Lee High Wrestling - 1996-97


Region III Champions - City Runner-up - 12th Place State Tournament

Held at Mike Anderson's Seafood Restaurant March 24, 1997

Robert E. Lee High School 1996-97 Wrestling Seniors
 

SIMON VIXATHEP

Senior 112 Pounds: Simon is a four year wrestler who lettered for the second time this year. Simon came to Lee High as a 106 pound freshman and developed into a solid wrestler. Simon has put together back-to-back 23 and 30 win seasons and has qualified for the state tournament two years. This year Simon won the McKinley Christmas tournament and the Regional tournament held at Lee, he finished second at the City tournament and at the Catholic Open to start the season. Three third place finishers were also earned throughout the season. Simon finished his high school career with 60 wins and 33 pins for a fine record considering that he was only varsity for two years. Simon has also been ranked as high a second in the country for his Kung Fu efforts.

AARON WASHINGTON

Senior 125 Pounds: Aaron wrestled for three years. He lettered three years and was a three time state qualifier. Aaron has a good work ethic and pushed himself very hard. Aaron had a great year with 35 wins, second on the team this year. He lead the team this season with the Most 3-point Near-Falls (30), Most 2-point Near-Falls (13), Most Reversals (33), Most Takedowns (77), and Most Escapes (31). Aaron placed in nine tournaments this year. His season was topped off by being selected as a Co-Captain along with junior David Torres by his teammates. Aaron didn't talk too much during his three years but when he did say something the team responded and respected him a great deal. I remember probably the first time I heard Aaron really get excited was in New Orleans after the state meet last year but thats another story. Aaron ended his career with 69 wins and 37 pins. Aaron earned the respect of all the coaches in the state as they knew his ability. Aaron will be missed greatly next year.

Dual Meet Results:    5-4

Tournament Results

1996-97 Team Summary
This year started out as a rebuilding year after winning the City and Regional titles last season. With four freshmen, two sophomores, six juniors and only two seniors I was worried about the team. This team responded well, and after a shaky dual meet start (0-3) we finally settled down and improved a great deal to win the McKinley Christmas Tournament, finish second in the City Tournament and win the Regional Tournament, qualifying eight wrestlers to represent Lee at the State Tournament held in the Louisiana Superdome. I thought that we would fair a little better at state but I was satisfied with the overall season.

Individually, sophomore Jake Ortego won his second City and Regional titles while finishing second (37-6) in the state at 145 pounds. Jake also was selected to the AII- Metro team for the second year in a row. Seth Overall a junior won a City title and senior Simon Vixathep won a Regional championship. Junior Rock Haydel improved and had 30 wins with 26 pins placing second in City and Regional tournaments. Another junior Co-Captain David Torres had a great season with his 27 victories. The four freshmen (Randy Mclellan, Chris Blair, Van Wilson and Brian Collins) all improved and could play an important part in the future of Lee High wrestling. Senior Co-Captain Aaron Washington, a finalist in the City and Regional tournaments, lead the team with most of the statistics this season. First year wrestlers Jim Prince, Daniel Foulds, Wykeith Miller and Trevor Hutto all improved and finished strong at the end of the season. Juniors Danny Hudson, Sam leBlanc and Victor Womack also improved from a year ago while sophomores Chris labouliere and Ted Smith improved and will be counted on in the future.

With 12 of the 14 wrestlers that wrestled in the city and regional tournaments coming back next year the picture looks good. Improvement takes place every day-You never stay the same!!

1996-97 Lettermen (16 Points Required)

1996-97 Season Records
Most wins in the season: 37 Jake Ortego
Most pins in the season: 34 Jake Ortego
Most 3 point near-falls in the season: 30 Aaron Washington
Most 2 point near-falls in the season: 13 Aaron Washington
Most reversals in the season: 33 Aaron Washington & David Torres
Most takedowns in the season: 77 Aaron Washington
Most escapes in the season: 31 Aaron Washington
Most lettering points earned in the season: 75 Jake Ortego

INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Randy McLellan: (103 Pound-Freshman) 11-15-0-7 pins (JV 6-4-0-2 pins)

1st Catholic Open JV
2nd Belaire Thanksgiving JV
4th Belaire Thanksgiving Varsity
1st McKinley Christmas JV
5th Regional Varsity
 

Chris Blair: (119 Pound-Freshman) 11-12-0-5 pins (JV 6-5-0-5 pins)

1st Catholic Open JV
3rd McKinley Christmas JV
4th City Tournament JV
6th City Tournament Varsity
5th Regional Varsity
 

Simon Vixathep: (112 Pound-Senior) 30-12-0-19 pins
2nd Catholic Open
3rd Belaire Thanksgiving
3rd Redemptorist Invitational
3rd Tiger Invitational
1st McKinley Christmas
2nd City Tournamnet
1st Regional (State Qualifier)

Trevor Hutto: (125 Pound-Sophomore) 4-7-0-3 pins (JV 3-8-0-2 pins)
3rd Belaire Thanksgiving JV
4th City Tournament JV

Aaron Washington: (125 Pound-Senior) 35-15-0-21 pins
1st Catholic Open
1st Belaire Thanksgiving
3rd Redemptorist Invitational
4th Northshore Invitational
3rd Tiger Invitational
2nd McKinley Christmas
4th Ken Cole Invitational
2nd City Tournament
2nd Regional (State Qualifier)

Jim Prince: (130 Pound-Sophomore) 6-23-0-3 pins (JV 4-6-0-4 pins)

 3rd Belaire Thanksgiving JV

2nd McKinley Chrismas
6th City Tournament Varsity
5th Regional Varsity

Van Wilson: (135 Pound-Freshman) 7-16-0-5 pins (JV 7-6-0-4 pins)

2nd Catholic Open JV
2nd Belaire Thanksgiving JV
3rd McKinley Christmas JV
2nd City Tournament JV
5th Regional Varsity

Jake Ortego: (145 Pound-Sophomore) 37-6-0-34 pins
1st Catholic Open
3rd Cashio-Schriver Tournament
1st Belaire Thanksgiving
1st Northshore Invitational
2nd Tiger Invitational
1st McKinley Christmas
6th Lee Invitational
1st City Tournament
1st Regional (State Qualifier)
2nd State Tournament
 

Danny Hudson: (152 Pound-Junior) 11-21-0-7 pins

2nd Catholic Open
4th Belaire Thanksgiving
3rd Regional (State Qualifier)
 

Brian Collins: (140 Pound-Freshman) 12-19-0-10 pins (JV 7-6-0-5 pins)

2nd Catholic Open JV
3rd Belaire Thanksgiving JV
4th City Tournament JV
5th City Tournament Varsity
2nd Regional (State Qualifier)

Laurance Landon: (160 Pound-Sophomore) 0-1-0 (Injured)

Daniel Foulds: (152 Pound-Sophomore) 4-4-0-4 pins (JV 7-5-0-7 pins)
3rd Catholic Open
3rd Belaire Thanksgiving JV
1st McKinley Christmas
2nd City Tournament JV
 

David Torres: (160 Pound-Junior) 27 -18-0-12 pins
2nd Catholic Open
2nd Belaire Thanksgiving
4th Redemptorist Invitational
3rd Northshore Invitational
4th Tiger Invitational
2nd McKinley Christmas
5th Ken Cole Invitational
2nd City Tournament
5th Regional

Chris Labouliere: (171 Pound-Sophomore) 10-17-0-7 pins (JV 6-3-0-6 pins)

1st Belaire Thanksgiving JV
1st McKinley Christmas JV
2nd City Tournament JV
4th City Tournament Varisty
6th Regional
 

Rock Haydel: (189 Pound-Junior) 30-17-0-26 pins
3rd Catholic Open
2nd Belaire Thanksgiving
2nd Redemptorist Invitational
4th Northshore Invitational
3rd Tiger Invitational
1st McKinley Christmas
2nd City Tournament
2nd Regional (State Qualifier)

Ted Smith: (189 Pound-Sophomore) 0-5-0 (JV 4-3-0-4 pins)
3rd Belaire Thanksgiving JV

3rd McKinley Christmas JV

2nd City Tournament JV

Victor Womack: (215 Pound-Junior) 20-21-0-18 pins
1st Catholic Open
4th Belaire Thanksgiving
4th Redemptorist Invitational 4th Northside Invitatioanal
5th City Tournament
4th Regional (State Qualifier)

Sam LeBlanc: (215 Pound-Junior) 3-14-0-1 pin
4th Catholic Open
2nd McKinley Open

Seth Overall: (275 Pound-Junior) 19-11-0-16 pins
2nd Tiger Invitational
2nd McKinley Christmas
6th Lee Invitational
4th Ken Cole Invitational
1st City Tournament
2nd Regional (State Qualifier) 6th State Tournament

Wykeith Miller: (112 Pound-Junior) 3-12-0-3 pins