It’s where the best is put to the test.
The UIL Wrestling State Tournament is a grand stage where grapplers from the Texas Panhandle and South Plains square off against the rest of the Lone Star State, over the course of a two-day gauntlet.
Of the more than 60 Texas Panhandle and South Plains wrestlers to qualify for the Class 5A side of the state tournament, 10 of them clinched state final berths. Of those 10, it was split evenly – with five boys and five girls.
When the dust settled on Valentine’s Day evening at the Berry Center in Cypress, two wrestlers – Dumas’ Conner Smith and Randall’s Elijah Luna – stood atop the podium in their respective weight classes.
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Luna’s ascendance was a tale of perseverance. The Raiders’ heavyweight rallied past Cedar Park’s Jude Burke with a late takedown and a 5-4 victory. Luna used a third period reversal to advance past Jeremiah Mendez of Dallas South Oak Cliff in the quarterfinals, before overwhelming Azle’s Jordan Durrett with a favorable 11-5 score to secure a championship berth.
Facing off against Lubbock-Cooper’s Ryder Hatton, it was a proverbial rubber match for Luna. Despite Hatton owning the previous two matches and boasting an unbeaten 25-0 record, Luna turned the tables when the spotlight grew the largest.
Luna held a 1-0 lead, before Hatton equalized with an escape with 1:53 left in the match. With 11 seconds to go, Luna scored a three-point takedown and a four-point near-fall as time expired. Luna (35-6) not only collected an 8-1 victory, but an upset over the top seed of the 285 lbs. weight class.
Smith, seeded third, tore through the 106 lbs. bracket. After defeating Dallas Wilson’s Anthony Soria via a 15-0 tech fall, Smith gutted out a 6-5 decision over Esteban Vela of Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial. In the semifinals, Smith prevailed over regional opponent Enrique Dioses of Lubbock High.
In the title match, Smith built up a double-digit lead before defeating Mission Sharyland’s Santiago Miranda with a 10-3 decision. Smith finished the season with an outstanding 45-1 record.
The most incredible run of the weekend belonged to Randall girls’ wrestler Anisa Nuchols. Seeded 14th in the 105 lbs. weight class, Nuchols picked up two pinfalls and outlasted Borger’s Nicole Soldevilla with a 13-12 decision to reach the finals.
Facing top seed Ava Aragon out of McAllen, Nuchols came up short in a hard fought 3-0 battle.
Caprock’s Christian Casarez (43-5) had a strong run in the 132 lbs. bracket, before falling short in the finals. Casarez achieved a pinfall in the first round, a medical forfeit in the quarterfinals and a 16-7 major decision to punch his ticket to the final session. However, Casarez fell to Melissa’s Vinny Ferrari – who is related to current star grappler AJ Ferrari – via a 10-1 decision in the championship match.
Amarillo High was the top squad out of the Panhandle, placing fourth in the Class 5A team standings with 38 points. The Sandies were represented by Drezdyn Ballard (44-4) in the final session, who fell to Comal Smithson Valley’s Bryce Palmer in a 4-1 decision in the 157 lbs. title match.
Lubbock-Cooper had a top 10 finish in the team standings, acquiring the 10th place spot with 18.5 points.
Borger’s Lila Breedlove (36-2, 100 lbs.) had a solid run to her championship match, pinning opponents left and right. Despite a second period nearfall and a frantic late rally, Breedlove fell to Azle’s Noah Kovach – who Breedlove endured her first loss to in regionals – in the finals.
Palo Duro’s Xazanya Gonzalez (49-4) also felt that same sting, falling to San Elizario’s Rubie Chavez in the 145 lbs. championship match. Chavez had also defeated Gonzalez in regionals.
Teammate Jasmine Vick (55-2, 170 lbs.) also powered her way into the finals, before coming up short against Azle’s Elizabeth Yelle by way of a 4-3 decision in the third tiebreaker round. Dumas’ Khylee Whalen (37-3, 235 lbs.) made her way into the title round, before falling to Liberty Hill’s Alyciana Rogers via pinfall.
Team-wise, the Lady Dons settled for ninth in the standings with 47.5 points, two spots behind Lubbock-Cooper. The Lady Pirates took seventh with 53.5 points.
There were several notable placers in the state tournament. Lubbock-Cooper Liberty’s Isaac Rodriguez (215 lbs.) and Lubbock High’s Jaxon Russell (150 lbs.) each took third in their brackets, while Amarillo High’s Ethan Webb (175 lbs.), Caprock’s Max Trostle (150 lbs.), Lubbock-Cooper Liberty’s Camillo Esqueda (113 lbs.) and Lubbock High’s Lucas White (165 lbs.) each claimed fourth.
Randall’s Mark Gallegos (190 lbs.) landed fifth, alongside Lubbock High’s Enrique Dioses (106 lbs.) and Tascosa’s Aiden Rivera (126 lbs.). Taking sixth in their respective brackets were Caprock’s Angel Ochoa (126 lbs.), Randall’s Landen Ballesteros (138 lbs.) and Tascosa’s Jace Castillo (165 lbs.).
On the girls’ side, Lubbock-Cooper’s Anaveh Gonzales and Soldevilla took third and fourth respectively in the 105 lbs. weight class. Tascosa’s Presley King claimed third in the 140 lbs. weight class, and West Plains’ Kylie O’Dell picked up third place in the 170 lbs. bracket.
Randall’s Lauren McHam finished fourth in the 115 lbs. weight class, alongside Lubbock-Cooper’s Tylie Ramos’ fourth place spot in the 120 lbs. bracket. Tascosa’s Samantha Marmolejo (125 lbs.), Lubbock-Cooper’s Alyssa Rodriguez (135 lbs.), Keyondra Villagran of Lubbock Monterey (155 lbs.) and teammate Shaianne Brown (190 lbs.) each took fifth in their respective podiums.
Canyon’s Josselin Large, who was seeded 14th, captured the sixth place spot in the 235 lbs. weight class.
UIL Wrestling State Tournament
Friday and Saturday at the Berry Center, Cypress
Note: Texas Panhandle and South Plains teams and wrestlers denoted in bold.
Class 5A Team Standings
Boys (Top 10)
1. Melissa 143
2. Cedar Park 71.5
3. Dallas Highland Park 41.5
4. Amarillo High 38
5. Carrollton Creekview 34.5
6. Pflugerville Weiss 34.5
7. Birdville 29
8. Leander 25.5
9. Frisco Reedy 23
10. Lubbock-Cooper 18.5
Girls (Top 10)
1. Azle 127.5
2. Melissa 87
3. El Paso Bel Air 74
4. Comal Pieper 65
5. Anna 54
5. Comal Smithson Valley 54
7. Lubbock-Cooper 53.5
8. Henrietta 49.5
9. Palo Duro 47.5
10. Killeen Chaparral 43.5
Class 5A Boys Medalists (Top 6)
106 lbs.
1. Conner Smith, Dumas.
2. Santiago Miranda, Mission Sharyland.
3. Esteban Vela, Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial.
4. Juan Velasquez, Rio Grande City Grulla.
5. Enrique Dioses, Lubbock High.
6. Chaz Marone, Fort Worth Chisholm Trail.
113 lbs.
1. Charles Alvarez, Midlothian
2. Tobias Gilman, Argyle.
3. Victor Ramirez, Dallas Hillcrest.
4. Camillo Esqueda, Lubbock-Cooper Liberty.
5. Evan Baker, Mission Sharyland.
6. Marcos Nino, Corpus Christi Carroll.
120 lbs.
1. Nathan Reilly, Cedar Park.
2. Adam Uribe, Frisco Centennial.
3. Ethan Orat, Fort Worth Chisholm Trail.
4. Nicholas Bellino, Corpus Christi Carroll.
5. Pedro Gutierrez, Pflugerville Weiss.
6. Eli Johnson, Frisco Wakeland.
126 lbs.
1. Maddox Fields, Melissa.
2. Andre Moyron, Carrollton Creekview.
3. Enrique Uribe, Frisco Centennial.
4. Leonel Lopez, North Mesquite.
5. Aiden Rivera, Tascosa.
6. Angel Ochoa, Caprock.
132 lbs.
1. Vinny Ferrari, Melissa.
2. Christian Casarez, Caprock.
3. Aidan Jaramillo, Pflugerville Weiss.
4. Ethan Gonzales, Edinburg Vela.
5. Dominik Artman, Argyle.
6. Daniel Wassef, Richmond Tomas.
138 lbs.
1. Tyler Yancey, Azle.
2. Jaxon Johnson, Melissa.
3. Aiden Baker, Mission Sharyland.
4. Enrique Olivarers, Rosenberg Terry.
5. Carlos Rodrigez, Uvalde.
6. Landen Ballesteros, Randall.
144 lbs.
1. Chase Yancey, Azle.
2. Connor Surrette, Melissa.
3. David McNally, Liberty Hill Legacy Ranch.
4. Victor Medina, Dallas Sunset.
5. Griffin Deitch, Comal Pieper.
6. Landon Davis, Lucas Lovejoy.
150 lbs.
1. Cruz Morales, New Braunfels Long Creek.
2. Kiron Neves, Melissa.
3. Jaxon Russell, Lubbock High.
4. Max Trostle, Caprock.
5. Nicholas Torres, Mission Sharyland.
6. Tristan Cox, Comal Pieper.
157 lbs.
1. Bryce Palmer, Comal Smithson Valley.
2. Drezdyn Ballard, Amarillo High.
3. Holden Jacobs, Dallas Highland Park.
4. Ray Ndanzia, Melissa.
5. Marcus Perales, Mission Sharyland Pioneer.
6. Collin Gates, Argyle.
165 lbs.
1. Mauricio Bryant, Leander.
2. Bennett Ham, Dallas Highland Park.
3. Travis Ahrens, Frisco Panther Creek.
4. Lucas White, Lubbock High
5. John Humphries, College Station.
6. Jace Castillo, Tascosa.
175 lbs.
1. Leo Ashurov, Frisco Reedy.
2. Quintraylon Johnson, Dallas Kimball.
3. Jett Mentel, Cedar Park.
4. Ethan Webb, Amarillo High.
5. Miles Martinez, Prosper Walnut Grove.
6. Noah Bell, Comal Pieper.
190 lbs.
1. Reese Bradford, Birdville.
2. Cash Williams, Anna.
3. Johny Lastinger, Melissa.
4. Paul Miranda, Carrollton Creekview.
5. Mark Gallegos, Randall.
6. Rudy Velasquez, Midlothian Heritage.
215 lbs.
1. Roman Nino, Corpus Christi Carroll.
2. Jaylyn Rogers-Salazar, Mesquite Poteet.
3. Isaac Rodriguez, Lubbock-Cooper Liberty.
4. Miller Marsh, New Braunfels.
5. James Cochran, Comal Pieper.
6. Will Mason, Grapevine.
285 lbs.
1. Elijah Luna, Randall.
2. Ryder Hatton, Lubbock-Cooper.
3. Jude Burke, Cedar Park.
4. Peyton Miller, Anna.
5. Jordan Durrett, Azle.
6. Nicholas Rowe, Lucas Lovejoy.
Class 5A Girls Medalists (Top 6)
100 lbs.
1. Noah Kovach, Azle.
2. Lila Breedlove, Borger.
3. Carly Rodriguez, Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial.
4. Ashley Marron Rodriguez, Austin Anderson.
5. Natalie Garcia, Forth Worth Chisholm Trail.
6. Hailyn Jaye Gonzalez, Mission Sharyland Pioneer.
105 lbs.
1. Ava Aragon, McAllen.
2. Anisa Nuchols, Randall.
3. Anaveh Gonzales, Lubbock-Cooper.
4. Nicole Soldevilla, Borger.
5. Alexis Avalos, Comal Smithson Valley.
6. Scarlet Hills, Melissa.
110 lbs.
1. Aro Ogle-Garza, Lucas Lovejoy.
2. Mary Griffin, Melissa.
3. Laila Wetzel, New Braunfels Long Creek.
4. Lauren Marquez, El Paso Bel Air.
5. Emilee Smith, Frisco Centennial.
6. Adiella Reyes, San Antonio Wagner.
115 lbs.
1. Aval Milliner, Killeen Chaparral.
2. Isabella Arevalos, Corpus Christi King.
3. Addison Hunt, Anna.
4. Lauren McHam, Randall.
5. Samara Lerma, Harlingen South.
6. Evelyn Fuentes, Frisco Lone Star.
120 lbs.
1. Genevieve Bellino, Corpus Christi Carroll.
2. Mackenzie Harris, Azle.
3. Matilda Villarreal, Brownsville Rivera.
4. Tylie Ramos, Lubbock-Cooper.
5. Georgina Rangel Miranda, McAllen Memorial.
6. Payten Gutierrez, Melissa.
125 lbs.
1. Malia Griffin, Melissa.
2. Olivia Ontiveros, El Paso Bel Air.
3. Sage Mosier, Azle.
4. Allie Salas, Mission Veterans Memorial.
5. Samantha Marmolejo, Tascosa.
6. Jessica Conkle, Birdville.
130 lbs.
1. Zaylyn Woods, Azle.
2. Elvia Davila, Mission Sharyland.
3. Dalilah Coyle, Henrietta.
4. Marisa Iturrino, Carrollton Creekview.
5. Nadiyah Elizondo, College Station.
6. Yurianna Lippinghoff, Georgetown.
135 lbs.
1. Shelby Coyle, Henrietta.
2. Robin Conkle, Birdville.
3. Alyssa Indalsingh, Burleson.
4. Kaelyn Reynolds, Killeen Chaparral.
5. Alyssa Rodriguez, Lubbock-Cooper.
6. Dayana Gonzalez, Rio Grande City.
140 lbs.
1. Jordyn Parker, Frisco Centennial.
2. Gillian Eckert, Comal Pieper.
3. Presley King, Tascosa.
4. Cassandra Reyes, San Antonio Highlands.
5. Beila Wisley, Prosper Walnut Grove.
6. Tessa Tighe, Melissa.
145 lbs.
1. Rubie Chavez, San Elizario.
2. Xazanya Gonzalez, Palo Duro.
3. Caylee Owen, Argyle.
4. Taylor Martell, Georgetown.
5. Alyssa Reyes, Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial.
6. Maria Munoz, San Antonio Edison.
155 lbs.
1. Cydney Davis, El Paso Bel Air.
2. Londyn Jefferson, Frisco Heritage.
3. Layla Hines, Leander Glenn.
4. Haleigh Bodin, Anna.
5. Keyondra Villagran, Lubbock Monterey.
6. Daisy Davila, Mission Sharyland.
170 lbs.
1. Elizabeth Yelle, Azle.
2. Jasmine Vick, Palo Duro.
3. Kylie O’Dell, West Plains.
4. Allyson Alaniz, Comal Smithson Valley.
5. Natalia Roman, El Paso Burges.
6. Jasmine Guillory, Comal Pieper.
190 lbs.
1. Camille Harris, Frisco Memorial.
2. Dani Banks, Frisco Liberty.
3. Gabriela Knight, Comal Smithson Valley.
4. Lyric Larry, New Braunfels.
5. Shaianne Brown, Lubbock Monterey.
6. Violet Winkley, Anna.
235 lbs.
1. Alyciana Roger, Liberty Hill.
2. Khylee Whalen, Dumas.
3. Shelby Wells, Comal Pieper.
4. Angel Machiri, Frisco Liberty.
5. Melissa Farmer, Belton.
6. Josselin Large, Canyon.