PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Dan DeVivo, Mount St. Joseph, Jr., 160 -- This two-time All-Metro wrestler is simply the most overwhelming, talented junior in the state and was the Baltimore City Wrestler of the Year. DeVivo (107-12 for his career) has a 53-match winning streak against Maryland wrestlers dating back to his 5-1 freshman-season victory over Loyola's Andy Smith for third place in the National Preps. Top-ranked, two-time Maryland Scholastic Association champ DeVivo (35-3, 16 pins, five technical falls this year), an MSA runner-up as a freshman, was second in the preps last year and first this year. His streak includes victories over Old Mill's state champ Marc Proccacini and a pin of Northeast's state champ Al Grunder. This year, he tech-falled Charles County McDonough's 3A-4A state champ Chris Brown up at 171, twice beat St. Paul's fifth-ranked, MSA champ Pete Karvounis also at 171, and three times beat Baltimore County McDonogh's third-ranked, two-time MSA runner-up Martius Harding (third National Preps). DeVivo registered his 16th pin of the season for the National Preps title. He had his second straight tournament crowns at Curley and Annapolis and his third at Chesapeake with a 37-second pin. DeVivo (an A student) was an overtime runner-up at the St. Mark's Tournament to Delaware's state champ. Buddy Hepfer, Arundel -- In his 24th season, Hepfer took only three wrestlers to the states, but had two champs and a runner-up as Arundel finished fourth out of 63 teams. Hepfer, whose framework is the standard used for many tournaments in Anne Arundel County, also came to the rescue with a game plan when this year's weekend county tournament seemed unworkable after an ice storm forced it to be moved to Tuesday and Thursday. Hepfer (205-79-4) became Anne Arundel County's first coach to reach the 200-career dual-meet victory milestone. Thereafter, however, injuries and ineligibility ravaged his squad. After watching 119-pounder Phil Meenan fail to finish in the top four of the county tournament, Hepfer pushed Meenan to win region and state titles over the next two weeks. Hepfer also pushed junior Mark Chesla (152) to win county, regional and state crowns, and senior heavyweight John Noon to a county title and runner-up finishes in the regions and states, although neither Chesla nor Noon had wrestled before their freshman seasons. Gino Amasia, Calvert Hall, Jr., 103 -- Amasia (24-1) is a quick-moving, muscular wrestler who had everything over most opponents, including mat acumen and strength, using it to rack up 14 pins en route to his second straight MSA crown. Top-ranked by the Maryland State Wrestling Association and unbeaten in the state, Amasia won the MSA Tournament's award for scoring the most points for his team. He lost his National Prep title bout, 5-2.
Juri Freeman, Oakland Mills, Sr., 103 -- No. 3-ranked Freeman (11 pins, five technical falls) went unbeaten in the state, capturing his second straight county title and adding regional and state titles, the latter on a third-period reversal over Edgewood's Thomas Free (19-2) for a come-from-behind, 2-1 decision. Freeman (33-1) beat his other three state tournament opponents by a combined 14-4, and also had a come-from-behind, 3-2 decision of Dulaney's county champ and 3A-4A state runner-up Mike Kassolis (31-4).
Marty Kusick, Northeast, Jr., 112 -- This second-ranked, three-time county and regional champ won his second straight state title, 7-6, over Baltimore City's third-ranked, two-time city and MSA champ Bruce Pendles (28-2) of Dunbar. In the states, Kusick (29-1, 16 pins, four technical falls) also beat Montgomery County champ Randy Pickett (31-3, 27 pins) of Damascus and North Carroll's fifth-ranked, state runner-up Doug Dell (34-4). A repeat All-Metro pick, Kusick also beat Old Mill's third-ranked state champ Jason Bryant (32-2) for the county crown. His only loss came by 5-3 against DeMatha's top-ranked, two-time National Prep champ Todd Beckerman (100-1 over two seasons), whose only career loss came by 8-7 against Kusick.
Mike Kusick, Northeast, Jr., 119 -- The Kusick brothers were Anne Arundel County's co-Wrestlers of the Year for the second straight season. Top-ranked Mike (30-0, 11 pins, eight technical falls) reached the state finals for the third straight season, flattening Cecil County North East's No. 2-ranked Tim Taylor (27-4) for his second straight state crown. This repeat All-Metro pick had three wins over Severna Park's No. 3-ranked Jamie Kuch, who was third in the states this year and second last year.
Gary Harris, Randallstown, Sr., 125 -- Top-ranked Harris (30-0, 25 pins) became Baltimore County's second-ever four-time champ, won his third regional crown, became a two-time state champ and was Baltimore County's Wrestler of the Year. Harris racked up a 120-4 career and a 62-match winning streak since losing his sophomore state-title bout, 5-3. The Outstanding Wrestler at both the Senior All-Star Classic and the McDonogh Tournament, Harris has wins over Mount St. Joseph's sixth-ranked MSA champ Russell Fecteau, Northeast's fourth-ranked state runner-up Matt Jewer and -- up at 135 -- Dulaney's fifth-ranked state runner-up Alex Leanos (32-3). He pinned Frederick's Tim Fields (third in the states) in 1:55.
Steve Kessler, Owing Mills, Fresh., 130 -- Second-ranked Kes sler (36-0, 14 pins, eight technical falls) became the state's first unbeaten freshman champ and is The Baltimore Sun's first freshman All-Metro. Kessler displayed surprising poise and composure as he overcame a 4-1 deficit to win his 1A-2A state-title bout in overtime against Northeast's fourth-ranked Matt Jewer (29-2, 19 pins, two technical falls). Kessler, who weighed below 130 all year, beat three seniors to win the title.
David Inkman, Mount St. Joseph, Jr., 130 -- Inkman (29-4) was top-ranked throughout the year and went unbeaten in the state, including titles at Annapolis, Curley, Chesapeake, the MSAs and a victory over two-time 3A-4A state champ Tim Novak (Frederick). Inkman was fourth at St. Mark's and in the National Preps, with one of two losses being to the eventual National Prep champ.
Randy Owings, Francis Scott Key, Jr., 135 -- Second-ranked Owings (30-1, 12 pins), a two-time Carroll County Wrestler of the Year and a repeat All-Metro pick, won his third straight county title and his second straight 1A-2A title. He won his state-title bout by 5-0 over Dunbar's sixth-ranked Hermondoz Thompson (26-3), a Baltimore City and regional champ and an MSA runner-up. Owings (85-5-1 over three seasons) was dethroned as region champ, 5-3, by co-No. 2-ranked Tommy Kiler (34-2) of North Carroll -- an earlier 5-3 loser to Owings. Owings won his third straight titles at the South Hagerstown and Francis Scott Key tournaments, and beat Mount St. Joseph's fifth-ranked Tyran Dungee at the Annapolis Tournament.
Steve Truitt, St. Paul's, Sr., 135 -- A repeat All-Metro selection, third-ranked Truitt (25-1, 13 pins) edged Dunbar's sixth-ranked, state runner-up Hermondoz Thompson (26-3) by 3-1 for his second straight MSA crown. Truitt also had wins over DeMatha's No. 2-ranked Jerry Sloan, Mount St. Joseph's fifth-ranked Tyran Dungee (twice), DuVall's state runner-up Cardell Bolden and Hammond's Brian Law (fourth states).
Paul Scott, Mount St. Joseph, Sr., 140 -- Top-ranked Scott (28-4) was champ at Annapolis, Curley, Chesapeake and the MSAs, and a National Prep runner-up, becoming the first four-time champ at Chesapeake. He wrestled the MSAs and Preps despite a partially separated shoulder. DeMatha's No. 6 Robert Alexander, No. 2 Steve Smiddy (Northeast) and No. 4 Benny Ferro (Bullis) all were unbeaten before facing Scott.
Zac Yinger, Francis Scott Key, Jr., 145 -- Second-ranked Yinger (33-1, 13 pins, seven technical falls) had Carroll County's best record and won the 1A-2A state title, 10-3, over Lackey's region champ Ryan Hersey (32-2). The two-time county and one-time regional champ captured tournament crowns at South Hagerstown and Francis Scott Key, the latter with a 21-second pin of Old Mill's regional champ Mike DiLeonardi. Yinger's only loss came when he pinned himself while leading Bullis' fourth-ranked Benny Ferro (34-2), who was fourth at the National Preps.
Chris Williams, Hammond, Sr., 152 -- Second-ranked Williams (35-3), Howard County's Wrestler of the Year and the Bears' second-ever state champ, set a school record for victories in a season. Williams' signature move was a blistering, single-leg takedown that kept opponents at bay. Williams (17 pins, five technical falls) won his second county crown in three seasons, was a regional champ, beat Smithsburg's No. 2-ranked David Everhart (26-2) in the state semifinals and defeated Aberdeen's sixth-ranked Chad Gurrera (29-2) in the title bout. A week earlier, Williams dethroned Rockville's fourth-ranked, defending regional champ John King (33-3) by 1-0 in the regional semifinals. He lost only 5-3 to Riverdale Baptist's top-ranked Jeremy Young (third in the National Preps).
Mike Green, Wilde Lake, Sr., 171 -- Top-ranked state champion Green (21-2, nine pins) works off a single-leg attack that helped to win his third county and regional crowns and a state crown after being third and fourth the previous years. Green's impressive victories include a pin of then-No. 1-ranked Nathan Kmieciak (33-2), a 25-second pin of St. Paul's fourth-ranked MSA champ Pete Karvounis, a major decision over 3A-4A state champ Chris Brown (30-5) of Charles County McDonough and decisions over North Carroll's third-ranked Chris Boog (32-2) and Catoctin's No. 2-ranked Shane Tiffany (31-1).
J. R. Plienis, McDonogh, Soph., 189 -- Top-ranked Plienis (28-3, 19 pins) often used a headlock and beat six state-ranked wrestlers, with a pin of Poly's fourth-ranked city and regional champ Rashad Kitchen (fourth in the 3A-4A states). Plienis, nationally ranked in three wrestling styles, won the McDonogh, Smithsburg and MSA tournaments, and went 4-1 against Gilman's fourth-ranked Jamie Biddison.
Darrel Mance, Woodlawn, Sr., Hvy, (30-0) -- Top-ranked Mance (235 pounds), the first state champ in Woodlawn's history, wrestles like a lighter weight. He won his second straight state title, 3-1, over Arundel's fourth-ranked John Noon (29-2). A county and two-time regional champ, Mance pinned North County's fifth-ranked Corey Fowler and tech-falled Overlea's state runner-up Mike Knoedler. His state championship field included five of the state's top-ranked wrestlers. In all, Mance faced four wrestlers who were ranked at some point.