Up until the very end of the UIL District 2-5A Wrestling Tournament, which took place this past weekend at the Tascosa High School Activities Center, it was a race to the top.
The boys side came down to a final sprint from Amarillo High, Caprock and Dumas. The girls side was determined by its last matches of the weekend, in a four-team heat between Borger, Caprock, Dumas and Tascosa.
When the dust settled and team title plaques were handed out, Caprock head wrestling coach Chris Allen was astonished. He wasn’t worried about his guys, but his girls were a different story. Even if the dramatics were more favored toward the former, rather than the latter.
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The Longhorns and Lady Horns captured first place in the team standings, as the boys catapulted over Amarillo High and Dumas with 205 points while the girls pulled away from the field with 172.5 points.
“It makes us feel great,” Allen said, riding the wave of exhilaration. “It makes us feel proud that they were doing the right thing.”
“Our boys wrestled smart by staying in matches and continuing what they did at state duals,” Allen continued. “Our girls, man, they just shocked me. They turned it on, and we had several girls where this was the best tournament they’ve ever had. There are things we need to keep working on, but they really blew me away.”
The Lady Longhorns clinched the top spot late in the championship rounds, and had to fend off Dumas and Borger, who were nipping at their heels. Sophomore Lea Salazar came in clutch by taking down Dumas’ Victoria Fuentes in 5:15, sealing the district title on the girls’ side.
The Dumas boys, a traditional powerhouse in the Texas Panhandle, held the top spot late with 204.5 points – up until the 285 lbs. title bout. Caprock’s junior heavyweight Josiah Darnes topped Palo Duro’s Anival Acosta with a 10-1 decision, which allowed the Longhorns to leapfrog from third place to first.
“(Darnes and Salazar) had to seal the deal for us there at the end,” Allen said. “But the biggest goal in this tournament is how many you can get to the next stage and keep your season going. We’re going to be able to take (nearly) 20 kids to regionals. That’s huge for us.”
Overall, Caprock boasted 17 qualifiers – including seven champions – to the UIL Region I-5A Wrestling Tournament. The regionals are slated for Friday and Saturday at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.
For Allen, the regional tournament – a two-day grind in its own right – is often the great filter for good and great grapplers.
“You have to be realistic, and you have to be tough nosed,” said Allen. “If you watch the state tournament and stay late for the podium, you’ll see about 50% of the placers come from our region. That makes it even harder to get there.”
Despite finishing second on the boys and girls standings, the Demons and Demonettes have plenty of representation heading into next weekend. Leading the charge is junior Eli Loya, who defeated Amarillo High’s Bryson Brown via a 16-0 tech fall in the 138 lbs. championship.
For Loya, picking up the top spot on the medal stand is another step toward the UIL State Wrestling Championships, set for Feb. 13 and Feb. 14 at the Berry Center in Cypress. He also tipped his cap to his teammates for preparing him properly.
“The weekend was per usual,” Loya said. “I just look at it as another tournament, nothing too crazy. It’s another stepping point, going to state. I always have my guys pushing me, and all of them just push me to be better and to do better.”
Smith, who possesses an impressive 34-1 record, cruised to a 10-2 win to win the 106 lbs. title for the Demons. The Demonettes were spearheaded by two champions in junior Emmy Armstrong (120 lbs.) and junior Khylee Whalen (235 lbs.).
Tascosa, the host of the tournament, didn’t walk away empty handed. The Rebels and Lady Rebels captured three championships and sent 13 representatives to regionals. The Lady Rebels also collected one of the most thrilling victories in the championship session.
Senior Kyria Keeton had redemption in mind when stepping onto the mat for the 115 lbs. title match against Bushland’s Zoey Parker. Keeton built up a 10-1 lead, before Parker stormed back with a 9-1 run with 1:43 left in the match.
“The first time I wrestled (Parker), she put me out for nearly a month with a concussion,” Keeton said. “Going in, I felt confident, but I was still a little bit in my head. I’m thinking, ‘Okay, I have my offense and my shots. I need to go first and make sure it’s my match.’ Then, show dominance from there.”
“I think she started getting a little bit defensive,” Keeton added. “She didn’t think that I was going to come strong with my shots and stay strong with my offense.”
Clutching onto a narrow 11-10 lead, Keeton pulled off an escape before taking down Parker. With four seconds left in the match, Keeton placed Parker’s shoulders to the mat for the pinfall victory.
“It felt great,” said Keeton of the win. “It felt awesome, because it’s my last year wrestling. I started at the end of my sophomore year during district time, so I’ve come really far.”
The Amarillo High boys took third in the team standings with 203.5 points, capped by a sudden victory from sophomore Sean Rodriguez. The aforementioned Rebels finished fourth, followed by Palo Duro, Hereford, Borger, Pampa, Bushland and Boys Ranch.
The Borger girls, paced by two champions in Lila Breedlove (100 lbs, 27-0) and senior Kadi Wise (130 lbs., 25-9), took third in the team standings with 158 points. Tascosa landed fourth, followed by Palo Duro and its three champs in sophomore Jency Twee (115 lbs.), junior Xazanya Gonzalez (145 lbs.) and senior Jasmine Vick (170 lbs.).
Amarillo High, Hereford, Bushland and Pampa rounded out the team standings.
Lubbock High Westerners, Randall Lady Raiders acquire top spots at District 3-5A Tournament
This past Thursday and Friday at Vernon High School, a majority of Texas Panhandle and South Plains teams looked to push as many wrestlers as they could into the next round at the UIL District 3-5A Tournament.
Lubbock High claimed team champion status in the boys standings, with four champions and 252 points. The Westerners were paced by Enrique Dioses (106 lbs.), AJ Ramos (132 lbs.), Jaxon Russell (150 lbs.) and Lucas White (165 lbs.).
Randall fared well in both standings. The Lady Raiders picked up the top spot in the team standings, spearheaded by freshman standout Lillian McHam (100 lbs., 32-5). The Raiders clinched second with three champs (Abraham Campa Cortes, Landen Ballesteros and Mark Gallegos) and double-digit qualifiers in total.
Finishing behind the Lady Raiders was Lubbock-Cooper, who accumulated 178 points with three champions. Atop the podium for the Lady Pirates were Anaveh Gonzales (105 lbs.), Tylie Ramos (120 lbs.) and Dereona Young (140 lbs.).
West Plains landed third in both standings, with one boys champion (Jacob Edwards) and two girls champs (Savanna Denton and Kylie O’Dell). The Canyon boys, led by champion Connor Armstrong (157 lbs.), took fourth with 164.5 points, while the Canyon girls finished fifth behind Lubbock High.
The Lady Westerners had one individual champ in Mariella Prieto (235 lbs.), and the Lady Eagles boasted one title winner in Charlotte Campsey (155 lbs.). Lubbock-Cooper was fifth in the boys’ standings with 137.5 points, paced by heavyweight Ryder Hatton.
Lubbock-Cooper Liberty finished with two individual champs in Camillo Esqueda (113 lbs.) and Isaac Rodriguez (215 lbs.), while Lubbock Monterey saw Zaidyn Samora land the top spot on the 175 lbs. podium.
The Lubbock Coronado girls captured three individual titles, courtesy of Tessa Urias (115 lbs.), Ariana Henderson (125 lbs.) and Khloie Gomez (145 lbs.). Lubbock-Cooper Liberty placed ninth, and Lubbock Monterey finished 10th in the standings, led by Shaianne Brown (190 lbs.).
District 2-5A Tournament
at the Tascosa Activity Center
Boys Team Standings
1. Caprock 205 (four champions, nine qualifiers)
2. Dumas 204.5 (two champions, 10 qualifiers)
3. Amarillo High 203.5 (four champions, 10 qualifiers)
4. Tascosa 150.5 (three champions, six qualifiers)
5. Palo Duro 121 (one champion, six qualifiers)
6. Hereford 68.5 (three qualifiers)
7. Borger 68 (two qualifiers)
8. Pampa 50 (three qualifiers)
9. Bushland 41 (two qualifiers)
10. Boys Ranch 16 (one qualifier)
Girls Team Standings
1. Caprock 172.5 (three champions, eight qualifiers)
2. Dumas 161 (two champions, eight qualifiers)
3. Borger 158 (three champions, seven qualifiers)
4. Tascosa 156.5 (one champion, seven qualifiers)
5. Palo Duro 147 (three champions, seven qualifiers)
6. Amarillo High 140.5 (one champion, seven qualifiers)
7. Hereford 125 (one champion, five qualifiers)
8. Bushland 80.5 (four qualifiers)
9. Pampa 16
Boys Individual Qualifiers
106 lbs.
1. Conner Smith, Dumas
2. Zyair Gonzales, Caprock
3. Elisha Bravo, Borger
4. Iker Lopez, Palo Duro
113 lbs.
1. Miguel Sandoval, Caprock
2. Aiven Martinez, Dumas
3. Fidel Ortiz, Hereford
4. Kavlen Roland, Amarillo High
120 lbs.
1. Sean Rodriguez, Amarillo High
2. Issac Romero, Borger
3. Alec Arriaga, Tascosa
4. Colt Fox, Dumas
126 lbs.
1. Aiden Rivera, Tascosa
2. Angel Ochoa, Caprock
3. Qaletre Garcia, Hereford
4. Niko Villalon, Palo Duro
132 lbs.
1. Christian Casarez, Caprock
2. Colton Bogner, Dumas
3. Gavin Chambers, Amarillo High
4. Jimmy Garcia, Hereford
138 lbs.
1. Eli Loya, Dumas
2. Bryson Brown, Amarillo High
3. Elias Diaz, Borger
4. Riley Clark, Bushland
144 lbs.
1. Bently Arguello, Amarillo High
2. Moses Montoya, Caprock
3. Blaise Williams, Dumas
4. Garrett Nickell, Tascosa
150 lbs.
1. Max Trostle, Caprock
2. Chris Brown, Amarillo High
3. Adam Trujillo, Dumas
4. Jaxon Simms, Bushland
157 lbs.
1. Drezdyn Ballard, Amarillo High
2. Braylan King, Tascosa
3. Gavin Elbersh, Boys Ranch
4. Nestor Rodriguez, Palo Duro
165 lbs.
1. Jace Castillo, Tascosa
2. Xavier Vargas, Caprock
3. Kellan Reynolds, Amarillo High
4. Jesus Lopez, Palo Duro
175 lbs.
1. Ethan Webb, Amarillo High
2. Reymundo Cadeno, Palo Duro
3. Bryson Butler, Caprock
4. Jonathan Moss, Dumas
190 lbs.
1. Caiden Frias, Tascosa
2. ZJ Jara, Dumas
3. Cohen Swaim, Amarillo High
4. Joseph Coronado, Pampa
215 lbs.
1. Eliot Flores, Palo Duro
2. Adonnis Cofer, Tascosa
3. Vicente Sanchez, Dumas
4. Jace Jones, Pampa
285 lbs.
1. Josiah Darnes, Caprock
2. Anival Acosta, Palo Duro
3. Aaron Venzor, Dumas
4. Roberto Galvan, Pampa
Girls Individual Qualifiers
100 lbs.
1. Lila Breedlove, Borger
2. Yadelyn Gavirio, Dumas
3. Jolie Mpela, Amarillo High
4. Mikayela Valdez, Caprock
105 lbs.
1. Nicole Soldevilla, Borger
2. Cheenny Pham, Caprock
3. Mia Garcia, Dumas
4. Mataya Fuentes, Bushland
110 lbs.
1. Jency Twee, Palo Duro
2. Olivia Montoya, Caprock
3. Analecia Vences, Amarillo High
4. Hannah Dean, Tascosa
115 lbs.
1. Kyria Keeton, Tascosa
2. Zoey Parker, Bushland
3. Jazzlyn Sollano, Palo Duro
4. Aniya Rodriguez, Amarillo High
120 lbs.
1. Emmy Armstrong, Dumas
2. Genesis Cerda, Palo Duro
3. Ryann Cave, Borger
4. Emevoli Guillen, Caprock
125 lbs.
1. Savannah Galvan, Caprock
2. Samantha Marmolejo, Tascosa
3. Bella Kiskaden, Dumas
4. Grace Cave, Borger
130 lbs.
1. Kadi Wise, Borger
2. Elize Vargas, Tascosa
3. Larissa Brown, Palo Duro
4. Kensi Ferguson, Amarillo High
135 lbs.
1. Anaika Barker, Caprock
2. Layla Ortiz, Hereford
3. Mia Hernandez, Tascosa
4. Madalyn Chavez, Amarillo High
140 lbs.
1. Jennifer McNeil, Amarillo High
2. Presley King, Tascosa
3. Lyla Zambrano, Hereford
4. Mindy Johnson, Borger
145 lbs.
1. Xazanya Gonzalez, Palo Duro
2. Peyten Jumper, Amarillo High
3. Janielle Hill, Hereford
4. Jaykaylee Herrera, Bushland
155 lbs.
1. Valori Porter, Hereford
2. Lilli Ramos, Borger
3. Skylar Rippetoe, Bushland
4. Myra Perez, Dumas
170 lbs.
1. Jasmine Vick, Palo Duro
2. Domanique Rodriguez, Hereford
3. Genet Recio, Tascosa
4. Jocelyn Pena, Dumas
190 lbs.
1. Lea Salazar, Caprock
2. Victoria Fuentes, Dumas
3. Crystal Jimenez, Amarillo High
4. Maliah Hase, Palo Duro
235 lbs.
1. Khylee Whalen, Dumas
2. Aryiah Cofer, Tascosa
3. Sophia Ceballos, Hereford
4. Annalisa Lopez, Caprock
District 3-5A Tournament
at Vernon High School
Boys Team Standings
1. Lubbock High 252 (four champions, 10 qualifiers)
2. Randall 224.5 (three champions, 11 qualifiers)
3. West Plains 168 (one champion, five qualifiers)
4. Canyon 164.5 (one champion, seven qualifiers)
5. Lubbock-Cooper 137.5 (one champion, six qualifiers)
6. Springtown 102.5 (one champion, five qualifiers)
7. Lubbock-Cooper Liberty 85 (two champions, three qualifiers)
7. Vernon 85 (two qualifiers)
9. Lubbock Monterey 81.5 (one champion, three qualifiers)
10. Henrietta 59 (one qualifier)
11. Lubbock Coronado 46.5 (two qualifiers)
12. Lubbock Estacado 32.5 (one qualifier)
13. Frenship Memorial 16
14. Happy 0
Girls Team Standings
1. Randall 192.5 (one champion, nine qualifiers)
2. Lubbock-Cooper 178 (three champions, seven qualifiers)
3. West Plains 164 (two champions, eight qualifiers)
4. Lubbock High 157 (one champion, five qualifiers)
5. Canyon 125.5 (two champions, seven qualifiers)
6. Henrietta 114 (two champions, five qualifiers)
7. Lubbock Coronado 105 (three champions, four qualifiers)
8. Springtown 99 (five qualifiers)
9. Lubbock-Cooper Liberty 59 (two qualifiers)
10. Lubbock Monterey 54 (one champion, two qualifiers)
11. Frenship Memorial 48 (two qualifiers)
12. Vernon 18
13. Happy 0
13. Lubbock Estacado 0
Boys Individual Qualifiers
106 lbs.
1. Enrique Dioses, Lubbock High
2. Kinsler Brown, Henrietta
3. Brayson Puckett, Lubbock Monterey
4. Quinton Dyer, Randall
113 lbs.
1. Camillo Esqueda, Lubbock-Cooper Liberty
2. Jonathan Matta, Lubbock High
3. Isac Arteaga, Canyon
4. Micah Meurer, Randall
120 lbs.
1. Abraham Campa Cortes, Randall
2. Elijah Ramos, Lubbock High
3. Mariano Villalobos, Lubbock-Cooper
4. John Nguyen, Lubbock-Cooper Liberty
126 lbs.
1. Jacob Edwards, West Plains
2. Falco Martinez, Randall
3. Max Dorsey, Canyon
4. Brady Hasty, Springtown
132 lbs.
1. AJ Ramos, Lubbock High
2. Brandon Orta, Lubbock Estacado
3. Lincoln Beauchamp, Randall
4. Jonah Neely, West Plains
138 lbs.
1. Landen Ballesteros, Randall
2. Fernando Dioses, Lubbock High
3. Cory Rodriquez, Lubbock Coronado
4. Dillon Hasty, Springtown
144 lbs.
1. Dominic Contreras, Springtown
2. Ryan Cavitt, Randall
3. Javen Medrano, Lubbock High
4. Christopher Winton, Lubbock Monterey
150 lbs.
1. Jaxon Russell, Lubbock High
2. Michael Castillo, West Plains
3. Jonah McClure, Lubbock-Cooper
4. Seth Gonzales, Randall
157 lbs.
1. Connor Armstrong, Canyon
2. Keegan Jones, Lubbock-Cooper
3. Daniel Wilson, Springtown
4. Blaityn White, West Plains
165 lbs.
1. Lucas White, Lubbock High
2. Bowie Eakin, Vernon
3. Ace Bledsoe, West Plains
4. Bryar Burks, Canyon
175 lbs.
1. Zaidyn Samora, Lubbock Monterey
2. Jack Sipowicz, Lubbock-Cooper
3. Slade Drager, Canyon
4. Carlito Rodriguez, Vernon
190 lbs.
1. Mark Gallegos, Randall
2. Josiah Medrano, Lubbock High
3. Rudy Flores, Canyon
4. Loinell Gervacio, Lubbock Coronado
215 lbs.
1. Isaac Rodriguez, Lubbock-Cooper Liberty
2. Dallen Clift, Canyon
3. Carlos Cortez, Lubbock High
4. Troy Chacon, Lubbock-Cooper
285 lbs.
1. Ryder Hatton, Lubbock-Cooper
2. Elijah Luna, Randall
3. Trenton Owens, Springtown
4. Foste Katembo, West Plains
Girls Individual Qualifiers
100 lbs.
1. Lillian McHam, Randall
2. Serenity Cervantez, West Plains
3. Journey Martinez, Frenship Memorial
4. Marianna Galvan, Lubbock-Cooper
105 lbs.
1. Anaveh Gonzales, Lubbock-Cooper
2. Felicity Tarango, Lubbock High
3. Anisa Nuchols, Randall
4. Vivi Garcia, Canyon
110 lbs.
1. Savanna Denton, West Plains
2. Lynlee Bice, Canyon
3. Constanza Robles, Randall
4. Makayla Ballard, Springtown
115 lbs.
1. Tessa Urias, Lubbock Coronado
2. Lauren McHam, Randall
3. Zaliyah Rodriguez, Lubbock-Cooper
4. McKenzi Sechrist, Canyon
120 lbs.
1. Tylie Ramos, Lubbock-Cooper
2. Hanna Trujillo, Randall
3. Ava Westerman, Lubbock-Cooper Liberty
4. Zayrah Hernandez, West Plains
125 lbs.
1. Ariana Henderson, Lubbock Coronado
2. Addison Hardie, Randall
3. Joce Carrasco, Lubbock-Cooper
4. Liberty Crilly, Springtown
130 lbs.
1. Dalilah Coyle, Henrietta
2. Macey Jeffrey, Randall
3. Ariana Criado-Silvar, Lubbock High
4. Eleana Saldivar, Frenship Memorial
135 lbs.
1. Shelby Coyle, Henrietta
2. Alyssa Rodriguez, Lubbock-Cooper
3. Allison Decker, West Plains
4. Ellinore Schmitz, Springtown
140 lbs.
1. Dereona Young, Lubbock-Cooper
2. Makalyn Lee, Canyon
3. Andrea Perez, Randall
4. Brenna Meister, West Plains
145 lbs.
1. Khloie Gomez, Lubbock Coronado
2. Autumn Chitty, Henrietta
3. Karsyn Quirino, Randall
4. Nathalia Flores, Lubbock High
155 lbs.
1. Charlotte Campsey, Canyon
2. Keyondra Villagran, Lubbock Monterey
3. Calie Wright, Springtown
4. Rylie Carmine, Henrietta
170 lbs.
1. Kylie O’Dell, West Plains
2. Cynthia Runkles, Lubbock-Cooper Liberty
3. Kaori Gonzales, Lubbock High
4. Zariah Nelson, Springtown
190 lbs.
1. Shaianne Brown, Lubbock Monterey
2. Soltero Katii, West Plains
3. Grayson Hughes, Henrietta
4. Aracely Contreras, Canyon
235 lbs.
1. Mariella Prieto, Lubbock High
2. Zoie Gomez, Lubbock Coronado
3. Josselin Large, Canyon
4. Addison Agalaba, West Plains