Wrestler of the Year - JoJo!

South Carroll's top-ranked 138-pounder JoJo Gigliotti was among the many Marylanders cheering on 141-pound Air Force sophomore Carter Nogle, whose fifth-place finish earned All-American honors in last weekend's 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships.

Nogle overcame his 18th seed by winning five straight consolation matches after a first-round loss, being named Big 12 Wrestler Of The Week 14 days after placing third in that conference's tournament.

Gigliotti was a freshman when he won a 120-pound clash 9-3 over Nogle, then a junior during the Cavaliers' dual meet loss to Mount St. Joseph on Feb. 2, 2023.

"I'm very happy for Carter," said Gigliotti of Nogle, who graduated in 2024 as a three-time champion in both the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and Maryland Private Schools State Tournaments. ""[That match] was four years ago. I know we've both gotten better. It was an exciting moment to start my high-school career, and it definitely gave me the confidence that I belonged."

Committed to the University of Maryland, Gigliotti continued to display his dominance to the point where he has earned his school-record fourth straight Class 2A-1A state championship to go with as many Carroll County and regional crowns.

Armed with a career mark is 187-4 with 130 pins and 40 technical falls, Gigliotti has been named one of Legacy Wrestling's Wrestlers Of The Year.

"I'm just truly blessed to be put in the situation to be able to have an accomplishment like winning four state titles," said Gigliotti, who carries a 3.7 GPA and plans to major in Business. "I couldn’t have done it without the support that I've had from everyone for all four years. I’m just ready to wrestle at the next level."

Gigliotti completed his season with a record of 47-0 that included 23 pins and 20 technical falls as well as a decision victory over the University of Nebraska-bound Elijah Collick of Stephen Decatur, a top-ranked, 132-pound senior who also won his fourth state title on the Class 4A-3A side.

Over the course of this year's final three tournaments, Gigliotti totaled four two five technical falls and four first-period pins, including those in 60, 62 and 63 seconds.

Gigliotti won his state title match by 17-2 technical fall over Middletown's seventh-ranked senior Brodie Burdette, doing so a week after having flattened him in 60 seconds of their previous weekend's Class 2A-1A West Region title match.

Gigliotti and Collick became Maryland's 10th and 11th four-time public school state champions, following Aberdeen's Matt Slutzky (1989-1992), Owings Mills' Steve Kessler (1994-1997), Hereford's Josh Asper (2005-2008), Southern-Garrett's George "Brutus" Scheffel (2007-2010), Centennial's Nathan Kraisser (2009-2012), Middletown's Danny Bertoni (2014-2017), Centennial's Jason Kraisser (2016-2019), North Hagerstown's Aaron Brooks (2015-2018) and Centennial's Calvin Kraisser (2021-2025).

Collick became the Seahawks' first-ever four-time title winner in the Bayside Conference, regional and state tournaments, earning three Class 2A-1A state titles and this year's Class 4A-3A crown.

But not only were Collick and Gigliotti the first pair of wrestlers chasing their fourth state title in the same season, but they made history by clashing in the finals of January’s War On The Shore Tournament.

Gigliotti won the classic battle, culminating in his 8-7 decision over Collick by being named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler. Gigliotti led, 4-0, midway through the second period before Collick’s takedown brought him within 4-3. Gigliotti led by as much as 8-4, in the third before Collick closed the gap with an escape and a pair of stalling calls against the winner.

In advance of winning their state titles, Gigliotti and Collick received advice during a zoom meeting with Aaron Brooks, who established a trifecta as a four-time high school state title-winner at North Hagerstown High School in addition to winning as many championships both in the National High School Coaches’ Association and NCAA tournaments, the latter at Penn State.

In August 2024, Brooks defeated Jabrail Shapiev of Uzbekistan, 5-0 to earn an Olympic Freestyle bronze medal in the Paris Games.

“People like Aaron Brooks came along to pave the way for guys like me and Elijah. He couldn’t be a better role model for us Black Athletes. Aaron walked so that we could run,” said Gigliotti, the product of an African American mother and an Italian father. “It means a lot to me to be able to make an impact and to be considered as one of the better Black Wrestling Athletes. I feel like I can be a role model to others who are looking to achieve prestigious honors in this sport, similar to how Aaron is for me. Aaron does the walking, on and off the mat."

Gigliotti has surpassed six other current three-time state title-winning Cavaliers wrestlers, including Mike Chenoweth (1994, 1995, 1996), Joey Thomas (2015, 2016, 2017), Jamar Williams (2015, 2016, 2017), Michael Pizzuto (2020, 2022, 2023), AJ Rodrigues (2020, 2022, 2023) and second-ranked senior Landon Hamper (2024-2026).

With Gigliotti in the lineup, the Cavaliers won four of their six consecutive county tournament titles, four of their five straight Class 1A state dual meet crowns, and have a 47-match winning streak under 13th-year coach Bryan Hamper.

The Cavaliers were 32-0 this year, 25-1 last season, and, 33-1 three years ago in 2023 when they won their second straight state dual meet crown. In 2024, the Cavaliers finished with a record of 27-0 for their third consecutive Class 1A state duals title with their 34th dual meet win in a row.

Hamper completed 13th season after spending 13 years as an assistant with a cemented legacy as among Maryland's all-time greatest coaches. Hamper has personally guided 36 of South Carroll's Maryland public school-leading 49 individual state champion wrestlers.

Hamper believes Gigliotti to be the first four-time state champion to have also been a member of a team that has earned four-each in state dual or tournament crowns. Kessler of Owings Mills was a member of state tournament title-winning teams in 1995 and 1996.

"I’m pretty sure JoJo is the first four-timer who also led his team to four state titles in the same time period. JoJo’s impact on the program has been incredible, being the first wrestler to win four individual and four team state titles in Maryland history is something that may not be replicated again," Hamper said.

"The great quality of an amazing wrestler is not just how good he is but bringing everybody else up to that level in the room. It’s no coincidence that everybody who wrestled with JoJo got better. A lot of people have asked how do you replace a wrestler like him, and the answer is you don’t. JoJo's a special once in a generation talent and I am just honored and humbled to have been able to have the best seat in the house to watch him compete the last four years."

Gigliotti is supported by his father, Anthony Gigliotti, a former Class 4A-3A state champion at Sherwood in 1999 who was also a runner-up as a junior following a 5-4 loss to undefeated Parkville senior David Heath.

"I would describe JoJo’s style as being a wrestler who is explosive, hands-on and always looking to score points,” Anthong continued. “A big thanks goes to his uncle Tony and Hamper. They've been in his corner for every single match of his high school career. The goal for JoJo was to be a state champion potentially multiple times, but once he got two done, I figured s***, he might as well get the four. The crazy part about it is that he just kept jumping levels every year and helping his boys in the room jump levels as a result of seeing the growth his growth as a leader.

"As far as the Carter Nogle situation, that was four years ago, and a lot has changed for both of them. I'm sure that they've both gotten better. But it is a great sign to see a Maryland kid like Carter Nogel earn All-American honors. [The University of Maryland wrestlers] are good friends of ours, and we look forward to helping them on the mats next year. I'm as excited as JoJo is, and I'm sure that he's game and ready. I can't wait to see what happens on the next level. It should be fun."

Below is a chart provided by wrestling historian Luke Broadwater regarding Maryland's four-time state and/or National Prep Champs, of which there are a combined total of 17. Broadwater is a board member of each of the Maryland State Wrestling Hall of Fame Committee and the Maryland State Wrestling Association.

National Preps:

Todd Beckerman (DeMatha) - 4x National Prep Champ

Rudy Rueda (DeMatha) - 4x National Prep Champ

Mack Lewnes (MSJ) - 4x National Prep Champ

Public school states:

Bobby Truby (Sherwood) - 4x State Champ (Twice In Maryland, Twice in Pennsylvania))

Matt Slutzky (Aberdeen) - 4x State Champ

Steve Kessler (Owings Mills) - 4x State Champ

Josh Asper (Hereford) - 4x State Champ

George "Brutus" Scheffel (Southern Garrett) - 4x State Champ

Nathan Kraisser (Centennial) - 4x State champ

Danny Bertoni (Middletown) - 4x State champ

Jason Kraisser (Centennial) - 4x State Champ

Aaron Brooks (North Hagerstown) - 4x State champ

Calvin Kraisser (Centennial) - 4x State champ

Private school states:

Josh Fitch (McDonogh) - 4x State champ

Mack Lewnes (Mount St. Joseph) - 4x State Champ

Mike Rowe (DeMatha) - 4x MD State champ

Eric Friedman (St. Paul's) - 4x State champ

Alfred "Baby J" Bannister (Bishop McNamara - 4x State champ

South Carroll's Four-time State Champion

JoJo Gigliotti

South Carroll’s Three-Time State Champions

Mike Chenoweth

Michael Pizzuto

AJ Rodrigues

Joey Thomas

Jamar Williams

Landon Hamper

South Carroll’s Two-Time state champions

Bryan Hamper

Cam Hobin

Gage Owen

Anthony Rodrigues

South Carroll’s 49 individual state champions

1981- Hank Burke

1994- Mike Chenoweth

1995- Mike Chenoweth

1996- Charlie Conaway

1996- Mike Chenoweth

2000- Bryan Hamper

2001- Bryan Hamper

2004- Andrew Winfield

2004- Tim Ferguson

2005- Cam Hobin

2008- Cam Hobin

2008- Zac Stavish

2008- Tyler Mullen

2010- Sam Wright

2011- Chris Wampler

2012- Willie Reiter

2013- Steven Schmitz

2014- Jake Pooton

2015- Joey Thomas

2015- Tim Null

2015- Jamar Williams

2016- Joey Thomas

2016- Shane Conners

2016- Jamar Williams

2017- Joey Thomas

2017- Travis Crawford

2017- Jamar Williams

2020- Michael Pizzuto

2020- Gage Owen

2020- AJ Rodrigues

2022- Michael Pizzuto

2022- Gage Owen

2022- AJ Rodrigues

2023- JoJo Gigliotti

2023- Michael Pizzuto

2023- AJ Rodrigues

2023- Rylan Moose

2024- Grayson Barnhill

2024- JoJo Gigliotti

2024- Landon Hamper

2024- Anthony Rodrigues

2025 Eli Gabrielson

2025 JoJo Gigliotti

2025 Landon Hamper

2025 Evan Owen

2026 JoJo Gigliotti

2026 Landon Hamper

2026 Anthony Rodrigues

2026 Davy Snyder

Note: Bryan Hamper has been a head coach of one four-time state champion in Jo Jo Gigliotti, six three-time champions Joey Thomas, Jamar Williams, AJ Rodrigues, Michael Pizzuto and Landon Hamper. Hamper has coached Gage Owen and Anthony Rodrigues to a pair of state titles, and individual title winners Sam Wright, Chris Wampler, Willie Reiter, Steven Schmitz, Jake Pooton, Tim Null, Shane Conners, Travis Crawford, Rylan Moose, Grayson Barnhill, Eli Gabrielson, Evan Owen and Davy Snyder. (36 Total Titles)