WORTON — Weather-related early dismissals and school cancellations last Friday pushed back the season openers for Kent County High School’s basketball and wrestling programs.
In boys basketball, KCHS’ scheduled tip-off against Washington High School for Friday will be played here today — the junior varsity at 4 p.m. and the varsity at about 5:30 p.m. Melvin “MJ” Freeman (junior varsity) and Vontrell Coles (varsity) will be making their head coaching debuts as Trojans.
Kent County’s boys will play at home for the first five games — weather permitting: today (Monday, Dec. 8) against Washington; tomorrow against Cambridge-South Dorchester; Thursday against border rival Queen Anne’s; Dec. 16 against North Caroline; and Dec. 18 against St. Michaels.
Thursday, Dec. 11 is a triple-header against Queen Anne’s, with junior varsity boys playing at 3:30 p.m., varsity girls at 5 p.m. and varsity boys at 6:30 p.m. Kent County High School in partnership with the 4-H Holiday Toy Drive, sponsored by Kent County 4-H’ers, will host a Teddy Bear Toss. Free admission will be offered to spectators who bring a teddy bear or stuffed animal to throw out on the court during the halftime show of the varsity boys game. All stuffed animals will be donated to the 4-H Holiday Toy Drive.
Kent County’s girls’ first basketball game is tomorrow at Cambridge.
Meantime, the Trojans did get some mat time this past weekend at the Andy Perez Memorial Tournament hosted by Cambridge. The traditional kickoff for KCHS and most of the other schools on the Mid-Shore was condensed from two days to just one — Saturday, Dec. 6. This year there were 16 teams.
KCHS filled eight of the 14 weight classes, taking “the vets and a few guys with some experience,” head coach Chris Yiannakis said in a Facebook post.
Senior Scottie Ford was crowned the 165-pound champion, while junior Landon Merritt (132 pounds) and senior Noah Iacona (144 pounds) placed fifth in their respective weight classes.
Also competing were Owen Highland (126), Nate Daley (138), Noel Farinacci (150), Barrett Gruszynski (157) and Aiden Butler (175).
KCHS will host its annual Holiday Tournament this weekend, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12-13. This will be the 52nd edition of what is said to be one of the longest-running high school wrestling events in Maryland.
