Wrestler of the Year - Solomon Randall!

Whitman's third-ranked senior Solomon Randall will graduate as the most accomplished, celebrated, and decorated wrestler in the history of the fifth-ranked Vikings' program.

Randall ran his unbeaten record to 41-0 with 25 pins and seven technical falls on the way to earning his third straight titles in the Montgomery County, Class 4A-3A West Regional and Class 4A-3A state tournaments after having placed third in each as freshman.

Not only did Randall raise his unbeaten streak to 70 consecutive matches and his all-time school-record career victories mark to 163-7, but he became only the Vikings’ second-ever repeat state champion.

Randall matched three-time title-winner Eren Civan but surpassed the 2007 graduate's previous career victories mark of 135. Civan did not complete his senior year due to a season-ending injury.

Randall's inspiration was older brother Conrad, a 2023 Whitman graduate who placed second and third at counties, second and fifth at regions and fifth at states.

"Legacy means a lot to me. My older brother started it for me. He got fifth at states once, and he has always been a figure in my life whose example I have strived to mimic," Randall said. "As I’ve grown on the team, I’ve realized throughout the years that I’m becoming to many of my teammates what my brother was to me."

Randall's career mark over the course of counties, regions and states is 42-3 with 22 pins and 11 technical falls, including a record of 31-0 with 12 pins and 11 technical falls over the final three seasons.

As a senior, Randall's record over the county, regional and states was 10-0 with three technical falls, pins in 61 and 64 seconds to go with a third in 5:03 and a major decision.

At counties, Randall was named the winner of the event’s prestigious “Richard J. Monisera Achievement Award” bestowed annually upon “The Senior Wrestler who earned the most Career MCPS Tournament Points.”

Each of Randall's title-winning efforts were accomplished by difficult decisions over Clarksville's sixth-ranked junior David Dansou by scores of 7-3, 4-3, and 1-0 to go along with an earlier, 6-0 regular-season victory over the Coyotes' wrestler.

The victory was Randall's fifth over Dansou, who's season-ending record of 40-4 included being a county and regional runner-up to his Vikings' rival.

"In the weigh in line on the final day of states, I asked David Dansou if he was excited for our fourth match or something like that. But he then told me that it was our fifth time meeting and that I had pinned him in a cradle in our dual meet two years ago," said Randall, whose postseason record as a freshman was 11-3 with 10 pins.

"David Dansou has been my toughest opponent all year and I can’t score bonus points against him. I’ve had trouble with him in the duals, counties, regions and now states. After the states, I went back in my records, and I saw that Dansou was right. So, to think that in just a few years, he went from there to the state finals is just incredibly impressive."

With Randall in the lineup, the Vikings have won two straight county tournament titles and three consecutive Class 4A state dual meet titles under 19th-year Vikings coach Derek Manon, doing so by earning their 35th and 36th consecutive dual meet wins to complete a record of 23-0.

Last year’s county tournament triumph occurred a week after the Vikings had secured their second straight Class 4A state dual meet crown with a single-season school record of 30-1. That title-winning effort, in turn, happened a season after the Vikings had gone 19-0 for their first-ever undefeated dual meet season.

Andy Wetzel coached Whitman from 1996 through 2007, and Manon spent a year as Wetzel’s assistant in 2005 when the Vikings earned Class 4A-3A state duals and tournament crowns.

As a sophomore, Randall became the fifth of the Vikings' nine state champions and their first since Manon’s assistant Will Sharbaugh, who was a Class 4A-3A state champion for the Vikings with a 37-0 record in 2006.

“Coach Sharbaugh and I are just so proud of him,” Manon said. “We’re honored to coach a young man who’s not only a very hard worker but is a high character individual.”

The feeling is certainly mutual, if you ask Randall.

“Coach Sharbaugh started our Whitman legacy. Wrestling in a singlet that represents the same school as coach Sharbaugh is amazing and I love it. Whitman Wrestling has been incredible to me over these past four years,” Randall said.

“With the leadership and support from Coach Manon and Coach Sharbaugh, they haven’t just helped me become a better wrestler, but a better man as well. I’ve truly been able to unlock my highest potential.”

A versatile student athlete, Randall carries a 4.81 weighted and "will wrestle, study economics and do Army ROTC having committed to Brown University.

"My career was incredible, and I’m so grateful for every practice and match, but I can’t wait for the next chapter of my wrestling career and I’m so excited to get out there. But this will be the toughest part for me to leave behind," Randall said. "All of my teammates are my brothers. However, it’s their success and impact that I hope will define my legacy long after I’m gone.

Whitman wrestling is just getting started, and I know that once the ball starts rolling, which it has, it’s not going to stop."

Walt Whitman's Three-time State Champions

Eren Civan

Solomon Randall

Walt Whitman's nine Individual State Champions

2004 Eren Civan

2005 Eren Civan

2006 Eren Civan

2006 Will Sharbaugh

2024 Solomon Randall

2025 Solomon Randall

2026 Solomon Randall

2026 Jabasie Trice

2026 Andy Boshnick