Ryan Van Meers, who has been wrestling since he was seven years old, came into his senior year with two goals: get his 100th career win and place at states.

On Wednesday, February 4, Ryan took care of his first goal as he earned his 100th win with a first round pin. Now, after a successful season – and four-year varsity career – Ryan is close to accomplishing both of these lofty goals.

“I’m glad I got it over with,” said Ryan after earning the big win. “Now I can focus and prepare for the postseason.”

Ryan started his wrestling career at Paint Branch as a varsity starter in the 106-pound weight class. His brother, Taylor, was a captain for the team that year, and both Van Meers brothers qualified for states that year. Wrestling’s postseason has three tournaments: counties, regionals, and states. Everyone qualifies for counties, and the regional tournament is not too difficult to make considering it is essentially the same tournament as counties, but without 2A schools such as Poolesville.

But states is different. Qualifying for the state tournament is difficult, and many wrestlers’ goal is just to make it to Cole Field House at the University of Maryland and wrestle in the tournament. Ryan, who has now been there twice after qualifying again his sophomore year, has yet to win a match in the tournament. That should change this year.

“Ultimately, my goal is to go 12-0- in the post season and win counties, regionals and states,” Van Meers says of his ultimate goal.

Ryan has only lost two matches this season, both in tournaments, and is undefeated in dual meet matchups. Ryan led his team to a second-place finish at the Dark Horse Dual meet tournament in Bladensburg and was named the most outstanding wrestler of the tournament. Ryan, competing in the 132-pound weight class this season, is looking better than ever.

“I may have only lost 2 matches, but none have come easy. Every win was hard fought,” Ryan says looking back on the season.

Another goal for most wrestlers who have been varsity starters since their freshman year is to win 100 matches in their career. This feat doesn’t happen too often, and Paint Branch hasn’t had a wrestler attain 100 wins since Garret Hoover achieved this goal in 2011. Before Hoover, the last three wrestlers to attain this goal were Danny Lethbridge, Steve Miller and Tim Stewart, all 2008 graduates and, coincidently, coaches on this year’s team.