Scheffel sets school career wins
record with 7-0 decision over Opel
Scheffel ranked No. 1 in region, Opel third
By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
OAKLAND, Feb. 3 -- Jakob "Bubba" Scheffel maintained mastery over Northern Garrett's Jason Opel in the 171-pound bout on Thursday in a dual meet at Southern Garrett.
Only this time, he was more dominant than ever. Opel has yet to score on Scheffel, who earned a 7-0 decision to break the school record for career wins as Southern Garrett romped to a 45-21 win over north county rival Northern Garrett.
Brutus Scheffel, Class of 2010 and now with West Virginia University, set the Rams standard only a year ago with 154 wins. His younger brother now aims for a series of team goals and individual achievements that could put him at the top of the state's all-time career wins list.
Scheffel is tied for first in Maryland State Wrestling Association's Jan. 31 rankings of wrestlers among all four classifications with John Carroll senior Matt Miller. Opel is eighth. Scheffel is first in Class 1A/2A rankings while Opel is third.
According to chatter on mdwrestling.net, James Knox of Dulaney is the all-time state recordholder with 162 wins. Mike Blake from Kent County was second with 160 wins and Matt Jackson of Rising Sun is tied for third with Scheffel with 155 career victories.
"Opel's a really good wrestler," said Scheffel, whose older brother was in the bleachers Thursday to watch his record go down. "He's never scored a point on me."
Scheffel called Thursday's bout "one of the best matches I've wrestled all year." The two faced each other earlier this season. Then, Scheffel earned a 1-0 decision.
Scheffel, along with teammate Lex Ozias, have earned athletic scholarships to wrestle at Virginia Tech this fall. Scheffel said he plans to become a civil engineer.
Before he travels south to Blacksburg, Va., though, Scheffel said he hopes to help the Rams earn their third consecutive team state championship. That goal is made that much harder having lost Ryan Bennett earlier this season to injury and, on Jan. 28, lost 189-pounder Coty Rasel due to a dislocated shoulder.
Beyond team goals, Scheffel said he's working to win a third individual state title.
The Rams improved to 10-1 in duals and 24-4 overall. They wrestle on Saturday at Allegany against the host Campers and visiting Perryville. Varsity matches begin at 3 p.m.
The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
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Southern Garrett 45, Northern Garrett 21
103 - Austin Shaffer (SG) via Forfeit
112 - Coy Ozias (SG) m dec Scott Warnick (NG) 13-4
119 - Kody Osselburn (NG) pins Nick Stewart (SG) 5:05
125 - Adam Finzel (NG) pins Tanner Massey (SG) 2:53
130 - Gavin Murphy (SG) dec Carlos Howard (NG) 2-1
135 - Dakota Pritt (SG) pins Dan Uphold (NG) 4:56
140 - Matt Thomas (NG) via Forfeit
145 - Mikey Skipper (SG) pins Kameron Kamp (NG) 5:41
152 - Lex Ozias (SG) tech Tyler Owens (NG) 18-1
160 - Dale Marple (SG) dec Sean Kamp (NG) 9-2
171 - Bubba Scheffel (SG) dec Jason Opel (NG) 7-0
189 - Scott Cooper (SG) dec Nick Owens (NG) 10-8 ot
215 - Anthony Cervi (NG) dec Kameron Barnard (SG) 4-1
285 - Kevin Miller (SG) pins Brandon Platter (NG) 1:25
How to score a wrestling match (team scoring)
* 6 Pts. - Wrestler wins by pin or forfeit, injury default, disqualification of the opponent.
* 5 Pts. - Wrestler wins by technical fall (lead of 15 Pts. during the match)
* 4 Pts. - Wrestler wins by major decision (point spread of between 8 and 14 pts.).
* 3 Pts. - Wrestler wins by regular decision (7 points or less)
45 21
Bubba Scheffel pins Mountain Ridge's Jason Wright at 189 pounds in a Jan. 18 bout in Frostburg.
Photo by Mariel Pazourek Schenk