Family Ties, Twinning Records
Cousins Najjar and Roumayah make their mark on the mat
By Steve Stein
Anthony Najjar and Chase Roumayah are two of just five wrestlers in Bloomfield Hills High School history to win at least 100 matches in their careers. The outgoing, tight-knit 17-year-old cousins each reached that milestone this past winter during their senior seasons—an impressive feat made even more remarkable by their identical career records: 109 wins and 46 losses.
Both served as team captains for three years, another rare achievement, and both started wrestling only after joining the Bloomfield Hills team as freshmen. Now, with their high school wrestling days behind them, neither plans to compete in college. They said they’re grateful for the experience but are ready for what’s next.
“I triple-checked their records to make sure they were correct,” said Bloomfield Hills wrestling coach Tony Scigliano. “I don’t know what the odds are of two people—let alone cousins—finishing with the exact same record. It’s extraordinary.”
Year-by-Year Breakdown
Najjar, who competed in the 132- to 150-pound weight classes:
- Freshman: 20-12
- Sophomore: 19-11
- Junior: 30-16
- Senior: 40-7
Roumayah, who wrestled in the 112- to 132-pound weight classes:
- Freshman: 22-14
- Sophomore: 26-9
- Junior: 26-10
- Senior: 35-13
Najjar is the son of Steve and Karen Najjar; Roumayah’s parents are Chris and Rana Roumayah. Karen and Chris are siblings, and both families live in Bloomfield Hills. The cousins have been close friends since childhood, long before they became teammates.
“Chase and I hang out a lot,” Najjar said.
“They’re always together,” Scigliano added.
Though close, the cousins are easy to tell apart. Najjar, with his red hair and muscular build, is shorter and stockier. Roumayah, who has black hair, is a bit taller and leaner.
On the mat, Najjar leveraged his strength, while Roumayah relied more on finesse and leverage techniques. “They were both aggressive wrestlers who came to compete,” Scigliano said. “They had talent, confidence, and a fierce desire to win. In my 18 years as coach, I’ve never had a wrestler exceed his seed in tournaments more consistently than Chase. He always said rankings didn’t matter to him.”
Najjar said he quickly fell in love with wrestling and wanted to excel. “I don’t like doing things halfway,” he said. “I’m proud that I stuck with it for four years—it’s almost a requirement if you want to reach 100 wins in high school.”
Roumayah also had a passion for the sport but nearly walked away after his junior season due to injuries and the demands of cutting weight. “I talked to my family and prayed about it. I’m so glad I came back for my senior year,” he said.
The 5-foot-9 Roumayah wrestled at 132 pounds as a senior but quickly gained weight once the season ended. He now weighs about 155 pounds. Despite falling just short of qualifying for the MHSAA Division 1 state tournament—losing by three points in a decisive match—he said he has no regrets. “It was kind of a relief to be done,” he said, “but I’ll really miss competing and my teammates.”
Najjar, meanwhile, did qualify for the state tournament at Ford Field in Detroit, competing in the 150-pound division. He went 1-2, losing a close opening match to Brighton’s Kaden Tindall (5-2), bouncing back with a 12-10 overtime win over Warren Mott’s John Kaminski, then falling 12-2 to Detroit Catholic Central’s Alexander Buskirk.
“Anthony was ranked fifth or sixth in the state for most of the season, and I really thought he’d place in the top eight,” Scigliano said. “He outwrestled the Brighton kid but didn’t get some calls. That’s wrestling. Things don’t always go your way. I love how he came back to win in overtime.”
Najjar said he was proud of how he performed at state and wasn’t fazed by the environment. “I wasn’t nervous. I always believed in myself,” said the 5-foot-8, 150-pounder.
Najjar plans to attend Oakland University to study business. Roumayah is still deciding on a college and field of study.
Roumayah said the cousins share one more connection beyond their twin records and blessings on the mat: both have two older brothers. Najjar has three siblings—Grace, 13; Joseph, 19; and James, 21. Roumayah’s brothers are Christian, 23, and Cameron, 21.
Bloomfield Hills High School, formed from the merger of the former Andover and Lahser high schools, opened in the 2015–16 school year. In less than a decade, it has produced two standout wrestlers with one unforgettable, intertwined legacy.