School: Clovis

Years: 14 at Clovis, 28 overall

Chosen because: Led the Cougars to a record ninth CIF State Wrestling Championships title – the third under Tirapelle's direction – with a tournament-record 14 qualifiers producing the second-most points (186) in the event's 39-year history. Tirapelle and staff – Adam Tirapelle, Ben Holscher, Pete Samhammer, Clint Walbeck, Eric LeGarreta, Scott Moore, Eddie Castillo, Nara Sihavong, Kenny Martinez, Sean Carlson and Sergio Enloe – coached nine state medalists overall and champions in Daniel Gaytan (119) and Nick Nevills (285), who became the heaviest freshman to win a state title.

Accomplishments: Opened season by winning The Grizz at Central, the first of 10 tournament titles for the Cougars' No. 1 varsity team. Clovis also won the Clovis West Shootout, the Zinkin Classic, the Doc Buchanan, Temecula Valley, Mission San Jose, Tri-River Athletic Conference, Yosemite Divisionals and Masters. Outscored opposition 276-69 while going 5-0 in the TRAC, a league that would produce five of the top 29 teams at the state tournament.

Career achievements: Tirapelle has coached 65 state medalists and 15 state champions, 62 of those placewinners and 14 champs coming at Clovis High. His teams have won eight Masters titles and finished among the top 5 at state 11 times.

He said it: "It was storybook in a sense. We had the second-highest points scored in the history of the meet, a couple of champions, nine kids placed, which tied the record. It was our ninth [team title] overall. This team just had great chemistry and camaraderie. It was very upperclassmen driven. They were very unselfish, hard workers and good leaders and examples for the other kids. Before we ever wrestled for the state championship, I told them it was truly a wonderful year as far as the kids, the team, being represented well, competing well, being good examples in the community, going out of state and having people coming up to you and telling you what great kids you have. It was very rewarding." – Steve Tirapelle

Also considered: Porterville's Tim Vanni, a former two-time U.S. Olympic wrestler who guided Porterville to ninth place at the state championships – the school's best finish – while producing three medalists, including 135-pound runner-up Shane Yacuta.