24 years ago this weekend: Just about every Baltimorean was glued to their TVs for the 2001 Super Bowl featuring the underdog 11 point Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants.
In the franchise’s first winning season, the Ravens earned a wild card playoff spot despite not scoring a touchdown, but still winning, in 5 consecutive games.
The Ravens punished the Giants, by a score of 34-7, with linebacker and 3 time state champion wrestler from Lakeland, Florida, Ray Lewis, being named Most Valuable Player.
Earlier that day, wrestling history was also being made in Edgewood, Maryland. USA Wrestling had made arrangements with Edgewood High School’s wrestling coach, Darin Bokeno, to host Maryland’s first-ever all girl’s wrestling tournament.
That day, 8 year old Helen Maroulis of Rockville earned her 1st wrestling championship.
Fast forward 12 years, Ray Lewis was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a former wrestler who had significant achievements outside of the sport of wrestling.
That would also be the year that 20 year-old Helen Maroulis would earn her 1st medal at the World Championships. In that event Helen lost her 1st match but came back winning her next three matches to earn a Silver Medal
In 2016 Helen would become the 1st US female to earn an Olympic Gold Medal at the Rio de Janeiro games.
Two years later, Ray Lewis would be selected on the 1st ballot to the NFL Hall of Fame. At his induction, Ray thanked his high school wrestling coach Steve Poole for talking him into wrestling because of the impact the skills learned had on his football career
As of 2024, Helen’s eight world medals make her the most highly decorated American female wrestler ever.
