Brian S. Doyle
On Wednesday night, The Woodlands High School Highlander wrestling team opened their 2023-2024 season by hosting a triangular meet with district rival, Willis HS, and Klein Oak HS from nearby District 7. What better way to get the kinks out in hosting a meet, getting wrestlers back down to the weight that they will end up, than getting to wrestle two matches in one night to start the season.
At the conclusion of last year’s Region 2-6A Boys’ championship meet, there was only 6.5 points separating the three teams, so the possibility tight team scores might result. The meet also had two UIL State Champions making the start of their title defense: Riley Rayome, the 107 lb. 6A girls’ champ, and Rylee Ferranti, the 6A 185 lb champ. Both girls made their season debut at a different weight, Rayome at 114 lbs, and Ferranti at 235 lbs.
First up were the Girls from Klein Oak Panthers vs. the Willis Wildkats. Willis only had four girls suit up, so the team score was quite lopsided. The first match was at 126 lbs, where Kylee Best of Willis met Ash Almeida of KO. Almeida scored the first 2 points with a double-leg takedown. Best did a semi-roll, and caught Almeida too high and scored a reversal before grabbing a headlock and elbow on the edge of the mat to pin Almeida in the first period.
Next up at 132 lbs., was Kennedi Lewis of KO, and Lauren Rivas of Willis. Lewis opened the first period with a quick takedown, and within twelve seconds of the match, she went straight to a pinning combination, earning another three nearfall points before going out of bounds. Lewis heard the ref’s hand slap the mat at 1:03…
