With Harford County’s public schools likely back in session for the remainder of the week, UCBAC wrestlers will be headed for Aberdeen High School, where the UCBAC Wrestling Championship Tournament will be held on Friday and Saturday.

Weigh-ins are scheduled for 3 p.m. and wrestling is planned to get under way at 4 p.m.

On Saturday, more weigh-ins will start the day at 8 a.m. and wrestling should resume at 9 a.m. Championship finals are scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.

When wrestling begins it will be Bel Air that has the bullseye on its back. The Bobcats, who are favored, will try to win their third straight UCBAC title.

The Bobcats have a strong lineup from the bottom up and have five or six grapplers who might be respective weight class favorites.

The official tournament seeding meeting is scheduled for Thursday night.

Among Bel Air’s favorites are sophomore Jeff Taylor at 103 pounds, who will likely see his best challenge from Harford Tech sophomore Tyler Granese.

Three others who will try to interfere with the placings are Havre de Grace junior Jack Cambre, C. Milton Wright freshman Pat Trabert and Patterson Mill freshman Shane Miller.

Justin Lorber, a senior, may be the top seed at 145, but will have to stave off a serious challenge from Fallston freshman Stephen Bachmann, while CMW’s Steve Sheridan may also challenge for a top four finish.

The Bobcats have real strength at four of the heavier weight classes, from 160 through 215.

At 160, senior Blake Calligaro will be a contender, if not the favorite, along with Bo Manor senior Franz Kappel and Patterson Mill senior Alex Oxenburg.

At 171, Bel Air junior Tom Kuegler will be one of the top two, as will Joppatowne junior David Volz. Volz gets the nod, but if he’s absent from the competition, then Kuegler is an easy pick.

The Bobcats have a stronghold on the title hopes at 189 and 215.

At 189, senior Mike Marianetti should have a pretty solid grip on the top spot, though Tech senior Patrick Rivera should provide a tough challenge.

At 215, unbeaten senior Justin Cole will be the clear favorite, but the darkhorse in the entire tourney might be Havre de Grace freshman Mike Vega. Also, Fallston senior Brandon Vecchioni cannot be overlooked.

Two other weight classes the Bobcats might challenge are 135 and 140, but tough opponents loom.

At 135, junior Steve Cross has a good shot, but Fallston senior Austin Mueller will control his own destiny.

At 140, senior Anton Lawhon may also find success, but Rising Sun freshman Anthony Cimorosi stands in the way. Three others, all juniors, to muddy the mix are Tech’s Joey Malanga, Patterson Mill’s Nick Roney and Fallston’s Kris Mannino.

One of the teams that has won the UCBAC crown before and could have a decent amount of success this year is Tech.

The Cobras may not have a big list of champion threats, but they still have a few who garner much attention.

Senior Brandon Gain will be the one to beat at 125. His biggest challenge will likely come from Rising Sun sophomore Robert Rakes and Bel Air senior Dante Leoni.

Junior Jamie Rappazzo will be the favorite at 152 for Tech, with his biggest threats coming from the Cecil County side of the conference in seniors Chris Fahr of Bo Manor and CJ Russell of North East.

Two additional Harford County wrestlers to keep an eye on are Patterson Mill senior Mike Karousos and Fallston senior Ryan Klunk.

Tech’s other good chance comes at 130, where senior Mark Massimini will likely have to upset Rising Sun senior Jason Ribinson for the title. CMW senior Eric Weineke should challenge for a top four placing as well.

Patterson Mill should have at least one champion, with sophomore Zach Cullison ruling a tough 112 class.

Aberdeen junior Shay Velez might be the toughest opponent, but three others who may make problems are Fallston freshman CJ Austin, Rising Sun junior Weston Lynn and Tech junior Brandon Hoch.

Cullison’s teammate, junior Jon Williams, could also be in line for a title at 119, but he will be probably have to beat Rising Sun junior Adam Hefflefinger to win the crown. Tech senior AJ Tutino and Fallston junior Kevin Ambrosich may also make a run.

That leaves the heavyweight class, which some years has supplied some great action, while in other years, not so much.

This year should be one of the good years, even if only in the finals.

CMW senior Eddie Lewis a light heavyweight, but so was Aberdeen’s Karl Edwards, who won two of his three state titles well below the weight of his opponents in 1985 and 1986.

Lewis may not be the top seed, as a result of a loss to Rising Sun senior Andrew Baranski last month.

Lewis and Baranski will make a great final in the tourney’s biggest weight class.

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