TexasWrestling
Picking up where we left off on the WAAAAAAAAAY too early predictions, 126 will be a FUN bracket!!
126
Region I, Donavan Whitted of Arlington Martin should be the class of the region here. The returning 2019 state champ at 106 is getting ready for college at 126 and looks just as intimidating. Look for Acosta of El Paso Franklin, Tierce of Weatherford, and Bennett of Southlake Carroll to try and round out the top 4 here. The only kink in their plans may be dark horse Gio Cortez of El Paso Coronado. Cortez will be looking to extend his senior year as long as possible and is capable of making some noise at region.
Region II will be bringing some hammers to the party in Waigand of Allen and Camden of College Park. Camden opened his season last week at the district duals and looked like the rust was off after he pinned his second kid. If we could get these two in the Final, prepare for fireworks. Plenty of other ranked wrestlers at this weight, but Jacobs of Vandegrift, Hempfling of The Woodlands, Nunn of Wylie seem like the next in line. There are a few others who shouldn’t be counted out though. Look for LOTS of upsets past the top 2 in this region.
Region III will not be outdone this season, with 5 wrestlers ranked in the top 10 who will be competing for the top 4 spots. Camacho of Cy-Ranch and Calderon of Cy-Falls are 2 of the most unconventional and exciting wrestlers to watch in the Houston area. These guys are poised for an incredible matchup. They met this past weekend and the decision went to Camacho in Sudden Victory. District and Region could be exciting! We also have Minnickof Katy Tompkins, who has a win over Camacho this season, Sliman of Katy, and DelValle of 7 lakes battling to get out.
Region IV Should see Kilian of SA Johnson and Doria of LaJoya Juarez-Lincoln taking the top 2 spots, then after that………….?!?!?!?!? Green of Comal Canyon? Castro of Austin Anderson? Holley of Smithson Valley? NO ONE can be taken for granted here!
State Tourney Picks
Whitted – Martin
Acosta – Franklin
Tierce – Weatherford
Cortez – Coronado
Waigand – Allen
Camden – College Park
Hempfling – The Woodlands
Potts -Rockwall- Heath
Camacho – Cy=Ranch
Calderon – Cy-Falls
Minnick – Tompkins
Sliman – Katy
Kilian – SA Johnson
Doria – La Joya Juarez-Lincoln
Green – Comal Canyon
Moreno – Edinburg Economedes
132 will be impressive.
Region I boast 8 of the top 20 wrestlers in the State at this weight class. Look for Decker of Keller to receive a challenge from Woodward of Weatherford, but no reason Decker doesn’t stand his ground here. Garcia of Keller Central, Martinez of EP Franklin, and Solis of EP Pebble Hills are the other top 10 wrestlers here, but no spot is not guaranteed. Especially if Hernandez of EP Montwood or Aghayere of Keller Timber Creek have a say.
Region II will be tough as well!! Gochberg of Vandegrift and Jamison of Plano west should get a chance to go at it!! Smith of College Park makes an appearance here after being a state placer at 106 last season. This guy might get the award for making the biggest jump in weight, and not skipping a beat!! Moore of Allen and Juarez of Rockwall will be in the mix as well, but as we all know, history and tradition will be in Allen’s Corner.
Region III the waters start to muddy a bit in. Holland of Katy should be the clear favorite, then we must start asking questions. Does Grogan of Cy-Ranch go 132? If the answer is yes, then look for the junior to give Holland everything he can handle. If No, Bone of Katy Taylor is next in line. That would put Reyna of Brazoswood, and Goodwin of Morton Ranch in . Goodwin has displayed a few late season flashes of brilliance, but will he shine when he needs to?
Region IV, Senior Austin Saylor of Cibolo Steele is poised to take control of the region, but there are a group of hungry wrestlers nipping at his heels to earn their spot at the Berry Center. Sanchez of SA Macarthur, and Johnson of Lake Travis are the 2 obvious names to be included, but Valadez of New Braunfels, Cerda of La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, and Moreno of Austin Bowie will want to make sure their presence is felt as well.
State Tourney Picks
Decker – Keller
Woodward – Weatherford
Martinez – EP Franklin
Solis – EP Pebble Hills
Gochberg – Vandegrift
Jamison – Plano West
Smith – College Park
Juarez- Rockwall
Grogan – Cy-Ranch
Holland – Katy
Bone- Katy Taylor
Goodwin – Morton Ranch
Saylor Cibolo Steele
Johnson – Lake Travis
Sanchez – SA MacArthur
Cerda – La Joya Juarez-Lincoln
138
These middle weights are great to watch. Full of kids who are fit enough and talented enough to try their hand at different weight classes to see the best fit.
Region I has 2 stand outs in McClain-Green of EP Franklin and Two Lance (maybe the best name in Texas High School Wrestling) of Arlington Martin. After these 2 there are about 5 or 6 guys who could legitimately vie for the 3rdand 4thspots for the state bracket. Kern of Weatherford, and Perez of Haltom City are the next 2 in line, but there is a string of talented seniors right behind them. NEVER count out a senior in the post season!
Region II will be interesting. Does Bautista of Klein stay at 138 or does he go 145? He has looked great at both weights and looks like he should earn a berth at either weight. Sloan of Vandegrift, and Earhart of Plano West should be in the upper echelon of 138s in this region, but Richardson of Prosper will be pushing his way in there. Nakamura of Allen and Hendershot of College park are lurking just outside here as well. Should they break into the top for this could have major implications on the team race at State.
Region III Sandoz of Clear Brook, and Howard of Cy-Creek look to be in control here apart from possible challenger Wilke of Katy Tompkins. Schultze of Kingwood, and Alobeidi of Houston Heights will look to sneak their way in here as well.
Region IV Features two of the best in the state in Moreno of San Marcos and Cosby of Schertz Clemens. Expect these two to go toe to toe with no give. Moreno has a win by fall over Cosby from back in December, but all that means is Cosby has had longer to think about it. Lopez of PSJA North, Mussali of SA Reagan, and Dismore of Lake Travis will all be in the chase pack looking to make the trip to Cypress.
State Tourney Picks
McClain-Green – EP Franklin
Two Lance – Arlington Martin
Kern – Weatherford
Nield – Flower Mound
Sloan – Vandegrift
Earhart – Plano West
Nakamura – Allen
Hendershot – College Park
Sandoz – Clear Brook
Wilke – Tompkins
Shultze – Kingwood
Howard – Cy- Creek
Moreno – San Marcos
Cosby – Schertz Clemens
Lopez – PSJA North
Dismore – Lake Travis
145
Region I has 3 men atop the heap in Hollaway of Southlake Carroll, Rodriguez of EP Franklin, and Melendez of EP Pebble Hills. Any of these young men could take the crown on any given day. Who will show up ready come region time? 4thspot should be either Sanders of Weatherford, or Torres of EP Montwood.
Region II is going to be a MONSTER of a bracket should all the chips fall in the right spot. Ferrari of Allen is the clear favorite here. The question is who will get to face Ferrari in the Final. Well, this is where it gets complicated. Aragon of Plano West, Thomas of College Park, Smith of Rockwall, OR Bautista of Klein. All are legitimate threats, but Bautista (assuming he goes 145) may have the best resume going in.
Region III Has 6 clear but favorites, but 2 of them belong to Katy High so, now we’re down to 5. Wright of Kingwood, Sheikh of Cypress Creek, Lizama of Morton Ranch, and Amico of Seven Lakes will all be in the mix. Who will Katy send to district? Timmons or Wright? We’ll find out soon enough, but either one is strong enough to battle for the spot. Of the group, Lizama might be the biggest question mark. He has some solid wins including one over Bautista of Klein, but not always consistent. If he’s on his game, he might even challenge for the title.
Region IV will have an INCREDIBLE match up between Ramirez of New Braunfels and Hartmangruber of SA Lee. These 2 met in the finals of the 18thannual CFISD tournament with Ramirez walking away victorious. Can he repeat? Dugar of Converse Judson, Lozano of McAllen Rowe, and Gonzalez of La Joya will all be working to pick each other off to make the final 4 left.
State Tourney Picks
Hollaway – Southlake Carroll
Rodriguez – EP Franklin
Melendez – Pebble Hills
Torres – EP Montwood
Ferrari – Allen
Bautista – Klein
Aragon – Plano West
Thomas – College Park
Timmons – Katy
Wright – Kingwood
Lizama – Morton Ranch
Sheikh – Cypress Creek
Ramirez – New Braunfels
Hartmangruber – SA Lee
Lozano – McAllen Rowe
Gonzalez – La Joya
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