Spotlight: The Clarksburg Coyotes

To say that Clarksburg's wrestling program is on the upswing is an extreme understatement.

This year's Coyotes crowned a pair of state champions -- one male, one female -- among three finalists and five top-four place winners in that tournament.

Not only are the identical Fisahaye twins among those achievers, but top-ranked freshman Elana Pelaez (105) became a state title winner.

Pelaez joined her brother, Owen, who graduated last season as the Coyotes' second-ever state titlist a year after being teammates with their first.

So Pelaez and fifth-ranked junior Amanuel Fisahaye (106) are the third and fourth wrestlers in three seasons to earn individual state crowns for the Coyotes, with Pelaez being a girls' tournament champion, and Fisahaye doing so in the Class 4A-3A's.

At states, Elana Pelaez earned her fourth fall in as many matches at the 5:53 mark of her title bout with Brunswick's then-top-ranked sophomore Catherine Orndorff, who finished second at states for the second consecutive year.

Elana Pelaez also registered a pair of 70-second pins and another in 1:46, ending her season with a record on the year of 31-0 with 26 pins.

"I'm grateful to have won a state title my freshman year and to have the opportunity to become a four-time state champion. That would be amazing, but I'm trying to stay focused one season at a time as I enjoy this one," Elana Pelaez said. "Growing up, I always watched my brother's wrestling matches, and it made me want to wrestle too. We've both put so much into this sport through all the weight cuts and practices. Owen has always been there grinding with me, and it's an amazing feeling to know we are both state champions."

Amanuel and his 15th-ranked twin, Aaron (113), became Class 4A-3A West regional champions a week removed from winning their first-ever Montgomery County titles and a week prior to Amanuel winning states where Aaron placed fourth.

"As a state champion wrestler, I'm excited to return next year knowing that I have a target on my back, and that I'm the guy to beat. It motivates me for this offseason to work hard for my senior year and to get a second state title." Amanuel said.

"Owen was a hard worker and a good teammate when he was in high school. Elana, just like Owen, reflects the same attitude. Just like Owen, Elana (is) gonna keep winning, and I'm happy that she and Owen are as helpful as they are."

The Coyotes' sixth-ranked junior Daniel Dansou (126) finished second at counties, regions and states, while 13th-ranked freshman Mason Kellar rebounded from a disappointing performance at counties to place second and fourth at regions and states.

Amanuel was 46-2 with 11 pins and 14 technical falls, and Dansou, 42-6 with seven pins and 23 technical falls. Aaron ended his season with a mark of 41-9 that included seven pins and 12 technical falls, and Kellar, 37-13 with 15 pins and six technical falls.

Another Coyotes' wrestler is junior Mason Perkins who compiled a record of 30-1 at 106 pounds before being bumped from the lineup when Amanuel dropped into that weight.

"I am incredibly motivated to come back and to win states. I'm pretty disappointed about coming up just short in the semifinals, but I am overall proud of the progress I've made from not even placing at counties and regions last year and as a result not qualifying for states a year ago," Aaron said.

"By placing fourth at states this year and winning counties and regionals this year, I know that my progress next year will be even crazier than it was this year. It feels nice to know that we're being compared to Owen and Elana after seeing how dominant they've been throughout their years and knowing how they've helped me to get to where I am now."

Among head coach Rob Pinsky’s assistants is Rich Pelaez, the father of Elana as well as a 1996 graduate of Gaithersburg High who won counties and regions and placed third at states. Pinsky is a 1986 graduate of Kennedy High where he was a two-time Montgomery County runner-up.

"David Dansou, Amanuel Fisahaye and Aaron Fisahaye are inseparable. We jokingly call them the triplets, even though David is not related to the twins. These three have done everything a coach could ask for during the season and out of the season.

“They wrestled in summer leagues, camps, mat clubs and tournaments during the spring, summer and fall. I'm so happy to see their hard work paying off. Aaron and Amanuel have just put in so much work, and they've been non-stop since they began wrestling just three years ago," Pinsky said.

"Whether it's the summer, fall, winter or spring, they're going at it all year long, attending camps and learning as much as they can. I'm just super happy for these two guys," said Pinsky. “Kellar suffered a couple tough losses in our county tournament and didn't place. He certainly bounced back for regionals, placing second to a very good Trice from Whitman."

Dansou lost his state final bout by 1-0 decision to Whitman's third-ranked senior Solomon Randall, who finished at 41-0 after winning his third straight county, regional and state titles after being third in each as a freshman.

"Watching Amanuel win states was really special. He worked hard for that title, and I’m proud of him," Dansou said. "I started wrestling my freshman year with the twins with no prior experience, and I’ve grown a lot to get where I am today. I thank God for everything he's done for me."

Dansou reached their title match following a 17-4 major decision and consecutive decisions by scores of 5-4 and 4-2, the latter in his semifinal with Severna Park’s fourth-ranked senior Michael Queen.

An 8-0 loser to Randall in last year’s state final, Queen entered with a record of 43-0 as a winner of three Anne Arundel County titles in four championship berths, three regional crowns after placing third once, and had finished second and third at states.

Queen finished third at states as Randall faced and defeated Dansou for the fourth time, having earned victories by 6-0, 7-3, and 4-3, including consecutive county and Class 4A-3A West Regional title bouts.

"Even though I lost 1–0 in the state finals to the defending three-time state champ, I didn’t let that loss break me. I used it as motivation. That match showed me I’m capable of a lot," Dansou said. "This offseason, I’ll work harder than ever. I’m not just chasing a state title; I’m chasing bigger things. I know God has bigger plans for me, and I’m coming back determined. This year I didn’t get what I wanted, but next year I’m coming for it all"

Dansou certainly made a believer out of Randall.

“David Dansou has been my toughest opponent all year," Randall said. "I can’t score bonus points against him. I’ve had trouble with him in the duals, counties, regions and now states."

Kellar lost his regional finals bout by 3-2 decision to Whitman's fourth-ranked junior Jabasie Trice, who finished at 42-0 after winning his state title match by 14-8 decision over Urbana's seventh-ranked senior Gabe Helman.

Trice is a two-time county champion who was sixth at states last season, and who improved on his regional runner-up regional finish of a year earlier by defeating Kellar. A third-place finisher at the previous weekend’s regionals, Helman edged Kellar in the state semifinals.

"I was just trying to get better every day so that I would be prepared for states, and I ended up placing fourth," Kellar said. "I'm really proud of myself, but I still didn't ready my goal and that as to win states. So next season, I'm coming back better and coming for the state title."

Amanuel and Elana are riding the momentum established by alumni Johnathan Chang and Owen Pelaez, who earned the Coyotes' first- and second-ever state championships over back-to-back seasons in 2024 and 2025.

Both Chang and Pelaez won the “Richard J. Monisera Award for Achievement” at their respective county tournaments, an honor bestowed annually upon “The Senior Wrestler who earned the most Career MCPS Tournament Points.”

Chang became the Coyotes’ first-ever state champion as a senior at 144 pounds in the Class 4A-3A tournament, improving on his state runner-up finish of a year earlier after having placed third as a sophomore. Chang also won his third straight Montgomery County and Class 4A-3A West Region crowns. Chang's senior year record of 46-1 contributed to a career mark of 130-6.

Pelaez then completed an undefeated season at 150 pounds that included becoming the Coyotes' first four-time county champion, winning his third Class 4A-3A West Region title in four championship berths, and also his first state title after having placed fifth and third as a sophomore and junior.

Owen Pelaez ranks among the Coyotes’ most accomplished wrestlers with a program-leading career record of 170-14, having far surpassed second-place Nick Gonzalez, an assistant coach with 138-career wins who placed third and fourth in the states in 2017 and 2018.

Owen expects his sister to surpass him.

"I'm super proud of Lana and of course I am rooting for her to win her second straight state title next year," Owen Pelaez said. "However, I know the level at which Lana's wrestling, and I'm expecting her to make a run at becoming our school's first-ever four-time state champion."