The 2018-2019 season for the Saint James wrestling team may have been the most successful season in SJS wrestling history.  The Saints achieved their number one team goal for the season and won an outright MAC Championship for the second consecutive year, and third year with at least a share of the title.  The Saints were led throughout the season by a group of seasoned Sixth Formers William Wu, Nirmal Singletary, Tom Tang and captains Shea Peña, Jakin Jeong, TJ Quelet, and Jack Guillard.

The Saints opened the season with a fourth place (out of 14 teams) finish in the Admiral Holloway Tournament.  The Saints finished 45 points ahead of fifth place Episcopal High School (Va.), and 40 points behind champion Mercersburg Academy. Although the Saints did not achieve the team finish they would have liked there were several performances worth highlighting.  The Saints had six wrestlers finish in the top three at their respective weight-class.  Taking third was Tom Tang (120); four wrestlers placed second, Nirmal Singletary (113), Fifth Former Griffin Almany (120), TJ Quelet (170, and Jack Guillard (182); and Fifth Former Ben Couling was crowned champion at 285 pounds.

In a back-and-forth season where the Saints were marred by injury and illness, the team never seemed to gather much momentum, and at times struggled, especially against strong public-school competition. However, when it came to MAC competition, the Saints were dominant.  The Saint James won all four-league dual meets by an average margin of 38.5 points.  They defeated Georgetown Day 52-24, St. Andrew’s Episcopal 72-12, Sidwell Friends 60-21, and The Potomac School, 54-27.  This dominance earned the Saints the MAC Dual Meet Championship.  The Saints were also able to defeat Mercersburg Academy 48-36. This is the Saints first victory over Mercersburg since 2014.

After setting the early season goal of winning the outright MAC Championship (dual meet & tournament), the Saints knew there was still work to be done.  On February 8th, the Saints traveled to St. Andrew's Episcopal to participate in the MAC Tournament.  Intent on meeting their goal, the Saints wrestlers delivered another dominant performance. Winning the title with a score of 131 points, Potomac School finished in second with 107 points, and Sidwell third with 82 points. The Saints crowned champions at seven of the 14 weight classes, a tournament record.  Singletary (113), Peña (120), Almany (126), Fifth Former Nick Pank (152), Jeong (160), Quelet (170), and Couling (285) all won their respective weight classes.  Guillard finished as the runner-up at 182 and was voted by the league coaches to one of two All-MAC at-large positions.  This was the second title for Singletary, Peña, and Couling.  This was Quelet’s fourth individual MAC championship, only the second Saint ever to accomplish this (Jimmy Sutch ‘07). 

After the MAC Tournament, the Saints turned their attention to the Maryland Independent School (MIS) State Championship.  After a one-year hiatus, the Saints were able to recapture the ‘B’ Division State Title, which they had previously won in 2017.  Leading the way again were Quelet, Guillard and Couling.  Guillard finished in 8th place at the 182-pound class. Couling finished in 7th place at the 285-pound class. Quelet finished in 3rd place at the 170-pound class, winning five matches along the way, two by fall, and a third by major.  This was Quelet's fourth top-seven finish at the MIS tournament. 

Several Saints finished with records of .500 or better on the season.  Almany led the team in victories with a record of 36-10 at 126lbs. Guillard finished with a record of 32-16.  Also surpassing the 20-win plateau were Couling (27-5), Jeong (20-15), and Quelet (23-5).  Even after a season interrupted by injury, Quelet finishes as the Saints all-time win record holder with 145 victories, just 18 victories shy of the county record.

Although the Saints will have to replace several starters, the coaching staff is excited by the promise shown by many of the younger wrestlers including returning starters Couling, Almany, Pank, Benson Riser (Third Form), Asa Hammer (Third Form), Vince Anani (Fourth Form), Tank Yanou (Fifth Form), Tade Omisore (Fourth Form), and Daniel Peacher (Third Form).