Arundel Wrestlers Prepare for County Championships

Steve Kidwell of Arundel High won the county title at 135 pounds last season. He will be looking for his second title in a row, but Kidwell said he doesn't feel unbeatable as the event is held this coming Friday and Saturday at Chesapeake High.

"I don't think it will be any tougher than last year. I had to wrestle some tough kids in my weight class," said Kidwell, who is again slated to compete at 135 pounds. "I know people know who I am and know what I can do. Last year I was a third seed and under the radar. Now they know what I have got."

Kidwell is one of three Wildcats who advanced to the county finals last year, and Arundel had two champions. Others who made the finals last year were Logan Reece and Tyler Goodwin, who is unbeaten was ranked No. 1 in the region last week by The Washington Post at 130 pounds.

"Last year I made it to the finals and lost," Reece said Saturday. "That has me motivated more. We want to have (at least) three or five guys in the finals. We have to have the second- and third-year guys step up and win." So what is a realistic team goal for the Wildcats? "Hopefully we can be in the top three," Reece said.

But Kidwell and head coach Jim Rubush know the overall team success will depend on other wrestlers than the big three Feb. 18-19.

"We have been working pretty hard this week," Kidwell said Saturday. "I feel we can make a good showing. Me, Tyler and Logan are all returning county finalists. That should be a lot of points right there."

Rubush feels the team competition should be wide open, but he does have a favorite.

"You have to say Old Mill is the favorite," he said. "I would be surprised if 20 points separated the top four. I think it is going to be a tight race. I don't think anyone will dominate the tournament. That includes Old Mill. South River will be real tough. They have a solid team but not a lot of studs. I don't know if they have a clear cut county champ. Old Mill has big guns."

Rubush learned Thursday that sophomore Justin Goodwin, the younger brother of Tyler, will be academically ineligible for the county championships and beyond.

"That is obviously going to hurt us. He had a good shot at getting in the top three," the coach said. "Other than that, the kids are working hard. It is going to be real interesting. It is going to be real interesting to see how our teams are."

"Reece should win it. Tyler should win it," Rubush added. "Steve may have a tough match in the finals. The rest of the kids, we really need some of those guys to get in the top three or four and make a decent showing. It is going to be close. Honestly, it is hard to say."

Last year Arundel was third in the county back of second-place North County and winner Old Mill.

Notes: Frank Goodwin, the older brother of Tyler and Justin, won seven of his first eight matches this year for Maryland as a freshman. The Terps are at North Carolina and State and Duke on Feb. 18 in Raleigh, N.C. and host George Mason on Feb. 20.

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