WRESTLER OF THE YEAR
River Curtis, 138-pounder, Sr., Battlefield
A powerful thrower with a penchant for racking up quick pins, the Battlefield star senior joined rare company by winning his fourth Virginia state title. The 138-pounder placed fifth at Escape the Rock and seventh at Powerade before helping Battlefield win its first state team title. He balanced supreme expectations with unshakable confidence. "He never really gets rattled," Coach Brian Shaffer said. He will wrestle at the Naval Academy.
FIRST TEAM
Jonathan Birchmeier, 285-pounder, Jr., Broad Run
The three-time Virginia state champion finished the season 46-0, scoring Escape the Rock, Beast of the East, Hub Cup and NOVA Classic championships. The Naval Academy commitment was taken down once all season.
Tristin Breen, 170-pounder, Sr., Huntingtown
He finished his high school career with 163 wins, earning conference, region and state titles as a senior. He was named outstanding wrestler at the Cavalier Duals.
Jack Connolly, 138-pounder, Sr., Churchill
The three-time state place-winner avenged losses in the county and regional tournaments to finish his career with his first state championship.
Zac Feight, 152-pounder, Sr., Battlefield
The two-time state champion placed at Beast of the East (sixth), Powerade (seventh) and Escape the Rock (fourth). He will wrestle at George Mason.
Yonas Harris, 106-pounder, Sr., Northwest
He won 46 of 47 matches as a senior, capping his career by sweeping to county, regional and state championships.
Aaron Howell, 113-pounder, Sr., Robinson
The repeat All-Met placed at Escape the Rock and was a state runner-up. He hopes to walk on to the team at the U.S. Military Academy.
Jason Kraisser, 145-pounder, Jr., Centennial
The Mount Mat Madness champion went 39-0 as he won county, regional and state championships for the third time. He's a three-time All-Met.
Tyler Matheny, 182-pounder, Sr., Lake Braddock
The two-time state champion took first at War on the Shore, NOVA Classic and John Champe Cancer Classic. He will play football at Virginia Tech.
Johnny McLaughlin, 126-pounder, Jr., Damascus
He took second at War on the Shore before sweeping to county, region and state championships.
Thomas Mukai, 220-pounder, Jr., Robinson
The two-time state champion was seventh at Beast of the East and fourth at Escape the Rock.
Paul Purkey, 195-pounder, Sr., Damascus
The county and regional champion suffered a head injury that ended his hopes of repeating as state champion. The repeat All-Met was a War on the Shore runner-up. He will wrestle at Maryland next year.
King Sandoval, 120-pounder, Sr., St. Mary's Ryken
The three-time All-Met battled through a minor fracture and multiple torn ligaments in his right hand to take third at the National Prep championships. The War on the Shore champion, conference champion and Beast of the East placer will wrestle at Maryland next season.
Nathan Thacker, 160-pounder, Sr., Gonzaga
The two-time National Prep championships runner-up and four-time all-American anchored Gonzaga as it won the D.C. championship.
Nathaniel White, 132-pounder, Sr., Bowie
The repeat All-Met transferred from DeMatha to win Bowie's first state championship in 30 years.
Brandon Wittenberg, 120-pounder, Jr., Battlefield
The two-time All-Met won his third state title and placed sixth at Escape the Rock.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Milton Yates, Gonzaga
The Gonzaga alumnus won two D.C. titles and a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title as a competitor before returning to his alma mater as head coach in 2002-03. Inheriting a team with just eight wrestlers, he spearheaded a turnaround that yielded a third city championship this season. He helped guide Nathan Thacker to 193 career wins and was named national prep coach of the year. Gonzaga's wrestling room is named for his late father, Melvin S. Yates Sr., who paved the way for Milton and his brother, Melvin S. Yates Jr., to attend the school.
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