While the majority of the AHS wrestling team is hanging up their singlets until next year, a select few will continue to don the form-fitting uniforms for a little while longer. Junior Dane Harlowe, junior John McCollom, junior Ali Ali Musa and senior Jon Le all qualified for the state competition next week.

All four athletes placed in the top three during regionals, a three-day tournament held at Fairfax HS from Feb. 10-12, and will therefore be advancing to states. Harlowe and McCollom placed second in the Northern Region in the 125 lb and 189 lb weight classes, respectively. Le placed third in the 112 lb weight class and Musa placed third in the 215 lb weight class.

Their exceptional achievements began during the Patriot District tournament here at AHS on Feb. 4. Although the entire varsity wrestling team participated, only a small portion of the wrestlers was able to win their first two matches to stay in the tournament. Harlowe, Musa and Le placed first in the district meet.

“I wrestled well, but I need to pick up the intensity a lot more. It’s nice winning [at the] district [level] but you celebrate that night and the next morning you get back to work,” Le said.

Other successful wrestlers at districts included sophomore Jack Johnson in the 135 lb weight class, sophomore Rawand Shamdin in the 119 lb weight class. senior Hayden Assophiah in the 285 lb weight class and senior Brayan Pozo in the 130 lb weight class.

States will be held at Robinson HS on Feb. 18 and 19.

“During the regular season, we wrestled tough and showed the district we were right there fighting for the district title. Unfortunately, when districts came around we fell a little short, but individuals will make up for that at regionals and states,” Harlowe said.