The Katy Tigers opened their 2025-26 season against the Woodlands Highlanders this past Wednesday. And if looks could tell, the wrestlers did not suffer from sitting in the bus for the 47-mile trip. Tiger head coach Vin Lowe took on his former assistant, and now head coach of the Highlanders, Bill Durning.
The girls started the action at the 105 lb. weight class, with last year’s State 3rd place finisher and Region 3 champ, Natalie Roberson (40-6) taking on Valentina Vitaliano De Mello (39-13). WrestlingTexas has the 11th grade Roberson ranked 1st in the 100 lb. class and Vitaliano is 5th.
Roberson really took it to Vitaliano in this match, starting with an arm drag and spin behind for the first takedown, a cut, then a side single-leg turned into a double-leg for the second takedown. She cut her loose again and scored her third takedown with a straight-on single to a double. Roberson slipped in the half and got her first win of the year with a pin at 1:35.
Next up at 110 lbs. is last year’s undefeated 107 lb. champ from Katy, Emily Beltran (48-0). is currently ranked 1st at 110 lbs. as she should be. She was being challenged by freshman newcomer, Brynlee Mooney. Welcome to the big time Ms. Mooney. Needless to say, it was a one-sided match. Beltran held a 12-2 lead at the end of the first period, accumulating three takedowns and a three-point nearfall. Beltran has an incredibly heavy upper body ride, and it took its toll on Mooney.
In the second period, Beltran started on bottom, Mooney got the leg in but was unable to advance. Beltran escaped, and got a quick takedown, and that was the match. Tech Fall 19-2 at 4:52. You have to hand it to Mooney, she didn’t give up, but Beltran was stronger and faster. It’s a tough way to start your high school career, but at least it’s out of the way.
The following match at 125lbs. pitted the Tigers Calleigh Freifeld (31-17) with the Highlanders Briley O’Keefe. Freifeld was a regional qualifier last year, while O’Keefe has moved up from JV. Freifeld started out the scoring with a quick single leg takedown and worked an armbar to turn O’Keefe for the pin at 1:08.
The next match was at 135 lbs. between Alina Hopkins (32-18) of Katy and Elliotte Strange (27-6) of The Woodlands. Hopkins was a regional qualifier and Strange, who wrestled for Cy Fair the last two years, finished 3rd at state in her freshman year. Strange’s cumulative record is 77-13. She was saddled with some health issues last year, which hindered her progress towards the podium. But she is still ranked 3rd at 135 lbs.
After some parrying, Strange hit the first takedown with a very quick shot. Freifeld spent most of the first period on her stomach, not working to get out. Strange is another wrestler with a heavy upper body ride. Strange hit a deep double leg takedown for the first points of the second period. She cut Hopkins loose and defended a Hopkins shot and spun for another takedown, leading to a 3-point and 2-point nearfall. After the restart, Strange hit another takedown to end the match with a Tech Fall 17-2 at 3:23.
Desiree Ojo of the Highlanders matched up with Jaclyn Fonseca at 140 lbs. Ojo started the scoring with a spin around takedown. Ojo cut Fonseca loose and scored another takedown with another spin around after a failed Fonseca shot. After a Fonseca escape, she went upper body and got her own takedown, but allowed an escape in the last seconds of the period, and ended the period down 5-7.
Fonseca chose neutral for the 2nd period, but that backfired when Ojo got a takedown and turned her over at the edge of the mat for the fall at 2:31.
Highlander Claire Guydon (38-10) and Tiger Caroline Ryser met for the final contested bout of the match at 155 lbs. Guydon is a 2X District 8 champ, and qualified for state last year. She is also currently ranked 3rd in the state at that weight class.
This match was all Guydon, as she scored 3 takedowns, and two 4-point nearfalls in the first period for a 17-2 Tech Fall victory at 2:00, although even after watching the video three times, I only saw one 4-point nearfall.
So, in the contested contests, Katy and The Woodlands were split 3-3. Unfortunately for the Woodlands, the team point totals were on the Tigers’ side 17-16. And when you add in the three wins by forfeit, the Tigers come out on top for a 35-16 dual win.
The Boys were up next, with The Woodlands starting off with Jace Degueyter getting forfeit points at 106 lbs. for the Highlanders. The 113 pounders were Nathan Duchmascio from The Woodlands and Katy’s Diego Granadillo Barroso. The Tiger wrestler is a freshman, and the Highlander is a junior, but I don’t see any history of high school match experience for either of them. Granadillo Barroso came out and took early control, earning a takedown in the first fifteen seconds, and putting Degueyter on his back ten seconds later. He held him on his back for nineteen seconds before the ref slapped the mat at 1:44.
One of the Highlander captains, junior Charlie Hempfling (28-16) was up next at 120 lbs. Hempfling is a 2X Region qualifier. He faced Henry Alvarez. Hempfling is currently ranked at #10. Hempfling was quick from the whistle, earning a takedown and using a leg ride, working for a guillotine. Alvarez looked like he would avoid having his arm taken around Hempfling’s head, but he finally lost out, and the Woodlands co-captain secured the fall at 1:44.
Up next was Josue Pizana for Katy who was matched with Jack Nieto of The Woodlands. Pizana (42-11) is a 2X region qualifier, and he won his first two matches at State last year before having to drop out to injury, earning 6th place. He is ranked #2 in the state at 126. Pizana quickly took Nieto to his back, and to everyone’s surprise, Nieto reversed out of it and had Pizana on his back. But that was short-lived and Pizana escaped and took Nieto down again and earned the pin at 1:00.
Freshman William Briggs of The Woodlands stepped up to face Santiago Garcia Contreras at 132 lbs. Garcia Contreras (48-9) finished in 6th place at the 2025 State championship for 120 lbs. In this match, Garcia Contreras was able to get some takedown practice, as he had 5 takedowns, three of those by ankle picks, before releasing Briggs to do it again. After the fifth takedown, Garcia Contreras grabbed a reverse cradle and put Briggs away at 1:28.
Six forfeit points were awarded to The Woodlands and Ben Hohman at 138 lbs.
At 144 lbs. Junior Moises Torres of TWHS met Katy’s Bjorn DeJong. Both wrestlers seem to be newcomers to the varsity scene. It was evident from my comparison of my video and the official scoresheet, that scorekeepers need practice as well. There were numerous 1s in the scoresheet with no rhyme or reason for why. The official scoresheet has Torres winning a 16-9 decision, but I had it 12-9 in Torres’ favor.
Zach Negro of Katy stepped up to face Alejandro Cintron of TWHS in the 150 lb. match. Negro scored the first takedown and went on to win by fall at 1:30.
Despite being taken down first, Fox Smith of TWHS won a major decision over Jayden Perez of Katy at 165 lbs. scoring a takedown of his own in the first two periods, and two in the third period.
The first period of the 165 lb. match was full of scoring. Cohen Schulze of Katy had a takedown and nearfall before you could bat an eye. Henry Fonseca of TWHS reversed before Schulze escaped and got another takedown. Schulze went on to get the pin at 1:23.
Alexis Sosa (23-22), is ranked #18 at 175 lbs., kept the Katy streak going by winning by fall over Bryce Maddux of TWHS. This one went into the second period before the pin was recorded at 2:24.
At 190 lbs., #18 ranked Mason Negro of Katy faced the #9 ranked 215 lb. Holden Hart (40-16). Hart is a 2X regional qualifier and finished 3rd at Region 2 last season. Negro had his season cut short last year, but is back and better than ever. He recently had a 3rd place finish at the Brian Keck Preseason Nationals.
Negro made a statement in his match with Hart that he will be a force to be reckoned with this season. He cruised to a 21-6 Tech fall, amassing six takedowns in 4:38. The best move that Hart had was a switch for a reversal in the first period.
With two forfeits at 215 lbs. and 285 lbs. the Katy Tigers secured a 52-23dual match victory over the Woodlands Highlanders. Katy has several experienced and strong wrestlers who will continue to shine. The Woodlands has several youngsters on the mat with plenty of time to gain mat time and experience. I was hoping to see an Andrew Huerta vs. Josue Pizana or Santiago Garcia Contreras, but that did not happen. TWHS also has two wrestlers still involved in playoff football. Linebackers Luke Podlowski and Max Mitchell will rejoin the team eventually. There’s plenty of time for both squads to grow and improve.
TWHS has a duals tournament on its campus this weekend. Katy is involved in the Cinco Ranch. Lots of mat time will be had at those two tourneys, giving the coaches a much better idea of what and how to structure their practices for the foreseeable future.
