The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Former Ram Carr sets UMBC Retrievers' single season win record
* UMBC sophomore aims to set career wins mark next season
* Carr earned co-captain designation in midseason

By Kevin Spradlin
The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
ELLICOTT CITY, Feb. 13 - Dan Carr was a bit nervous.

And he had every right to be. Carr, a 2007 Southern Garrett High School graduate and now a sophomore wrestler for the University of Maryland-Baltimore County’s club team, was up against Penn State’s Luke Fedechko at 149 pounds.

Maybe it was the 135-140 and Rams mascot tattoo, dating back to his days as a two-time regional champ and state finalist, that provided inspiration. Or maybe it was the tattooed prayer for strength and courage emblazoned on the other side of his rib cage, partially visible to his opponent.

Either way, the anxiety Carr felt didn’t deter him from - perhaps it propelled him toward - earning an 8-2 decision over Fedechko in a dual meet on Sunday. His win helped UMBC beat Penn State's NCWA team, 54-6.

With the win - his 38th of the season - Carr became the school’s single season wins recordholder. The victory helped Carr surpass the mark set by coach Luke Broadwater's brother, Alex Broadwater, in 2009.

Carr also is second to Alex Broadwater in number of pins in a season. Right now he has 21 while his former teammate had 27 in a single year.

“I knew going into it that I needed one more win,” Carr said. “This was actually one of their better kids, so I was a little nervous.”

Coach Broadwater said the dual meet brought one of UMBC's largest crowds in the program's eight-year history.

"There was a bunch of Southern fans with signs, holding them up and cheering for him," Broadwater said. "It was really nice to see the Southern Garrett contingent."

The 5-foot, 9-inch grappler has wrestled at both 149 pounds and 157 pounds this season and has compiled a 38-14 overall record. Carr was 27-13 as a freshman.

As the Retrievers fundraise and plan to become a legitimate Division I wrestling team, Carr said it’s always easy to tell which club teams have put in the time and effort preparing for a match.

“I know a lot of them don’t actually practice that much,” said Carr, who is studying psychology and plans to earn his teacher's certificate by December 2012. “You can tell when we wrestle them.”

Teams like Penn State, though, show they aren’t yet ready.

“We beat ‘em pretty good,” Carr said. The team’s schedule is “probably not as hard as a Division I program (yet), but it’s definitely not just a club sport.”

Carr placed third last season as at the NCWA Mid-Atlantic Conference championship. He hopes to improve on that finish this year at conference the weekend after next.

"I think he has the ability to win it," Broadwater said of the probable No. 3 seed.

Due to an injury midseason, Broadwater was stuck looking for a new co-captain. His glance shifted immediately to Carr.

"He's a real good leader," Broadwater said.

The Retrievers must place in the top five to qualify for the national tournament.