Wrestler of the Year
VINCE TAWEEL, HAMMOND
Taweel is the first Howard County wrestler to begin his high school career with two state titles, winning the 125-pound 2A/1A title as a freshman and the 130-pound championship this season. He also is a two-time county and 2A/1A South Region champion and finished the season 41-1, raising his career record to 75-6. He led the Golden Bears (26-0) to their first county title since 1999 and first 2A/1A state dual meet tournament title since 1998 by posting team highs in wins (41) and takedowns (152).
Coach of the Year
PEDRO BARBOSA, HAMMOND
Fifth-year coach guided the Golden Bears to a school-record 26 victories and their first 2A/1A state dual meet tournament title in seven years, improving his career record to 71-24. A former Hammond heavyweight who won an individual county title in 1994, Barbosa also guided the undefeated Golden Bears to their first county title since 1999 by dethroning five-time defending champion River Hill. Hammond won the 2A/1A South Region tournament and placed second at the state tournament, its best showing since 2001. Barbosa helped develop strong competitors in every weight class, an effort that paid off when a school-record 10 wrestlers finished with at least 30 victories.
First Team
103 pounds, DANNY BICHNER, Glenelg, Fr.: Placed third at the 2A/1A state tournament after winning county and 2A/1A South Region titles to finish 32-3.
112, CHRIS STINNETT, Glenelg, Fr.: Took fifth at the 2A/1A state tournament after winning county and 2A/1A South Region titles to finish 30-6.
119, ETHAN COHEN, Hammond, Sr.: Won county and 2A/1A South Region titles before losing in the final at the 2A/1A state tournament to finish 35-3. Two-time All-County selection went 64-5 the past two seasons.
119, DAVID HECKMANN, River Hill, Sr.: Placed second at the county tournament and first at the 4A/3A North Region tournament before taking second at the state meet to finish 35-3.
125, TAYLOR GREEN, River Hill, Jr.: Two-time All-County selection won county and 4A/3A North Region championships before placing second at the state meet to finish 35-3, tying him for third-place on the school's single-season win list.
130, RYAN LAUER, River Hill, Sr.: After placing second at the county championships, won the 4A/3A North Region tournament before advancing to the final at the state meet to finish 35-7.
135, JOSE MALDONADO, Hammond, Jr.: Won county and 2A/1A South Region titles to make first state tournament appearance and finish 36-6.
140, RYAN CONROY, Atholton, Soph.: County champion placed second at the 2A/1A South Region tournament before taking fourth at the state meet to finish 26-6.
145, BOBBY KUCZARSKI, Glenelg, Sr.: County champion placed second at the 2A/1A South Region tournament before dropping two matches at the state meet to finish 20-4.
152: A.J. SMITH, Hammond, Sr.: County and 2A/1A South Region champion finished 36-4 after placing fifth at the state meet.
