Elaal named first team All-Metro after dominant senior season

ROBBY FLETCHER Sports Editor

Wrestling season may be over for 2022-23, but the Richmond TimesDispatch has finally released its highly-anticipated All-Metro teams that serve to recognize the top athletes in the area.

Multiple local athletes were included on the list, five to be exact as honorable mentions from Mechanicsville, Atlee and Patrick Henry, but atop the list was Mechanicsville senior Joe Elaal, who capped off a memorable high school wrestling career as the 215-pound Class 4 state runner-up and is now a first team All-Metro honoree.

Elaal concluded his wrestling career with the Mustangs by going 45-4 in his final run and was a single point from taking the state crown in a riveting matchup against Eastern View’s Brett Clatterbaugh in a 3-2 decision at Virginia Beach Sports Center on Feb. 18. It was the second matchup of the season between the two, with Clatterbaugh also winning the regional title over Elaal with the same 3-2 score.

The next chapter in Elaal’s wrestling career starts at Washington & Lee, where he’ll bring his pedigree and impressive resume over to the Generals.

Elaal was joined by three teammates on the All-Metro list, with 150-pound Kevin Bagby, 157-pound Drew Kozubal and 175-pound Jacob Koenig all featured as honorable mentions in their respective weight classes.

All three of those athletes joined Elaal at the state championships and placed fourth in their own brackets, while Bagby and Koenig ended their seasons with regional titles under their belts after dominating their way to the finals at Powhatan High School. Kozubal’s 41-6 record on the season only rivaled Elaal’s record, with three of those wins coming under the bright lights of the state championships.

In a season full of memorable highs, one of the best for the Mustangs group was their senior night performances in a Hanover-hosted quad meet with Atlee and Patrick Henry. Celebrating with their families and wrestling familiar foes they’d later meet in the regional tournament, both Elaal and Kozubal achieved their 100th career victories on the mats on a day that celebrated their achievements in their time with the program.

Other Capital District wrestlers featured on the All-Metro team include Atlee’s Eric Ludwig, who placed third in states in the 113-pound bracket and won his regional title at Powhatan, as well as Patrick Henry’s Ryan O’Keefe, who finished with a 44-8 record on the season and qualified for states in the 106-pound class after winning a region title.

The All-Metro list also mentioned and honored the girls wrestlers that placed at the first girls state meet this year, two of which were Patrick Henry wrestlers Jordan and Sara Forsyth, who placed second and third in the 100-pound class.

Robby Fletcher can be reached at rfletcher@powhatantoday.com.