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Wrestler of the Decade

Mike Rowe, DeMatha, Class of 2005: The DeMatha wrestler was named to the Gazette-Star All-County First Team all four years of his prep career in four different weight classes. He was named Wrestler of the Year in 2005 and finished as the state's all-time wins leader with 221 victories, which included 161 by fall. He won three National Prep championships and was a finalist in all four years. He finished his senior season with a 58-2 mark and was the first four-time champion at the Maryland Private Schools State Tournament. He also was a two-time winner of the Maryland Wrestler of the Year.

Coach of the Decade

Dick Messier, DeMatha: Death, taxes and DeMatha winning the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference were the only three guarantees during the past decade. The Stags won 23 consecutive WCAC crowns until their streak came to an end in 2009. The Stags have five wrestlers on the all-decade team, including the wrestler of the decade, Mike Rowe. The Stags earned the 400th dual meet win in the program's history last season. Messier took over the team in 1979 and they have been one of the best in the state since.

All-Decade Wrestling Team

Kevin Gabrielson, DeMatha, Class of 2001: Gabrielson was 49-0 as a senior and was Wrestler of the Year. He also won back-to-back National Prep titles and closed out his career with a 178-11 record.

Adrian Belcarris, Oxon Hill, Class of 2001: Belcarris was named the Wrestler of the Year in 2000 when he won the state 4A/3A championship at 171 pounds and finished with a 32-0 record. He also won the county and regional titles that season. He finished 33-1 his senior season and 110-21 for his career.

Tony Middleton, Parkdale, Class of 2001: He won three consecutive county championships and finished his senior year with 28 wins in 32 matches. He was a runner up in the 4A/3A South Region meet his senior season and finished 21-7 his junior year.

Danny Muir, Parkdale, Class of 2002: Muir advanced to the state tournament two years in a row. He won 31 matches as a heavyweight in his junior season, which was his first year in wrestling. He placed third at state tournament his senior year and finished with a 26-2 record.

Chad Nkang, Northwestern, Class of 2003: Nkang might go down as the best public school wrestler in the past decade. He won the state 4A/3A 215-pound title in 2003, and that season his county, region and state title matches lasted a combined 1 minute, 24 seconds. He is the only wrestler to be named Wrestler of the Year twice (2002, 2003), compiling a 60-2 record in that span.

Rudy Rueda, DeMatha, Class of 2004: Rueda won four consecutive National Prep titles. He was named Wrestler of the Year in 2004 and was a first-team selection three times, winning 170 of 185 career matches.

Zak Adomanis, Bowie, Class of 2005: Adomanis advanced to the state finals his senior season, but was forced to default because of a partially torn hamstring. He finished his senior year with a 33-3 record and was a three-time first team selection. He was a two-time county and 4A/3A South Region champion at 215 pounds.

Steve Sargent, DeMatha, Class of 2007: Sargent won four consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference titles and was a four-time first team selection. He placed all four years at National Preps and won 191 matches during his career.

Michael Bressler, Progressive Christian, Class of 2007: Bressler finished his high school career with 249 victories, including 49 during his senior season. He won four tournament titles his senior year, including the state private schools championship at 152 pounds.

Nigel Cross, Oxon Hill, Class of 2009: He completed a two-year stretch that saw him win 67 matches. He won a state championship as a junior and was a state tournament qualifier again as a senior. He also won two consecutive 4A/3A South Region titles.

Andrew Bannister, Bishop McNamara, Class of 2009: He finished his stellar career with 207 victories and is the program's only state private schools champion. He was a four-time first-team selection and was Wrestler of the Year in 2008.

Pat Prada, DeMatha, Class of 2010: Prada will go down as one of the best in DeMatha history. He was selected as Wrestler of the Year in 2009 after winning 61 matches, including the state private schools title at 112 pounds. He placed third at National Preps last year and began his senior season with 128 career victories.

Sam Yirenkyi, Parkdale, Class of 2010: A two-time county champion and two-time first-team selection, Yirenkyi broke the 100-victory plateau during senior season.