It's unanimous. Timberlane's Barry Chooljian is the national wrestling Coach of the Year.
Over the last several weeks, the highly successful Timberlane coach has captured the two most prestigious national awards attainable.
Just before Christmas, Chooljian was selected as the National High School Coaching Association (NHSCA) Wrestling Coach of the Year and, within the last week, he was picked as the national Coach of the Year by the National Federation High Coaches Association (NFHSCA).
This completed a stunning trifecta for Chooljian, who earlier learned that he was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) regional Coach of the Year.
Chooljian will accept the NHSCA award in Virginia Beach in conjunction with the Senior Nationals in March.
He will be recognized for the NWCA honor at the NCAA Division 1 finals in Omaha, Neb., where he's hoping to watch nationally ranked former Owl Eric Morrill compete for Edinboro University.
"I am quite humbled by it all," said Chooljian. "National recognition like this is not something I ever envisioned happening. I coach because I love working with the kids, and all the success we have had is because of their hard work and dedication.
"I also have been very fortunate to work in a school district that has been very supportive of our wrestling program. This is good for the kids and good for the program, and that's what I care about the most."
Regardless, Chooljian's accomplishments in his 23 years as head coach are striking. Individually, Timberlane wrestlers have captured 14 New England titles, and five standouts have earned All-American status, highlighted by Matt Smith's title at Senior Nationals in 2002.
The honors and the accomplishments are well deserved according to Timberlane Principal Don Woodworth, a former co-coach with Chooljian.
"Barry is a consummate professional and is on top of everything," said Woodworth. "Soup to nuts, he's 100 percent invested in each kid on the mat and off the mat.
"He has organized a program that speaks for itself. He shows kids where they are, what they can accomplish and how to get there. They come out of his program better human beings. They know that they're part of something hard but also very rewarding."
And now they know that they're wresting for a national Coach of the Year.
The Chooljian record
Years coaching: 1986-present
Record: 385-40-5
N.H. divisional state titles: 17 (state record), including 10 straight (state record)
N.H. runner-up: 3
Meet of Champions (All-States): Six straight titles
New England champion: 7 (record)
New England runner-up: 4
National Coach of the Year: By two organizations
Miscellaneous: Has coached five NHSCA Senior All-Americans including one national champion
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