The Maryland State Wrestling Association announced its 2009-2010 All-Academic Team last week, honoring 16 wrestlers for their achievements both on and off the mat.

Spanning 14 weightclasses and the same number of schools in the Maryland-area, these 16 wrestlers have undoubtedly performed to the most elite levels high school wrestling has to offer, and in true form of a great student-athlete, they have surpassed their physical accomplishments with that of their schooling.

College Park, Md.- Following an afternoon of spectacular wrestling at the University of Maryland’s Comcast Center, it was clear to see that Maryland high school wrestling is earning a name.

With Maryland’s and Virginia’s best of the best bumping heads in the 13-weightclass, four-man bracket tournament, there is no denying that everyone at the MSWA’s 2010 MD/VA Senior All-Star Classic found out who has the most elite wrestler in each division.

By Lem Satterfield

Reservoir's Gators of Howard County, coached by Ryan Kanaskie, entered the weekend's Class 4A-3A Tournament having enjoyed a season of firsts.

The Gators won their first county and Class 4A-3A East Regional Tournament titles, as well as their initial Class 4A-3A East dual meet and Class 4A-3A state dual meet crowns.

By Lem Satterfield

When the finals seconds ticked down at the end of his 10-3, 152-pound 10-3, Class 2A-1A state championship victory over Glenelg senior Mike O'Leary, Southern Garrett senior, Brutus Scheffel (152), calmly allowed the referee to raise his right hand into the air and turn him slowly about so that his full accomplishment could be appreciated by the fans standing in ovation at The University of Maryland's Cole Field House.

For not only had the West Virginia-bound Scheffel used three pins to reach the title bout, where he put the final touches on a 40-1 record, but he also became only Maryland's fourth state title, joining Aberdeen's Matt Slutzky, Owings Mills' Steve Kessler and Hereford's Josh Asper.