Asking Watkins Mill Athletic Director Lisa Magness to choose between the Gaithersburg school’s two state champion girls wrestlers and nominate one for the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame High School Athlete of the Week just wasn’t going to happen.
“Can’t do it,” Magness said. “They’re both two-time state champions.”
So for the first time this school year, there are two Athletes of the Week. Watkins Mill junior Nebi Tsarni pinned all four of her opponents to win the state title at 155 pounds, while sophomore Jabea Ewane pinned three of her four opponents at 190 pounds, with her semifinal match called after her opponent ran out of injury time. Both Tsarni and Ewane also won state titles in 2022.
Each week throughout the school year, the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame is partnering with Montgomery Community Media to honor an Athlete of the Week from the county’s more than 40 public and private high schools.
The fall Athletes of the Week were presented with a commemorative hat and certificate at the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2022 induction ceremony in December.
In wrestling, girls and boys usually compete together during the regular season. The girls then must choose whether to continue wrestling in co-ed competition in the postseason or wrestle only against other girls. Tsarni competed in the Montgomery County boys’ tournament, while Ewane competed in the girls bracket and won that title. Both competed in the girls’ regional tournament, winning their respective titles.
Tsarni finished the year 29-6, while Ewane, who missed much of the season with an injury, finished 8-6.
