Cody Thorn
Angelo Ferrari brought Melissa its first-ever state champion wrestler last season when he won the 175-pound title in 5A.
Can the Iowa recruit bring the Cardinals back the school’s first-ever team state championship in the sport?
Ferrari did his part with a pair of wins on Friday on the opening day of the UIL State Wrestling Championship held at the Berry Center in Cypress.
The Cardinals sat in first place after Day 1 with 54 points, just ahead of Comal Smithson Valley, which had 52.
Canyon Randall (46) and Midlothian (43) are still within striking distance as the final day will decide who wins.
Of that group of four, only Canyon Randall has won a team championship since wrestling started in 1999.
Melissa, guided by Oliver Pierce, brought 10 wrestlers to the finals and six are left — five in the semifinals.
Gunner Morris (132), Jaydn Johnson (150), Mercer Ashley (157), Gage Herrin (165) and Ferrari are a win away from the finals.
Ferrari posted pins in 1:19 and 1:28 in his two matches and is now 34-0.
“It is just another stepping stone; college is next; but this is the last stepping stone in high school,” he said. “I want to finish strong.”
He is looking to become a three-time state champion, with one title coming in Oklahoma. He then heads to Iowa City to join the Hawkeyes and his…
