DARIUS COLEMAN AT 60LBS TOOK 2ND,  RONNI POWELL JR. AND AVERY WILLIAMS ALSO PLACED. 

 

by Lem Satterfield


When McDonogh's Albert Woody Jr. labels this wrestling season as "one of many ups and downs," the 135-pound junior means much more than just the fact that he has, at times, switched weight classes with 140-pound senior Eagles' teammate Josh Fitch.

The phrase includes failing to place at 140 pounds during last month's Mount Mat Madness Invitational, considered the most difficult tournament in Maryland.

It encompasses a last-second loss to Archbishop Curley's Bubba Corbett, when Woody was headlocked in the closing seconds of a 7-5 loss after leading by as much as 5-2.
 
And most importantly, it deals with the role of his mother, Lena, whose poise against her battle with breast cancer makes her "a positive example of perserverance for me," Woody said.

"From my mother, I must say, I have truly learned to perservere through any situation," said Woody, a student with a 3.5 grade point average. "She's very supportive me. She taught me to put God in front, and that he will always lead you down the right path."

On Saturday afternoon, that focus led Woody down the road to victory, as he captured his first Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association Tournament title after having placed fourth, and second, respectively, over his previous two seasons.

With Lena Woody watching from the stands, Albert Woody pinned his first round opponent in 36 seconds, blanked his second, 6-0, decisioned his third, 9-2, and then, built a 7-0 second-period lead over Mount St. Joseph's Danny Orem on the way to winning their title bout, 10-3.

"Albert did a great job today, and showed great character and integrity," said Lena Woody, who met Albert Sr., her husband of 19 years, when they were students at Morgan State.

"The sport of wrestling is enjoyable to him, and I'm very proud of him," Lena Woody said. "This has been a great day."

In victory, Woody matched the effort of his father, Albert Woody Sr., who, as a senior at Walbrook High in 1983, was named Outstanding Wrestler for winning a Maryland Scholastic Association title.

"I really stepped up my game for this tournament, and I was mentally prepared for this match," said Woody, who was seeded No. 3 behind No. 1 Orem, and No. 2 Corbett, who finished third. "It doesn't really matter what seed you are, you just come out and wrestle."

Woody said his loss to Corbett was a motivator for him entering the tournament, and played a role in the strategy he developed for Orem.

"My whole drill preparation was to stay in the center and to not back out, so that I wouldn't get called for stalling," said Woody. "I decided to change that up, be physical and come out here and just do my thing. I think this means a lot to my family, and it brings me one step closer to where I want to be in preparation for states and National Preps."

Corbett called Woody's title bout "his best match of the year," adding that "he wrestled awesome -- never seen him look so good this year."

MCKIM CONTINUES TO PRODUCE HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS, COUNTLESS MCKIM ALUMNI HAVE GONE ON TO BE CHAMPIONS  AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. OUR CURRENT CROP OF MCKIM ALUMNI IN HIGH SCHOOL ARE CARRYING ON THAT LONG STANDING TRADITION.

ALBERT WOODY, WRESTLING FOR MCDONOGH HIGH SCHOOL HAS WON THE MIAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE 135 WEIGHT CLASS.

MCKIM KNIGHTS TRAVELED TO SEE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND WRESTLING DEFEAT NC STATE ON JANUARY 26, 2008