As Paint Branch Wrestling enters the 2016-17 season, the team hopes to be a strong contender in both its division and region. Head Coach Rick Smith is entering his 24th season with a team that has some excellent wrestlers including his sons, Nolan and Austin Smith, and Dhedhus Anumgba, Rysean Grant, Brian Trinh, and Abu Abdillah.

According to Coach Smith, the strength of the team is the middle weights, while the weakness of this team is the upper weights. This team expects some tough matches with the top tier MOCO teams like Northwest, Whitman, Sherwood, Springbrook, Magruder, and Walter Johnson.
Last season’s squad went 23-7, including two dual-tournament wins, and seniors Gibbs Tinne and Cornell Wilson both won county and regional championships. The Smith brothers finished 3rd and 5th, respectively, in the county. This season the team will have to replace Tinne and Wilson, who – according to Smith – were two of the best wrestlers in Paint Branch history.

Coach Smith sees this season as one of strong possibilities, saying, “We have excellent potential, but it needs to improve fast if we want to compete with the Big Boys.” As for what fans should be on the lookout for from this year’s team, Smith says, “Hopefully an energetic team that stays healthy.”