With the winter sports season wrapped up for the year, coaches from the area recently met to vote on this year’s All-Conference selections and Laney senior David Bostian was named Wrestler of the Year after a standout career for the Wrestling Bucs.
The four-time state qualifier was a huge asset to Mideastern Conference Coach of the Year Dan Willis. Bostian finished his season campaign 37-8 on the mat, falling in the 4A quarterfinals at 138 pounds to the eventual state champion. He helped guide Laney to the Mideastern Conference Championship and placed second at this season’s 4A East Regional.
“The last few years have given me the mental discipline and work ethic to keep pushing,” said Bostian. “It’s been a rough road at times and I’m very thankful for the coaches who have helped me get there. This time has not only prepared me for when I get out of high school, but beyond school when I need to get a job in the real world.”
Joining Bostian on the First-Team All-Conference list from Buctown is Kevin Saravia, the 113-pound 4A individual state champion. A two-time regional winner, the junior earned his first title and finished as runner-up in 2015. He also paced Laney to a final four appearance in the 4A Dual-Team Tournament.
Hunter Starling and Cael Willis rounded out the four grapplers from Laney to earn first-team accolades, while Harrison Campbell stood atop the list for West Brunswick as seven Trojan wrestlers took home All-Conference honors. Campbell claimed a 3A individual crown at 120 pounds and closed the year with a 42-1 overall mark.
West Brunswick also made the East Regional in the 3A Dual Team competition, with Lincoln Smith, Peyton Tipton, Michael Nelson, Jacary Bethel, Sterlin Fullerton and Nate Gilbert as First-Team All-Conference members.
All seven Trojans competed at the 3A East Regional at Corinth Holders High School in Wendell and six moved onto the individual championships.
Ashley had a pair of state qualifiers at 106-pounds and 132-pounds as William Adame and Terrell Mondragon represented the Screaming Eagles on the first-team list, along with Kaleb Giles at 285 pounds.
As Coach of the Year, Willis has a long history in the sport locally, getting involved on the mat back in 1985 and winning nine consecutive Mideastern Conference Championships from 1999-2009. He coached from 1995 to 2004 at Hoggard High School and from 2006 to 2009 at Laney.
He made his return to Laney as head coach in 2014 and runs the Port City Pirates youth program in Wilmington, where many of his high school competitors got their start as young kids.
Player of the Year: David Bostian, Laney
Coach of the Year: Dan Willis, Laney
First-Team
- 106 – William Adame, Ashley
- 113 – Kevin Saravia, Laney
- 120 – Harrison Campbell, West Brunswick
- 126 – Cael Willis, Laney
- 132 – Terrell Mondragon, Ashley
- 138 – David Bostian, Laney
- 145 – Lincoln Smith, West Brunswick
- 152 – Peyton Tipton, West Brunswick
- 160 – Michael Nelson, West Brunswick
- 170 – Jacary Bethel, West Brunswick
- 182 – Hunter Starling, Laney
- 195 – Sterlin Fullerton, West Brunswick
- 220 – Nate Gilbert, West Brunswick
- 285 – Kaleb Giles, Ashley
