1998 Washington Post All-Met Wrestlers Selection (Maryland Wrestlers Only)

Wrestler of the Year

Willie Harris III DeMatha Senior. 119 pounds. Repeat All-Met. National Prep champion won his fourth WCAC and third Maryland Independent championships. Finished 60-1 this season with 22 technical falls and 15 pins. Outstanding wrestler at WCAC, St. Albans, Maryland Catholic and Arundel invitational. Career record of 173-35.

Coach of the Year

Bill Smith Hammond High School. Led Columbia school to 18-0 dual record and its first Maryland 2A/1A title. Golden Bears won Maryland South Region and Howard County titles. Career record of 99-11 in seven seasons at Hammond.

FIRST TEAM

103 Brandon Lauer, River Hill, Sophomore Record: 34-0 Maryland 2A/1A champion. First in Howard County, Maryland 2A/1A South Region. Had 17 pins, five technical falls this season.

112 Chris Combs. Old Mill, Junior. 24-2 Repeat All-Met. Won second straight Maryland 4A/3A title. Three-time Anne Arundel County champion.

112 Vaymond Dennis, Hammond. Junior 39-5. Maryland 2A/1A champion. First in Howard County 2A/1A South Region.

119 Bobby Monday, Sherwood. Senior 32-1. Repeat All-Met. Won second straight Maryland 4A/3A title. Two-time Montgomery County and West Region champion. Career record 119-22.

119 Patrick Howard, Lackey. Senior. 39-0. Maryland 2A/1A champion also won SMAC and Maryland South Region titles. First wrestler in school history to finish season undefeated.

125 Tony Rodrigues, Seneca Valley, sophomore. 15-1 Maryland 4A/3A state and West Region champion. Second in Montgomery.

130 Frank Edwards IV, Sherwood, sophomore. 34-3. First in Maryland 4A/3A and West Region. First at Northern tournament.

140 Tony Howard, Magruder, sophomore. 37-1. Maryland 4A/3A champion won titles in Montgomery and West Region tournaments. Outstanding wrestler at Hub Cup and Big “M” invitational. Had 26 pins.

140 Drew Robertson, DeMatha, Junior. 54-4. Repeat All-Met. National Prep champion. Three-time WCAC winner.

145 Jimmy O’Connor, Glenelg, Senior. 33-1. Repeat All-Met. Won second straight Maryland 2A/1A title. Three-time Howard County and South Region champion.

152 W T Aye, North County, Senior. 28-2 Maryland 4A/3A champion is first state titlist in school history. First in Anne Arundel and East Region. Career record of 79-27.

160 Rob Connolly, Arundel, Senior. 35-0. Maryland 4A/3A champion won titles at Anne Arundel County, East Region and Arundel High tournaments 4A/3A. Had 21 pins. Career record of 98-13.

171 Wes Cummings, DeMatha, Senior. 54-4. Repeat All-Met. Winner at National Preps, WCAC, St. Albans and Arundel tournaments. Career record of 155-16.

189 Deagan Smith, Bullis. Senior, 44-6. First in IAC and Damascus Holiday tournaments. Second in Maryland Independents, third at National Preps. Career record of 106-35.

SECOND TEAM

103: Bryan Santangelo, Quince Orchard; William McKinney, Patuxent

112: Kevin Bryant, Bladensburg; Mike Lee, Sherwood; Nick Delonga, DeMatha; Derek Dauberman, River Hill.

119: Pat Ortman, Arundel; Kevin Gabrielson, Northern.

125: Tim Lowe, Einstein; Chris Gahl, Walter Johnson; Aron Dorsey, Quince Orchard Jacob Kirby, Lackey; Anthony Powell, McNamara.

130: Scott Osborn, Hammond; Joey Garvin, Damascus.

135: Anthony Gigliotti, Sherwood; Joe Hinshaw, Westlake.

140: Jason Reynolds, Laurel; Daunte Neal, Lackey.

145: Jon Palmer, Bullis; Rich Sinkovitz, E. Roosevelt; Andrew Hemminger, Annapolis.

152: Brian Bunting, Bullis; Sylar Saar, Good Counsel.

160: Keith Puller, Chesapeake.

171: Jimmy Stone, Northern; Quentin Milroe, Oakland Mills.

189: Jon Balatbat, Edison; Matt Pecha, DeMatha.

215: Barrett Diefenderfer, Landon;

Heavyweight: Matt Nelson, Hammond; Jay Frizzelle, Oakland Mills; Jeff Blachly, Arundel; Kareem Licorish, Bullis.

HONORABLE MENTION

103: Jeff Eveleth, Chesapeake.

112: Nick Alley, Southern; Jesse McKeever, Lackey; Matt Pandullo, Meade; Dan Hemminger, Annapolis;.

119: Chris DeAdder, Old Mill; Bob Couch, Northeast;

125: Brian Schroeder, Arundel; Kevin Sutton, Oakland Mills; Bill Valentine, DeMatha.

130: Ryan Howard, Chesapeake; Jermaine Barnes, Calvert.

135: Rich Sampson, Old Mill; Brandyn Hardnett, Gwynn Park; Danny Embrey, Hammond; Justin Haynes, Good Counsel.

140: Jason Poore, Calvert.

145: Graham Harris, Arundel; Antoine Cooksey, Old Mill

152: Ray Martin, Potomac; Scott McAdoo, Calvert; Kyle Woods, DeMatha.

160: Gabe Pankhurst, LaPlata; David Young, McDonough; Adam Clark, Hammond.

171: Chris McNally, McDonough; Tom Cain, Northeast;

189: Paul Sheran, Calvert; Paul Duffy, Oakland Mills; Zac Cox, McDonough, Michawn Yuvienco, North County.

Heavyweight: James Taylor, Northeast; Jason Johnson, Seneca Valley.

The Selection Process

Coaches at more than 240 high schools in the Washington metropolitan area were asked to submit nominations of wrestlers on their team and opposing teams.

Selections made by Greg Brice of The Washington Post’s scholastic staff.

1998 Baltimore Sun All-Metro Wrestling

Wrestler of the Year

Jason Leneau, Boys’ Latin, Sr., 171 (46-1): Top-ranked Leneau, with a school-record 130 career wins, was ranked No. 2 nationally. He won his third MIAA crown, his second state title and was runner-up at the National Preps for the second time in his career. Leneau was 39-0 after his last-second, 11-9 state title win over then-No. 2-ranked National Preps champ Wes Cummings (DeMatha), a two-time state champ. Leneau was The Outstanding Wrestler in events at the state tournament, Damascus and Curley. As a junior, Leneau, headed for the University of Virginia to play lacrosse, was the MIAA tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler. Leneau this year beat third-ranked, two-time city champ Leonard Bridgeforth (Patterson), fourth-ranked state champ Terry Lawson (Overlea) and pinned sixth-ranked region champ Quinton Milroe (Oakland Mills). The 3.4 student is the Lakers’ SGA parliamentarian, a debate club member and a school chorus baritone

Coach of the Year

Alan Gebhart, Curley: Never a wrestler, Gebhart learned what he knows about the sport by attending clinics and reading books. He organized tough practices and delegated authority to knowledgeable assistants Tim Schoen, Kirk Salvo, Dan Robinson and Scott Osborn. “He’s a good teacher and knows how to get your attention,” said 145-pound junior Matt Charvat, adding that Gebhart uses famous quotes, passages and “is a good motivator.” The Friars earned their first-ever No. 1 area and state ranking by beating Maryland’s best, winning their first-ever private schools’ state title. Curley whipped this year’s 1A-2A duals and tournament champ Hammond, this year’s 3A-4A tournament champ Arundel, and National Preps champ DeMatha. Curley also beat last year’s 1A-2A duals and tournament champ Lackey and last year’s 3A-4A tournament champ Sherwood. The Friars disposed of last year’s MIAA champ Mount St. Joseph and this year’s MIAA champ Calvert Hall. Winner of its own Catholic Invitational for the first time ever, Curley suffered its only in-state losses by a combined 2 1/2 points against St. Joe (dual meet) and Calvert Hall (tournament). The wins over DeMatha and St. Joe were Curley’s first-ever. The Friars’ fifth-place at National Preps was their highest ever.

The first team

WT Aye, North County, Sr., 152 (28-2): Aye became his program’s first 3A-4A state champion with his 9-5 decision over then-No. 2-ranked Ivan Zdanov of Frederick. Aye, now ranked No. 1 in the state, was the underdog against Zdanov, an earlier 4-0 winner over 1A-2A state champ Roy Orr (Rising Sun). Aye took 1:05 to pin Aberdeen’s sixth-ranked Harford County and region runner-up Chris Orio (28-1 coming in), and beat Carroll County champ John Muse (Westminster), 14-1.

Mike Boettcher, Curley, Sr., 140 (47-3): Ranked No. 2 in the state, Boettcher was a three-time MIAA champ, state runner-up after twice winning titles, and fourth at the National Preps. Boettcher scored 66 takedowns and had 23 pins, along the way beating Gwynn Park’s Hardnett twins, region champ Brandyn and state runner-up Ivan; two-time Montgomery County champ and state runner-up Anthony Gigliotti (Sherwood); MIAA runner-up Kyle Chiaverini (St. Joe); and Arundel’s county and region runner-up Steve Banvard. Boettcher, who pinned 1A-2A runner-up Dennis Perry (Dunbar), has school records for career wins (141), career takedowns (215) and pins (68), along with single-season records for wins (47) and pins (23). Boettcher (1,330 SAT) is considering the Army, Navy and Air Force academies.

Chris Combs, Old Mill, Jr., 119 (24-2): Ranked No. 1 in the state, Combs wrestled 112 and 119. He continued his quest to become the Patriots’ first three-time 3A-4A state champ, winning his second crown over Bladensburg’s county and region champ Kevin Bryant (34-1 coming in) by 12-5. Other big wins came over 1A-2A champ Nick Alley (Southern), three-time Carroll County and region champ Bobby Biden (Westminster) and 3A-4A 119-pound state runner-up Pat Ortman (Arundel).

Rob Connolly, Arundel, Sr., 160 (35-0): This county, region and state champ was a master of the cradle pinning combination. No. 1- ranked Connolly, Anne Arundel County’s Wrestler of the Year, beat North County’s state champ WT Aye, Eastern Tech’s two-time county champ Hector Santana, Chesapeake-AA’s county and region runner-up Keath Puller (three times), South Carroll’s two-time county champ Jason Hamper (twice) and pinned McDonough-Charles County’s third-place state finisher David Young. Connolly was third at states as a junior.

Damien Davis, Gilman, Jr., 189 (39-2): Second-ranked Davis (81-15 career) hammered Aberdeen’s fourth-ranked state runner-up Matt Kunkel, 15-0, and Laurel’s sixth-ranked county and region champ Ricardo Walker, 14-0, and later pinned Walker. Davis also has wins over Bullis’ No. 3 Daegan Smith and DeMatha’s No. 5 Matt Pecha. Davis won both the private schools states and MIAAs after twice being a runner-up in both events. Davis has a 3.4 grade average and scored 1,110 on his PSAT. Davis was a second-team All-Metro in both lacrosse and football.

Mike Faust, Gilman, So., Hwt. (49-3): Top-ranked Faust (210 pounds) overcame larger opponents, pinning Montgomery County and region champ Juan Reyna (Magruder) in 1: 44, beating Rising Sun’s state champ Ben Brand, 3-1, and also, Bullis’ then-No. 1 Kareem Licorish, in overtime. Down at 189 early on, Faust won the Annapolis Tournament over Centennial’s county and region champ Justin Rix (third states), and later beat Bullis’ then-No. 2 Daegan Smith in overtime to win the McDonogh Tournament. A champion in tournaments at Northern, MIAAs and private schools’ states, Faust finished fourth at National Preps after losing his overtime semifinal to the eventual champ. He carries a 3.6 grade average and is a Dean’s List member.

Will Filbert, McDonogh, Sr., 112 (35-7): Filbert (15 pins) became the state’s first three-time private schools state champ, and finished second in the MIAAs after twice winning titles the previous years. Filbert also was a National Prep finalist this year, losing to the same wrestler he pinned for last year’s National Preps title. Filbert finishes his career with a 103-11 record. Undecided about his future, Filbert (1,060 SAT score) is considering several colleges, along with Blair Academy Prep School, the nation’s No. 1 ranked prep wrestling program.

Chris Hanlon, Calvert Hall, Sr., 125 (44-3): No. 2-ranked Hanlon decked three-time Carroll County and region champ Bobby Biden and beat Old Mill’s two-time state champ Chris Combs on the same day. Hanlon, who wrestled both at 119 and 125, also won tournaments at Annapolis, Curley, MIAAs and private school states, and was third at National Preps. Other big wins came over St. Joe’s wrestlers Steve Lanciotti (MIAA champ, state runner-up) and Nick Salmon (MIAA runner-up) and Damascus’ Montgomery County and region runner-up Nick O’Gwynn. His school-record 165 career wins includes being a three-time state finalist, a two-time MIAA champ (he also was third once) and twice being third at the National Preps. Hanlon is considering Pennsylvania’s Hill Prep School.

David Heath, Parkville, Sr., 135 (36-0): Heath (17 pins) allowed only six points and pinned five opponents over his final 11 bouts, winning county, region and state titles despite no junior league experience. Heath pinned Southern Maryland Athletic Conference king Joe Hinshaw (Westlake), and beat both Sherwood’s two-time Montgomery County and region champ Anthony Gigliotti (second states) and Owings’ Mills’ county and two-time region champ Drew Bowers, who twice was fourth at the states. Heath also beat Dulaney’s county and region champ Matt Bulloch (third states), Carroll County champ Tim Sharkey (Westminster), two-time city champ Corey Rideout (Northern) and Old Mill’s two-time Anne Arundel champ Rich Sampson (fourth at states).

Rob Johns, Calvert Hall, Sr., 135 (41-6): Johns was a state champ, twice a runner-up and also a third-place finisher in four seasons. He’s the first four-time MIAA finalist, winning three titles. Johns’ 157 career wins rank second all-time behind Hanlon, and he ranks first all-time with 95 career pins. As a junior, Johns had the most single-season wins (51) and pins (33) in Calvert Hall history. Johns also holds the school record for the fastest fall (nine seconds). This year, Johns beat state runner-up Brian McDermott (St. Joe), MIAA runner-up P.J. Kirhagis (Curley), 3A-4A state runner-up Joey Garvin (Damascus), MIAA runner-up Kyle Chiaverini (St. Joe) and Paul Boettcher (Curley). West Point, Brown, Franklin & Marshall, Drexel, Maryland and Johns Hopkins are recruiting Johns, who was champ at Annapolis and Curley and was second at the National Preps after being third last year.

Chris Knox, Calvert Hall, Jr., 103 (40-3): Knox was first at Curley, Annapolis, the MIAAs and at the private schools state tournament. Knox pinned Old Mill’s county champ and region runner-up Adam DeCosmo, beat National Preps champ Cory Cooperman at the Gilman Duals, and also moved up to beat McDonogh’s Will Filbert in a dual meet. Knox (19 pins) was third at this year’s National Preps tournament.

Brandon Lauer, River Hill, sophomore, 103 (34-0): No. 2-ranked Lauer (17 pins) was Howard County’s Wrestler of the Year and his school’s first state champ after winning counties and regions. Lauer beat the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers at states. Those wrestlers suffered six of their combined eight losses against Lauer. Big wins came over district and region champ Eric Kuczinsky (Williamsport), county and region champ John Narlis (Towson, three times) and Kevin Stine of Mardella (twice), last year’s state runner-up.

Terry Lawson, Overlea, Sr., 171 (36-1): Lawson won his second straight county and region crowns and his first 1A-2A state title after being a runner-up. This year’s wins were a single-season record, and his 100 career wins, second all-time at Overlea. Lawson beat Kenwood’s county and region runner-up Matt Myrick, and Northern of Calvert’s two-time state runner-up Jimmy Stone, and twice lost to Boys’ Latin’s Jason Leneau by two points.

Jimmy O’Connor, Glenelg, Sr., 145 (33-1): This repeat All-Metro first-teamer won his second straight state and regional titles, and third straight Howard County title. Second-ranked O’Connor (112 career wins, 65-1 the last two years) beat St. Paul’s MIAA and state champ Keith Helman, two-time county and region champ Mike Muller (South Carroll) and is considering Duke or James Madison.

Tony Russo, Calvert Hall, Jr., 130 (42-5): Russo (16 pins) is a two-time MIAA champ and won his first state title after being a runner-up. Big wins came over Rising Sun’s Cecil County and region champ Dave Stammler (fourth in states), MIAA champ Mike Frey (Curley), Carroll County champ Kyle Burger (Westminster, fourth states), two-time city champ Victor Ghee (Northern) and MIAA runner-up P.J. Kirhagis (Curley). Russo (116 career wins) was champ at the Curley and Annapolis tournaments.

Matt Yinger, F.S. Key, Sr., 135 (28-0): Yinger, ranked No. 2 in the state, joined older brother Zac (twice) as a state champion. Despite missing the first two weeks with a shoulder injury that nagged him throughout the year, Yinger pinned Catoctin’s district and region champ Chad Dewees, a state runner-up, and twice beat Northern of Garrett’s fifth-ranked Jesse Shimrock, including a fall in 5: 06 of their state final. He also beat Westminster’s county and region runner-up Tim Sharkey.

First team

Weight, Name, School, Year

103, Chris Knox, Calvert Hall, Junior

103, Brandon Lauer, River Hill, Sophomore

112, Will Filbert, McDonogh, Senior

119, Chris Combs, Old Mill, Junior

125, Chris Hanlon, Calvert Hall, Senior

130, Tony Russo, Calvert Hall, Junior

135, Rob Johns, Calvert Hall, Senior

135, David Heath, Parkville, Senior

135, Matt Yinger, Francis Scott Key, Senior

140, Mike Boettcher, Curley, Senior

145, Jimmy O’Connor, Glenelg, Senior

152, WT Aye, North County, Senior

160, Rob Connolly, Arundel, Senior

171, Terry Lawson, Overlea, Senior

171, Jason Leneau, Boys’ Latin, Senior

189, Damien Davis, Gilman, Junior

Hwt, Mike Faust, Gilman, Sophomore

Second team

103, Fran Jackson, North Carroll, Freshman

112, Vaymond Dennis, Hammond, Junior

112, Matt Pandullo, Meade, Junior

112, Steve Lanciotti, Mount St. Joe, Sophomore

119, Pat Ortman, Arundel, Junior

125, Matt Bulloch, Dulaney, Senior

130, James Axel, Aberdeen, Senior

135, Kyle Chiaverini, Mount St. Joseph, Senior

140, Dennis Perry, Dunbar, Senior

145, Keith Helman, St. Paul’s, Senior

145, Paul Boettcher, Curley, Junior

152, Ron Cooper, Mount St. Joseph, Senior

160, Keath Puller, Chesapeake-AA, Senior

160, Hector Santana, Eastern Tech, Senior

171, Jason Hamper, South Carroll, Senior

189, Matt Kunkel, Aberdeen, Junior

Hwt, Jeremiah Albright, Bel Air, Senior

Team selection

The Baltimore Sun 1997-98 All-Metro wrestling teams were selected by Lem Satterfield after consultation with The Sun staff and area coaches.