Maryland Community Newspapers Online
Wrestlter of the Year
Pat Prada, DeMatha, Jr. (112)
The 112-pound junior placed a career-high third at National Preps. He won 61 matches and took tournament titles at the state private school championships, War on the Shore, Arundel and Berkeley Springs. Prada also was a runner-up at Mount Mat Madness and a seventh at Beast of the East. He has 128 wins in his prep career. "If there's a more dedicated wrestler in this sport out there than Pat, I don't know who it is," said DeMatha coach Dick Messier.
Coach of the Year
Pat Colgan, High Point, first year
In a season where declining numbers affected most county programs, the Beltsville school fielded a team for the first time in a decade. Under Colgan, the Eagles had a full lineup, and despite the fact that no one on the roster had ever wrestled before, High Point went 7-6 and finished in the top third of the standings at the 20-team Winter Blitz tournament.
First team
Tito Onyekweli, Eleanor Roosevelt, Fr. (103)
The freshman placed third at the 4A/3A state tournament and pinned all of his opponents in winning the county title for the County North Division champion Raiders as part of a 39-5 campaign.
Sam Yirenkyi, Parkdale, Jr. (119)
The junior defended his county crown with three dominant victories and won his first 27 matches of the season, giving him 84 for his career. He also defended his Winter Blitz title with two quick pins and a major decision and went undefeated at the Churchill Duals.
Mark Inda, Eleanor Roosevelt, Sr., and Jonathan Simmons, DeMatha, Fr. (125)
Inda capped his career with a breakout season, winning 36 matches, and capturing his first county title. He also reached the 4A/3A South Region final for the first time. Simmons won 46 matches in his freshman season, including a consolation crown at the private state tournament. He also placed eighth at National Preps and was named the most outstanding wrestler at the Centennial Duals.
Andrew Bannister, Bishop McNamara, Sr. (130)
The senior's 44 wins included tournament victories at St. Benedict's, the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championships, Damascus and title defenses at South River and Delmarva. He also was the runner-up at the private state tournament and third at National Preps. He finished his career with 207 wins, the fifth-most in state history.
Donovan Daniel, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jr. (135)
Winner of 30 matches, the junior reached his first county and 4A/3A South Region finals, winning the county with a strong late rally. He won two matches at the state tournament.
Andre Wilcox, Oxon Hill, Sr. (140)
The senior capped a solid career by placing fifth at his first 4A/3A state tournament. He won the county title and was the runner-up in the 4A/3A South Region. He also won the Winter Blitz and was a runner-up at the Ed Peery and South River tournaments.
Jordan Murphy, Oxon Hill, Sr. (145)
His last career match was his 100th career win, where he placed third at his first 4A/3A state event. The senior won the county title and earned the Joseph Murphy Award, given annually to the senior who scores the most points in his career at the county tournament. He also won at South River and was the runner-up at Ed Peery and the Winter Blitz.
Josh Sanders, Bowie, Jr. (152)
In his first season with the Bulldogs, the junior had a strong stretch finish that saw him win the county title in a decisive final. He came back from an early-season injury to post more than 20 victories.
Keyshaun Ward, Bowie, Jr. (160)
Steady all season, the junior won the county title and reached the final at the 4A/3A South Region, losing by just a point. His 33 wins included sweeping his opponents at the Patuxent Duals and taking third at South River.
Zane McBride, Charles H. Flowers, Sr. (171)
Picking up career win No. 102 at the 4A/3A state tournament, the Naval Academy-bound senior was 31-4 this season. His fourth-place effort at states was a program-best and he also won his first county crown. He leaves as the most successful wrestler in Flowers history.
Daniel Singh, DeMatha, Sr. (189)
In his second varsity season, the senior won his first Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title as part of a 32-win campaign. He placed eighth at the private state tournament and qualified for National Preps.
Ben Hatef, DeMatha, Sr. (215)
The Naval Academy-bound senior won five tournaments, including his first private state title. He also won at Arundel, War on the Shore and Berkeley Springs and defended his WCAC crown. He placed fourth at National Preps and was 54-5 this season.
Nigel Cross, Oxon Hill (285), Sr.
The senior went undefeated in defending his county and 4A/3A South Region titles. He also racked up victories at the Winter Blitz, Ed Peery and South River, and completed a two-season stretch that saw him win 67 matches for the County South Division champions.
Second team
103: Aaron Jackson (McNamara)
112: Abby Solomon (Oxon Hill) and Toby Onyekweli (Laurel)
119: Seyi Fagbemi (Flowers) and John Chenault (Pallotti)
125: Kelly Quinn (Gwynn Park)
130: Nate Jackson (Roosevelt) and Josh Couto (DeMatha)
135: Pedro Jose Arias (Bladensburg)
140: Joseph Rollins Jr. (Surrattsville), Josh Bressler (Progressive Christian) and Robert Rhodes (Pallotti)
145: Sean-Patrick Meehan (DeMatha) and Joseph Williams (Bladensburg)
152: Eric Delaney (Pallotti) and Robert Bailey (Oxon Hill)
160: Paul Tshikaya (Parkdale) and Nate Tharp (Pallotti)
171: Caleb Jackson (Bowie) and Tyrell Scott (Parkdale)
189: Durrell Thomas (Parkdale) and Denzel Washington (Central)
215: Ralph Parson (Oxon Hill) and Vance Brinkley (Forestville)
285: Isaiah Shelton (Flowers).
