The Benedictine wrestling room is accustomed to turning out a wealth of Virginia's top talent on the mat, and Cadets coach David Yost has different prematch recipes catered toward what makes each individual wrestler tick.

For Wetzler, the 2026 All-Metro wrestler of the year, Yost's approach is straightforward -- leave him alone, aside from perhaps a quick thumbs up about 10 minutes before it's go time.

“All my friends tell me before I wrestle that I get super quiet. I don’t talk a lot before I wrestle. I just have to lock in," said Wetzler, a junior who is a two-time National Preps All-American who went 22-4 this year en route to his second consecutive individual VISAA state title at 113 pounds.

“I take a while before matches, 20, 30 minutes before to start walking and get quiet. I’m just thinking about attacking more.”

And once that whistle goes -- bang, Wetzler is in attack mode. His elite speed allows him to rack up points at a blistering pace. All business, he doesn't talk during matches either.

One time he accidentally poked an opponent in the eye and apologized. But aside from that, he's a cerebral silent assassin who led Benedictine to its sixth team state title this year and first since 2020.

"The recipe for him is leave him alone. Don’t talk to him for a good 20 minutes," Yost said, sitting against the wall of Benedictine's wrestling room in mid-April as Wetzler, a tireless worker who takes every opportunity afforded to him to get on the mat, participated in an open session.

"Ten minutes before, I give him a thumbs up, like, ‘You good?’ Yup. And then he gets after it. It’s like he keeps the switch turned on all the time. He’s a killer. He’s pretty locked in regardless. I leave him alone beforehand, and he’s ready to rock when the whistle blows.”

Wetzler is the third consecutive All-Metro wrestler of the year from Benedictine after Lane Foard (Wyoming) earned the Richmond region's highest accolade the past two seasons, and he's the fourth Cadet in the past five years to win the award in a run of dominance begun by Zane Cox (Roanoke) in 2022.

Wetzler picked up the sport in second grade when his dad, Ryan, who wrestled in middle and high school, took him to Midlothian Miners Wrestling Club.

Royce grew up in Chesterfield and won a Region 6A title while going 45-1 his freshman year at Cosby before transferring to Benedictine. He's been an All-Metro first-teamer each of his three years of high school.

From tutelage under former Titans coach Mike Stefanko, whom Yost called a "legendary coach" in the local wrestling scene, to mentorship from renowned Virginia Team Predator coach Mark Strickland and now his current elite environment under Yost with the Cadets, Wetzler's growth on the mat is a product of elite coaching.

“Royce has had the opportunity to be coached by some really great coaches, some great mentors and has made the most of it," Yost said.

"You give Royce an opportunity to get on the mat, and he’s going to take it every time. It’s cool to see. Soon, some college is going to be pretty lucky to get his commitment. I’m excited to see what happens.”

Wetzler has claimed victories in each of his state finals the past two years by tech fall, though he feels as though he could've ended the most recent one (a 17-1 tech fall over Max Behrooz of St. Christopher's in 4:38) even sooner instead of "dragging it out."

Yost joked that those matches were a tad underwhelming. That's because Wetzler has the most first-period techs of anyone on the Cadets' roster by a long shot. He rattles points off early to get off the mat in short order. And his clam, collected demeanor is consistent regardless of the stakes.

That wasn't always the case though. Wetzler said he used to be a much more defensive wrestler. But over the past couple years he's adjusted his stance and approach to be more aggressive and use his speed, which Yost called "extraordinary," to "pull the trigger" early and often, overwhelming opponents.

"I'm definitely on the offensive more. Going to high-level tournaments has helped me get a lot better," Wetzler said, sitting in Yost's office in the corner of Benedictine's wrestling room as yells and grunts echoed from the mat.

"Coach Yost influences my development a lot, and the practices here are very professional."

Also an elite student in the classroom, Wetzler plans on studying computer science in college and hopes to continue wrestling at the next level.

In addition to his father, his mother, Masae, and grandmother Joy have been cherished pillars of his development on and off the mat.

His mom comes to all his matches, drives him to school and meets and often cooks him dinner after long days in the classroom and on the mat -- Royce's favorite homecooked meals are salmon and curry. 

“My grandma cares a lot for me, I love my grandma a lot. And my dad also helps me a lot. He works very hard," Wetzler said.

"And then my mom helps a lot, she drives me places, cooks a lot for me. She’s always invested in my nutrition and success.”

Wetzler came to Benedictine with the goal of competing at an elite level nationally. That dream has quickly come to fruition -- he was a semifinalist at National Preps in February, where he fell to eventual national champion Justin Farnsworth of Malvern (Pa.).

But true to his makeup, Wetzler isn't satisfied with all he's accomplished to this point in a stellar high school career.

Not even close.

“I don’t want to settle on placing in high-level tournaments, I want to go for finalist or just winning," Wetzler said, softly and calmly as ever, but with a strong note of determination.

Lots of wrestlers on Benedictine's roster weren't there on that hot, muggy Wednesday in mid-April, Yost said. They were playing spring sports or decompressing after a long season. 

But trying to keep Wetzler off the mat is as much a losing battle as trying to talk to with him before a match.

“There are not many kids, if any, who’ve said yes to all the opportunities they’ve been given like he has," Yost said with a glance full of pride at Wetzler, who, of course, jumped right back on the mat at the conclusion of his interview.

"It shows. It’s paying off. He’s continued to get better on and off the mat every day.”

Meet the rest of the first team

Braxton Rankin

School: St. Christopher's

Weight: 106

Year: Freshman

About: A Prep League and VISAA champion, Rankin went 17-8 this season and defeated Paul VI's Rei Pate by a 4-2 decision in the state-title match after rolling through the first three rounds with a pin and two tech falls. Rankin placed fifth at the Raymond B. Oliver Tournament and first at the Titan Classic. Braxton now takes the torch of Saints wrestling heritage from older brother and fellow All-Metro first-teamer Noah. 

Emmons Tewalt

School: Hanover

Weight: 120

Year: Senior

About: The Region 4B and Class 4 state champion concluded a dominant senior season with a 35-2 record. A University of Lynchburg recruit and Hanover Hawkeye product, Tewalt finishes a standout high school career as a three-time state placer and two-time region champion. Tewalt captured the state title with a 7-3 decision over Atlee's Brodie Gibbs, his club and future college teammate. 

Bradley Ament

School: St. Christopher's

Weight: 126

Year: Sophomore

About: Another Prep League and VISAA state champion for the Saints, Ament finished the season 23-9 overall and reached the National Preps round of 12. The No. 2 seed in his weight class at the VISAA meet, Ament pinned his first two opponents before an 8-0 victory in the semifinal. In the championship match, he won a tightly contested 8-6 decision over Benedictine's Henry Jones.

Drew Roggie

School: St. Christopher's

Weight: 132

Year: Senior

About: Another Roggie on the All-Metro wrestling team? Yup, St. Christopher's keeps churning them out. This three-time VISAA state champion and three-time National Prep All-American finished his high school with a 17-8 record. This is Roggie's fourth All-Metro honor. Older brother Erik wrestled at UVa, cousin Cale was an All-Metro selection at St. Christopher's and father Bryan wrestled at Suny Cortland.

Noah Rankin

School: St. Christopher's

Weight: 138

Year: Senior

About: This Prep League champ went 21-8 en route to a second-place finish at the VISAA state tournament, where he fell to Norfolk Academy's Matteo DeFilippo in the final. But that end result shouldn't mar an outstanding senior campaign in which Rankin competed at Beast of the East and Ironman and placed first at the Raymond B. Oliver Tournament. 

Nate Foldes

School: Benedictine

Weight: 144

Year: Junior

About: The third Foldes brother to come to Benedictine, Nate went 20-4 this year, defeating Cape Henry's Malik Peralta by a 10-4 decision to a VISAA title after rolling to the championship bout with a pin, a tech fall and a 17-5 major decision. A runner-up in the past two state tournaments, Foldes finished the job this time around to punctuate a commanding junior season.

Elliott Crews

School: Benedictine

Weight: 150

Year: Sophomore

About: Another first-place finisher for the VISAA state champion Cadets, Crews went 31-9 and made the round of 12 at National Preps. Crews pinned his first three opponents in 38 seconds, 1:22 and 1:09 at the state meet before fighting past Paul VI's Niko Colavecchio with a 9-5 decision in the title match. 

Brennan Loving

School: Deep Run

Weight: 157

Year: Junior

About: The Class 5 all-state honoree and Region 5C champion improved his career record to 77-22 and season record to 32-4 when he defeated Woodbridge's Carmine Mcdaniel by an 11-4 decision in the Class 5 title match. The No. 4 seed at the state meet, Loving pinned his first two opponents before earning a 4-0 decision in the semifinal round over Nansemond River's William Falkenstein.

Jameson Burns

School: Benedictine

Weight: 165

Year: Sophomore

About: The VISAA runner-up at 165, Burns went 10-3 this season and reached the National Preps round of 12. He was the No. 2 seed at the VISAA meet and pinned each of his first three opponents in 27 seconds, 25 seconds and 1:58 before bowing out to top-seeded Cole Wilson (Paul VI) by an 11-6 decision in the championship match. Burns is a two-time state champion and All-Metro first-teamer.

Liam Johnson

School: Goochland

Weight: 175

Year: Senior

About: A Virginia Team Predator product and Class 3 all-state selection, Johnson went 20-6 this season and defeated Alleghany's Carter Nicely by 13-3 to cap his high school career with a state championship at the Class 3 meet. Johnson also claimed a Region 3B crown with an 18-2 tech fall victory over Kettle Run's Cru Scott in the region-title match.

Drew Pendlebury

School: St. Christopher's

Weight: 190

Year: Senior

About: This Prep League champion went 20-11 and placed third at the VISAA state meet. An All-Metro honorable mention last season, Drew is another product of rich Saints wrestling lineage. Brother Eric was a first-teamer last year and won a Prep League title in tandem with his brother this season. Drew Pendlebury competed at Trojan Wars and Beast of the East and had a strong showing at the Titan Classic.

Cannen Harlow

School: Goochland

Weight: 215

Year: Senior

About: The Region 3B and Class 3 state champ at 215 pounds, Harlow is another product of a family rich in wrestling lineage -- brother Patrick was a two-time state champion with the Bulldogs. A two-time region champ at Goochland, Cannen Harlow punctuated a stellar high school career with a narrow 4-2 decision over Heritage's Elijah Erskine in the semifinal bout and a hard-fought 7-2 decision over Fauquier's Brian Bland in the title match. 

Sean Boyd

School: Benedictine

Weight: Heavy

Year: Junior

About: Also a second-team All-Metro football honoree on the defensive line for the state champion Cadets, Boyd finished seventh at National Preps to earn All-American status. The No. 2 seed at the VISAA meet, he pinned each of his first two opponents and notched a 15-3 major decision in the semifinal before beating top-seeded Lance Clelland (St. Christopher's) 4-2 in the state-title match. 

Note: Wrestler of the year takes up first-team weight class. 

Honorable mentions

100 (girls): Syd Branch, Prince George

106: Camden Palmer, Atlee; Aiden Blackwelder, Glen Allen; Colt Brewer, Benedictine; Samuel Kim, Midlothian

113: Max Behrooz, St. Christopher's; Carter Roy, New Kent; Harrison Swink, Prince George; Jakob Thomas, Powhatan

120: Brodie Gibbs, Atlee; Tristan Carter, New Kent; Tauheed Bashirt, Highland Springs; Witt Wood, St. Christopher's

126: Henry Jones, Benedictine; Alex Cuic, New Kent; Brady Beard, Powhatan; Brendan McKee, Glen Allen

132: Carl Andrade, Glen Allen; Jason Ludwig, Atlee; Ryan O'Keefe, Patrick Henry; Hayden Barber, Mills Godwin; Nicholas Demyanovich, Benedictine

138: Emmitt Henley, Benedictine; Mustafa Safi, Deep Run; Mason Lyons, Patrick Henry; Gavin Tomlinson, Powhatan

144: Carter Parry, Hanover; Landon Burke, Glen Allen; Colton Eam, Clover Hill; Ben Fox, Deep Run; Roy Fridley, Powhatan

150: Elijah Smith, Powhatan; Ben Owens, Hanover; Griffin Van der Waag, St. Christopher's; Adam Ayala, New Kent

157: Manny Evans, Benedictine; Ethan Han, Glen Allen; Gavin Shuster, Mills Godwin; Miles Hinson, St. Christopher's; Petrus Howard, John Marshall; Kaden Vandermark, Dinwiddie; Quinn Morrison, New Kent; John Bednarczyk, Hanover

165: Khalid Shinwari, Douglas Freeman; William Sutten, St. Christopher's; Mouhamed Niang, Clover Hill; Jackson Faris, Powhatan; Hayden Smith, Glen Allen

175: Ashton Ritz, Cosby; Chase Wiles, New Kent; Eric Pendlebury, St. Christopher's; Harrison Byers, Benedictine

190: Owen Borchers, J.R. Tucker; Trae'Vaughn Towner, Dinwiddie; Nathaniel Davis, Thomas Dale; Cole Hershberger, Benedictine

215: Vake Martin, St. Christopher's; Nathan Shelton, Powhatan; Luke Adamson, New Kent; Maxim Calle, Benedictine

Heavyweight: Lance Clelland, St. Christopher's; Cole Leinberger, Thomas Dale; Chinemelum Okerulu, Deep Run; Curtis Arnold, Prince George; Cory McPhearson, King William