On February 22, 2025, Eleanor Roosevelt clinched the title of Prince George’s County Champions, cementing the Raider Wrestling team as back-to-back country champions after securing the title last year. The charge was led by Austin Hayes, 10th grade at 106 pounds, Leo Foreman and Ediz Buchin 11th grade at 144 and 150 pounds, and Oluwatunmise Faniyi 12th grade at 120 pounds. All of them made it to the finals of their respective weight classes, with Hayes, Foreman, and Buchin successfully capturing gold. It is important to note that each member of the team played a vital role in the title charge with ten out of eleven Roosevelt wrestlers placing. Freshmen Amir Jah, Alexey Dorodnitsy, and Jeremiah Bedell placed 4th at 113 pounds, 4th at 126 pounds, and 5th at 175 pounds respectively. Juniors Cyrus Yelverton and Douglas Garica placed 5th in their respective weight classes of 132 and 157 pounds. Lastly, Senior Ethan Lilly placed 3rd at 138 pounds while his fellow senior Rahj Kamar Brown had to forfeit out of the tournament at 165 pounds due to injury.
Throughout the tournament, it was clear the Raiders had two stand-out wrestlers, those being the team’s starters at 106 pounds and 144 pounds, Austin Hayes and Leo Foreman. The two were heavy favorites in the weeks leading into the competition having undefeated records of 29-0 and 26-0 going into the tournament. When asked to comment on the success of the two, head coach Cortez Hayes emphasized “Their in-season success is all due to the work that the team has put in during the off-season.” Although the wrestling season only lasts from November to March, the team holds strength and conditioning workouts year round which are not mandatory but in the words of Coach Hayes are “for the serious wrestlers only.” Hayes and Foreman also regularly compete in off-season wrestling tournaments and camps, which Foreman claims “helps keep me in a competitive mindset.”
Sharing similar success, Team Captain Faniyi was able to avenge his county finals 13-7 loss against Parkdale’s Ajmal Rhmani in the quarterfinals of the 3A/4A South Regional tournament. The panther set the tone off the whistle, capturing Faniyi in a front headlock which would prove ineffective as Rhani would be unable to score any points from it. The Roosevelt Captain continued with his intensity shooting off a sweep single-leg, however,
Rhamni would be able to counter the takedown and score one of his own gaining three points on the scoreboard. After making a swift escape following a technical violation from Rhmani-in turn earning Faniyi two the match would return to the feet remaining a fair event contest until with only five seconds left in the first period, Rhamani would again counter Faniyi’s single-leg earring another two points.
To kick off the second period, Rhmani would hope to widen his 6-2 lead on feet, picking neutral; he would end up being successful and score a slide by widening the gap even further 9-2. Although maintaining a large lead, the holes in the Pather’s game would begin to show, again letting up a technical violation and escape which would keep Faniyi’s winning chances alive 9-4. The gap would again widen with only four seconds left on the clock in the second period, Rhmani would ball up the Raider in a cradle scoring a takedown and two back points.
The pressure was on for Faniyi in the third and final period, trailing 4-14; Faniyi would choose bottom. At this point in the match, Rhmani’s lackluster ground game would be exploited by the Raider, scoring a reversal after Rhmani’s technical violation, bringing the Raider back in the hunt 7-8. Rhmani would follow up with a one-point escape, however, it would prove futile as only seconds later Faniyi would end up in a backdoor, where he would end up scoring not only a takedown but two back points. Still down 12-15 with top control, Faniyi had his work cut out for him, with Rhmani gassed, and Faniyi determined the task proved doable. Rhmani would prove yet again an incomplete wrestler, letting up a series of technical violations and his second stall call of the match. Since the Panther, at this point, would be a repeat offender, each violation would grant Faniyi two points. The dying embers of the contest the Raider would use his superior wrestling knowledge to edge out a dramatic 17-15 victory and avenge his county finals loss.
Faniyi is also a regular in the wrestling room during the off-season and has been enjoying his last year wrestling, commenting “Working through the off-season gave me an edge in both experience and mental stability.” Faniyi also noted that he wants to spend his last year wrestling not only focusing on himself but also helping the team develop as a whole, “holding myself accountable for getting in the extra reps and hours visible to others or not would show how important this sport is to me and my teammates make their decision to follow or not.”
On March 1st, 2025, both Faniyi and Hayes were able to capture regional gold, while Foremen came second. The 3, along with female wrestler, Senior Jennifer Djobo would be representing Eleanor Roosevelt at states over March 6-8th. Both Foreman and Djobo earned bronze at 144 and 130 pounds respectively. Austin Hayes would bring back gold to the ER, placing 1st at 106 pounds.
