Back-to-back-to-back! Jefferson’s Roman Belardo keeps the award for a third straight year!

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

State Champion – 132 LB
3x State Champion
42-4 Record

Belardo was again victorious almost all the way around. A 3-time state champion, he won in the 132-lb bracket this season, and went 42-4 overall. He led the Dragons to a State Championships in Duals and Traditionals.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Roman Belardo – 77 pts (10 1st-place votes)
2. Nathan Nielsen – 68 pts (8)
3. Paxon Legatt – 51.5 pts (3)
4. Tysean Wiggins – 27 pts
5. Fischer West – 18 pts

Voting included our 21-person panel made up of sports reporters, writers, video producers, former coaches, players, GHSA officials, and sports experts. The voting is Heisman-style, with the following points system:
1st place votes: 5 pts; 2nd: 3 pts; 3rd: 2 pts; 4th: 1 pts; 5th-6th: 0.5 pts; 7th-8th 0.25 pts

Belardo took the most 1st-place votes, but this was a close one between him and Lumpkin’s Nathan Nielsen, also a state champion.

HISTORY OF WOY

• 2024-25 – Roman Belardo – Jefferson JR
• 2023-24 – Roman Belardo – Jefferson SO
• 2022-23 – Roman Belardo – Jefferson FR
• 2021-22 – Sammy Brown – Jefferson SO
• 2020-21 – Devin Sullens – White Co SR
• 2019-20 – Nolan Wheeler – Lumpkin Co SR
• 2018-19 – Ryan Hurd – Jefferson SR
• 2017-18 – Chase Forrester – Commerce SR
• 2016-17 – Zach Matthews – Lumpkin Co SR
• 2015-16 – Zach Matthews – Lumpkin Co JR
• 2014-15 – Chris McCrackin – Banks Co JR
• 2013-14 – Chance McClure – Commerce SR
• 2012-13 – Chance McClure – Commerce JR
• 2011-12 – Coleman Cunningham – Habersham Central SR
• 2010-11 – Caleb Morris – White Co JR
• 2009-10 – Caleb Morris – White Co SO

Belardo makes history as the first 3-time winner of the award, and has a chance to go 4-for-4 if he does it again next season. He keeps the award in Jefferson, which has won it five times overall (more than any school). He’s the fifth junior to claim it.

WHO WILL WIN IT NEXT YEAR?