Hours before surprising every single person crowded around the 126-pound region final, Michael Queen made history.

Just before noon, the Severna Park senior wrangled a Stephen Decatur freshman to a relatively quick pin in the quarterfinal. What might’ve been a frankly expected chapter for the fourth-ranked 126-pound wrestler in the state, per LegacyWrestling, in a quarterfinal round of the Class 4A/3A East Region championship was, in fact, a rare moment in Anne Arundel County wrestling history.

Queen conquered 167 victories through four years of one of the toughest wrestling areas in the state to become the all-time wins leader in Anne Arundel County. He toppled Chesapeake’s Victor Listorti, who expected to hold the record a little longer when he earned his 166th win in 2022. The previous mark was set all the way back in 2006.

Later that evening, Queen stepped onto the mat to face Leonardtown freshman Dominque Herbert, who was considered a genuine threat to the Severna Park wrestler’s chances despite coming in as a No. 2 seed.

And yet, there really was no contest. Queen had a handle on Herbert from the start, nearly pinning him 21 seconds in before eventually earning the fall at 1 minute and 56 seconds.

“The first time he grabbed my leg,” Queen said. “I knew if he didn’t let go, he was gonna go on his back again. Once he was on his back, I knew I was gonna stick him.”

There’s nothing stopping Queen from battling to a state title now. He earned silver last winter.

“Definitely confident, definitely eager,” Queen said. “Gotta get it.”

His younger brother, freshman Jack Queen, is also bound for states after finishing second overall at 106 pounds, as is fourth-place 144-pound wrestler Andrew Bonk. On the girls’ side, Madison Bullock triumphed at 120 while Blair McDaniel placed third at 170. For girls, the top three in the region advance to states while for co-ed, it’s the top four.

Rarely did the Arundel girls team have a moment of peace during the final rounds. Nine Wildcats stepped on the mat in practically half of the first place and third place simultaneous bouts, and six stood to have their arm raised in victory by an official: Kennedy Barnes (105, pin), Olivia Cambio (115, decision), Camille Rumeau (130, tech), Autumn Read (145, pin), Korede Ojaomo (190, decision) and Laylah Jefferson (235, pin).

Laylah Jefferson was one of nine Arundel girls to qualify for states at the Class 4A/3A East Region finals. (Katherine Fominykh/Staff)

Jefferson hauled her prey into submission only a minute and eight seconds into the match. The sophomore posted a similarly dominant victory at county championships last weekend, among several other triumphs all season — including back-to-back golds at tournaments.

To think, only a year ago, Jefferson had simply picked up a new sport for fun.

“My mindset was just not to worry about it. I worked so hard to get here, so I wanted to put it all on the mat,” Jefferson said. “I felt myself growing. I’ve had really good coaches all season and the support of my parents and my whole family. They’ve helped me become who I am.”

The Wildcats’ Kimora Hussein placed second at 135 while Ava Quinlan (100) took third. On the boys side, Tyler Tablada (120, third), Matteo Brown (157, second) and Marcus Terry (215, fourth) move on to next week, as does heavyweight Pierce Read, who will join his sister at Show Place Arena.

“It means so much,” Jefferson said.

Mikey Groszkowski shook off a bad shoulder and a resilient opponent in Great Mills’ Yasir Ruffin to secure gold at 138 for Annapolis.

Along with Groszkowski, the Panthers will bring several more coed qualifiers: Leo Sfakiyanudis, silver at 144, and Nicolas Chaykovski, who placed fourth at 157. Two girls also qualified: Ellie Katz (110, second) and Hildie Zimmerelli (120, second).

No one from the 4A/3A East is sending more gold medal-bearing boys than South River.

Trent Shipley (120 pounds) easily secured his pin, as did Ethan Burger at 150 and Chris Millard at 175, methodically working their opponents into lopsided finishes.

Burger accidentally socked coach John Klessinger in the nose during practice last week, leaving his coach to sport a few scabs and bruises at regions. Klessinger decided it was worth it.

“It’s nice to see him be successful,” the coach said. “He’s been through a lot and matured a lot.”

Evan Paximadas, gushing blood from a nostril at one point in the third-place match, also proved himself resilient. The senior rallied from a 6-1 deficit to force overtime and take Potomac’s Julian Reyes down for bronze.

“That was a good gut-check win,” Klessinger said. “I’m pleased; it was a little touch-and-go there in overtime.”

Other region results recap

Jack Joseph (138) will move on to coed states for Broadneck, and plenty other Anne Arundel wrestlers in other regions will make their stand for state titles next week.

For 3A duals state and county champion Chesapeake, Quin Greenstreet (113, first), Corey Brown (132, first), Rex Graves (144, third), Owen Collins (165, third), Dean Michael (190, third) and Gavin Lewis (215, second) all qualified automatically for states in the 4A/3A South Region. On the girls side, Lexi Vosburg won the 140 final and will be joined at states by Amber Walker (120, third), Mary Lee (190, third) and Cyleigh Graham (235, second).

Old Mill’s Trey Martini (150, first), Joel Kengeffrey (106, fourth) and heavyweight Austyn Bunn (third) will be moving on.

Severn Run’s De-Shanti Gregory claimed the girls 170-pound title. Farmer Connor placed third at 115, as did Logan Rozanski at 135 while Lea Vranish took second at 140. Wolves male advancers include Jase Ince (120, fourth),

Glen Burnie’s Daniel Canas beat Meade’s Rafatullah Houssaini at 106 pounds at the Class 4A/3A Region championship, but both will advance to states. Fellow Mustangs Savion Markham-Simmons and Jalani Lewis placed second at 113 and 126 while Owen Healy and Antonio Abalama took third at 120 and 132. Girls-wise, Meade will also send Khloe Buckholdt (100, second), Faith Johnson (105, third), Neveah Diaz (110, first), Autumn Austin (115, first), Lilliana Brown (125, second), Olivia Chapman (135, second) and Saibra Liles (155, third).

Glen Burnie also qualified Maddox Parr (150, third), Christian McGuire (165, fourth) and Bash Adebowale (285, third). Gophers girls qualifiers include 100-pound champion Pashince Gregory, Mia Campos (120, third) and Alexis Ogundipe (170, second).

Crofton will send six boys — Nyle Borges (120, second), Dominick Rossi (138, first), Carter Rermgosakul (144, second), Cian Santos (150, second), Cayden Doss (165, second), LaDarian Roulhac (175, third) — as well as 11 girls — Emily Alvarez (100, third), Ruby Russell (105, first), Leticia Roulhac (120, second), Enilvia Soressi (115, second), Nora Kelly (130, third), Breyon Thompson (135, first), Sophia Grey (140, third), Miram Rihane (145, third), Isabella Coe (155, second), Lilah Pabon (170, first) and Katie Huyssoon (190, first).

North County’s Elyjah Allen and Zach Burk finished fourth at 175 and 215 to move on for coed, as will Hailey Conwell (105, second), Carmela Harris (120, first), Fabiola Ayala (125, third), Natalia Jimenez (130, second), Khamarra Knickel (145, first), Reese Butler (155, first) and Jules Nguyen (190, third).

Over at Queen Anne’s High, Southern’s Crystalina Lackey claimed the 100-pound 2A/1A East Region title while Ally Stevens (135) and Nita Henderson (170) placed third , qualifying for 2A girls states.

On the same mats, Northeast’s Kayla Jacques (135), Sophia Hodges (140), Madysen Castle (170) and Natalia Grace Allen (190) captured their region titles while Gema Serio finished second at 145 and Erika Valdovinos placed third at 110. On the boys side, Eagles Blake Harris (138) and Max Schmidt (175), who placed second in the 2A/1A East region, qualified for coed 2A/1A states.

Have a news tip? Contact Katherine Fominykh at kfominykh@baltsun.com or DM @capgazsports on Instagram.