The Woodlands Invite, a one-day tournament involving 13 Girls teams was held this Saturday. Twelve of the schools were from the Houston metro area, with Leander High School, from the Hill Country, being the lone team that made the three-hour road trip.
Despite several teams giving their top wrestlers the weekend off, out of the 103 wrestlers participating, eight of them were ranked wrestlers participating in the tournament, including 155 pounder, #1 Claire Guydon of the host school.
100 lbs.
Kelsey Tran (10-2), the #7 ranked 100 lb. wrestler from Cypress Woods, gave up her first point in six matches to freshman challenger Quinn Dutcher (10-8) of Katy Mayde Creek. Unfortunately for Dutcher, that was her only point, as she lost in the finals by a Tech Fall, 17-1 at 2:45. Tran, who qualified for regionals last year, put on a clinic earning two takedowns and a 4-point nearfall in the first period, and closing out the match with another takedown and 4-point nearfall before the first minute of the second period ended.
105 lbs.
Valentina Vitaliano De Mello (14-4), the senior captain of The Woodlands Highlanders is currently ranked #4 at 105 lbs. She had a final face-off with freshman Maya Ramos of Mayde Creek (7-4). In a bracket that only had six wrestlers, both wrestlers needed only one pin to reach the finals. Vitaliano exerted her will upon Ramos with a quick first period takedown, and a nearfall-3, before getting the fall at 0:56 for the gold medal.
110 lbs.
Marlena Messa (18-1) of Houston Heights High School stepped onto the mat to take on Talayah Alford (12-7) of Cypress Falls. A Region 3 Qualifier last season, Messa built a first period lead with two takedowns, (a single and a double) and then gut wrenched her over to a tilt for a NF-3 against Alford’s one escape point. Alford chose neutral in the second period. Messa scored two stalling penalty points before taking Alford for the last time with a single and back trip. Messa turned Alford over with an armbar and the pin was recorded at 3:49, for Messa’s third of the day, and her first tournament title of the season.
115 lbs.
Emma Jimenez (14-3), a 9th grader from Waller HS, rode three victories into the final round to meet Destiny Salazar (9-4) from Clear Creek. Salazar had beaten Jimenez one time earlier this season by a 10-2 major decision. This match would be different as Salazar held a 3-0 lead into the second period, where Jimenez rode Salazar the entire period, but failed to score any offensive points. In the third, Jimenez chose neutral and scored a takedown to bring her lead to 6-0. But Jimenez was able to escape, and then Salazar was given a stalling warning before Jimenez was able to take Salazar down, and then put her on her back for a nearfall-2 to even the score at 6 apiece, sending the final into overtime. Thirty seconds into the overtime period, Salazar was called for another stall, and Jimenez was awarded a penalty point to give her the victory. You hate to see a final end that way, but it pays to be aggressive, or at least look like it.
120 lbs.
This weight class featured two girls in the finals who have just enough experience to make it to the finals. Karla Lopez (7-2) of Houston Lamar and Rachele Reyna (7-4) of Waller clawed their way through the bracket, both with two first period pins. The final bout would also end in the first period by a fall. The champion, Karla Lopez, brought Reyna down in the first half minute with a single turned into a double, and scored a NF-4 with an armbar, before putting her away at 1:09 for the title. Despite qualifying for the regional tournament last season, I believe that this was her first gold medal in a high school tournament. That’s quite an improvement over her 5th place finish at this tournament last year.
125 lbs.
Zooey Deets (14-3), the #16 ranked wrestler at 120 lbs. moved up a class for this tournament. Maybe not the best idea. After a bye, Deets did win her one match by a 20-2 tech fall to reach the finals, then she ran into Sara Penate Tercero (13-6) of Mayde Creek. This match was a barnburner. After the first period, and despite being put on her back for a NF-4, Penate Tercero was up 9-5 on the strength of a takedown, reversal and nearfall-4. She extended that lead to 15-10 in the second period, and in the third period, as much of an effort that Deets could muster, she couldn’t get enough points to overtake Penate Tercero, as the Mayde Creek Ram won a major decision and a tournament championship over a ranked wrestler, 22-13.
130 lbs.
The Woodlands High School’s Elliotte Strange (12-2), the #4 ranked 130 lb. wrestler in Texas took on challenger Pa’Trisha Robinson (12-6) of Rosenberg Terry. Both wrestlers used wins by pins to get to their finals’ matchup. This match saw Strange’s ability to dominate with the first takedown, and then scoring two separate 4-point nearfalls before putting Robinson away for good at 1:58.
135 lbs.
Katy Seven Lakes’ Katherine Racicot (12-3), the #19 ranked wrestler at 135 lbs. stepped onto the mat to face Madison Dawson (9-5) of Bridgeland. Racicot recorded the first takedown with a single and spun around when Dawson went down to her hip. Racicot used a heavy ride and kept the pressure on Dawson, trying to turn her with a half. When Dawson attempted to stand, she was brought back down immediately, and Racicot was able to stick that half all the way in to turn her for what would be a quick pin at 1:30.
140 lbs.
Sophia Payrovi (18-0) from Cypress Falls is currently ranked in two weight classes: #9 at 135 lbs. and #20 at 140 lbs. She took on Desiree Ojo (11-7) of TWHS. Ojo scored a first period pin of #11 Keila Deleon Zapata of Bridgeland in the semifinals to advance to the finals.
In the first period of their match, Ojo could not mount any offensive moves. Payrovi was able to score three takedowns to Ojo’s two escapes, but after the third takedown, Payrovi ended the match with a pin at 1:57. This win gives Payrovi three tournament titles for the season.
145 lbs.
Piya Raghavan, who is not yet ranked, but is 17-2, is a 3X Region 3 qualifier, coming out of the always tough Katy District 9-6A. Last year, she also was a UIL State Qualifier. Raghavan’s opponent in the finals was Giggi Youngblood (11-9).
The pair of finalists have already wrestled twice this season, and both ended with a Raghavan win by fall. This match would be no different. Raghavan scored her first takedown around the one-minute mark, and stuck Youngblood around twenty-five seconds later for her first tournament title of the year.
155 lbs.
With all eyes looking forward to a final’s matchup between #1 Claire Guydon (17-0) of TWHS vs. #3 Elizabeth Castro of Cy Ridge; Layla Batista of Rosenberg Terry would have something to say, like, “wait for another time”, as Batista ended Castro’s tournament with a medical forfeit during her match with Rosenberg Terry’s Layla Batiste (15-5). In that semifinal match, Castro had started strong, with an 8-4 first lead going into the second period. That was when Batista lit up the scoreboard, scoring 11 points to Castro’s 1 point. I am not aware of what may have happened in the match to cause a medical forfeit, and of course do not know what her injury may be, but we all wish good health to Castro.
In the Batiste-Guydon final, it was all Guydon and her pressing neutral attacks. She scored the only takedown of the match at 1:35, and sealed the deal at 1:10 for her third tournament title of the year.
170 lbs.
Jaleyah Hargrove-Davids (12-6) of Cypress Ridge and Hailey Villanueva (6-3) of Cypress Woods paired off to determine the champion of the 170 pounders. Both wrestlers used two pins each to qualify for the final match. Villanueva pinned the top seed, Aaliyah Bates of Seven Lakes in the finals to take on Hargrove-Davids in the final match. On the strength of her first period takedown, Villanueva went the distance and decisioned Hargrove-Daniels, 4-3 for the gold medal.
190 lbs.
Chloe Askins (12-2), the #12 ranked wrestler from Cy Ridge faced Journey Thompson (6-8) of Cypress Woods. Askins had a previous pin of Thompson earlier this season in the finals of the Cy Ridge Classic.
Thompson gets an early takedown, but gives up a reversal seconds later. Askins is able to sink the half and turn Thompson, and gets the pin at 0:48., one second later than her previous pin.
235 lbs.
Kelsey Turner (10-6) of Cypress Woods and Margot Royston (5-2) of Houston Lamar met for the final match of the tournament. Turner attempts a shot, which Royston quickly defends and spins around for the takedown. Thirty seconds later, Royston used a power half to turn Thompson over to get the fall at 1:27.
Overall, a good tournament with some good wrestling. A couple of upsets. Very good showing by Cy Woods, who fielded thirteen out of fourteen weights, and won two medals at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th , and 5th places.
The host team, the Highlanders of The Woodlands were also impressive, in that they only had 6 wrestlers entered in the tournament, but they finished in second as a team, with three champions, one runner-up, and two third place medalists. Bonus points do count in tournaments!
TEAM RESULTS
Cypress Woods 155.0
Conroe The Woodlands 131.0
Katy Seven Lakes 125.0
Bridgeland 111.0
Cypress Falls 99.0
Cypress Falls 86.5
Leander 79.0
Waller 77.0
Rosenberg Terry 74.0
Houston Lamar 70.5
Cypress Ridge 64.5
Houston Heights 59.0
Cypress Lakes 38.0
League City Clear Lake 24.5
Klein Oak 18.0
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
100
1st Place – Kelsey Tran of Cypress Woods
2nd Place – Quinn Dutcher of Katy Mayde Creek
3rd Place – Kennedy Levitt of Conroe The Woodlands
4th Place – Khloe Brink of Rosenberg Terry
5th Place – Georgia Garrett of Leander
6th Place – Isabela Parra Santos of Cypress Lakes
1st Place Match
Kelsey Tran (Cypress Woods) 8-2, Jr. over Quinn Dutcher (Katy Mayde Creek) 2-1, Fr. (TF-1.5 2:50 (17-1))
3rd Place Match
Kennedy Levitt (Conroe The Woodlands) 3-1, So. over Khloe Brink (Rosenberg Terry) 2-5, Fr. (Fall 3:16)
5th Place Match
Georgia Garrett (Leander) 6-6, Fr. over Isabela Parra Santos (Cypress Lakes) 9-5, Fr. (Fall 0:51)
105
1st Place – Valentina Vitaliano De Mello of Conroe The Woodlands
2nd Place – Maya Ramos of Katy Mayde Creek
3rd Place – Carrie Murrell of Cypress Ridge
4th Place – Denise Duran of Leander
5th Place – Myleiya Sanders of Cypress Woods
6th Place – Maryam Mahmood of Bridgeland
1st Place Match
Valentina Vitaliano De Mello (Conroe The Woodlands) 2-0, Sr. over Maya Ramos (Katy Mayde Creek) 2-1, Fr. (Fall 0:56)
3rd Place Match
Carrie Murrell (Cypress Ridge) 12-6, Fr. over Denise Duran (Leander) 7-5, Fr. (Fall 0:35)
5th Place Match
Myleiya Sanders (Cypress Woods) 5-6, Jr. over Maryam Mahmood (Bridgeland) 7-9, So. (Fall 2:23)
110
1st Place – Marlena Messa of Houston Heights
2nd Place – Talayah Alford of Cypress Falls
3rd Place – Sofia Mendoza-Gomez of Katy Mayde Creek
4th Place – Kynslie Gonzales of Leander
5th Place – Z’Khiya Hutchins of Cypress Lakes
6th Place – Ayla Mustajbegovic of Klein Oak
1st Place Match
Marlena Messa (Houston Heights) 3-0, Sr. over Talayah Alford (Cypress Falls) 12-7, Fr. (Fall 3:49)
3rd Place Match
Sofia Mendoza-Gomez (Katy Mayde Creek) 3-1, So. over Kynslie Gonzales (Leander) 7-5, So. (Fall 4:09)
5th Place Match
Z’Khiya Hutchins (Cypress Lakes) 3-2, So. over Ayla Mustajbegovic (Klein Oak) 1-3, Fr. (Fall 2:10)
115
1st Place – Emma Jimenez of Waller
2nd Place – Destiny Salazar of League City Clear Creek
3rd Place – Emma Grider of Cypress Woods
4th Place – Zeina Ezz of Bridgeland
5th Place – Emma Linkenheimer of Katy Seven Lakes
6th Place – Erica Barrs of Leander
1st Place Match
Emma Jimenez (Waller) 3-0, Fr. over Destiny Salazar (League City Clear Creek) 6-3, So. (SV-1 7-6)
3rd Place Match
Emma Grider (Cypress Woods) 8-4, Sr. over Zeina Ezz (Bridgeland) 11-9, So. (Fall 4:49)
5th Place Match
Emma Linkenheimer (Katy Seven Lakes) 14-9, Jr. over Erica Barrs (Leander) 3-5, Sr. (Fall 1:56)
120
1st Place – Karla Lopez of Houston Lamar
2nd Place – Rachele Reyna of Waller
3rd Place – Camila Ortiz of Conroe The Woodlands
4th Place – Alexandra Kuzmin of Leander
5th Place – Kinsley Crain of Bridgeland
6th Place – Ellyzabeth Romualdo of Katy Seven Lakes
1st Place Match
Karla Lopez (Houston Lamar) 7-2, Sr. over Rachele Reyna (Waller) 2-1, So. (Fall 1:52)
3rd Place Match
Camila Ortiz (Conroe The Woodlands) 4-1, Sr. over Alexandra Kuzmin (Leander) 9-5, Fr. (Fall 0:51)
5th Place Match
Kinsley Crain (Bridgeland) 11-9, So. over Ellyzabeth Romualdo (Katy Seven Lakes) 14-9, So. (Fall 1:31)
125
1st Place – Sara Penate Tercero of Katy Mayde Creek
2nd Place – Zooey Deets of Cypress Falls
3rd Place – Andrea Villegas of Bridgeland
4th Place – Gillian Wisnoski of Cypress Woods
5th Place – Neha Thambi of Katy Seven Lakes
6th Place – Zayleigh Wooldridge of Leander
1st Place Match
Sara Penate Tercero (Katy Mayde Creek) 3-0, Jr. over Zooey Deets (Cypress Falls) 14-3, Jr. (MD 22-13)
3rd Place Match
Andrea Villegas (Bridgeland) 9-7, Jr. over Gillian Wisnoski (Cypress Woods) 10-8, So. (Fall 2:04)
5th Place Match
Neha Thambi (Katy Seven Lakes) 8-13, Sr. over Zayleigh Wooldridge (Leander) 3-4, Sr. (TF-1.5 3:23 (17-0))
130
1st Place – Elliotte Strange of Conroe The Woodlands
2nd Place – Pa`Trisha Robinson of Rosenberg Terry
3rd Place – Camila Rodriguez of Katy Mayde Creek
4th Place – Briana Hernandez of Cypress Falls
5th Place – Emma Torres of Waller
6th Place – McKaela Green of Leander
1st Place Match
Elliotte Strange (Conroe The Woodlands) 2-0, Jr. over Pa`Trisha Robinson (Rosenberg Terry) 11-6, Jr. (Fall 1:58)
3rd Place Match
Camila Rodriguez (Katy Mayde Creek) 3-1, Sr. over Briana Hernandez (Cypress Falls) 8-7, Sr. (Dec 7-0)
5th Place Match
Emma Torres (Waller) 2-2, Fr. over McKaela Green (Leander) 1-8, Fr. (Fall 0:24)
135
1st Place – Katherine Racicot of Katy Seven Lakes
2nd Place – Madison Dawson of Bridgeland
3rd Place – JaNya Neal of Houston Lamar 4th Place - Payton Fox of Waller 5th Place - Katherine Hays of League City Clear Creek 1st Place Match Katherine Racicot (Katy Seven Lakes) 14-3, Jr. over Madison Dawson (Bridgeland) 9-5, Sr. (Fall 1:30) 3rd Place Match JaNya Neal (Houston Lamar) 2-2, Jr. over Payton Fox (Waller) 1-2, Fr. (Fall 1:36)
5th Place Match
Katherine Hays (League City Clear Creek) 0-8, Fr. over () , . (Bye)
140
1st Place – Sophia Payrovi of Cypress Falls
2nd Place – Desire Ojo of Conroe The Woodlands
3rd Place – Keila DeLeon Zapata of Bridgeland
4th Place – Natalie Bradshaw of Cypress Woods
5th Place – Patricia Moreno of Katy Seven Lakes
6th Place – Madison Haygood of Leander
1st Place Match
Sophia Payrovi (Cypress Falls) 18-0, Jr. over Desire Ojo (Conroe The Woodlands) 2-1, Sr. (Fall 1:57)
3rd Place Match
Keila DeLeon Zapata (Bridgeland) 14-4, Sr. over Natalie Bradshaw (Cypress Woods) 7-4, So. (Fall 0:53)
5th Place Match
Patricia Moreno (Katy Seven Lakes) 6-3, Jr. over Madison Haygood (Leander) 2-10, Jr. (Fall 0:58)
145
1st Place – Piya Raghavan of Katy Seven Lakes
2nd Place – Giggi Youngblood of Bridgeland
3rd Place – Chelbi Lott of Rosenberg Terry
4th Place – Emma Moye of Waller
5th Place – Amira Williams of Cypress Falls
6th Place – Krystal Schaefer of Cypress Woods
1st Place Match
Piya Raghavan (Katy Seven Lakes) 17-2, Sr. over Giggi Youngblood (Bridgeland) 11-9, Jr. (Fall 1:27)
3rd Place Match
Chelbi Lott (Rosenberg Terry) 9-4, Jr. over Emma Moye (Waller) 2-2, Jr. (TF-1.5 1:50 (17-1))
5th Place Match
Amira Williams (Cypress Falls) 10-7, So. over Krystal Schaefer (Cypress Woods) 3-10, So. (Fall 4:27)
155
1st Place – Claire Guydon of Conroe The Woodlands
2nd Place – Layla Batista of Rosenberg Terry
3rd Place – Linsey Brewster of Cypress Woods
4th Place – Karen Garcia of Klein Oak
5th Place – Sophia Orozco of Bridgeland
6th Place – Elizabeth Castro of Cypress Ridge
1st Place Match
Claire Guydon (Conroe The Woodlands) 3-0, Jr. over Layla Batista (Rosenberg Terry) 15-5, Jr. (Fall 1:10)
3rd Place Match
Linsey Brewster (Cypress Woods) 4-4, Jr. over Karen Garcia (Klein Oak) 2-2, So. (Fall 0:29)
5th Place Match
Sophia Orozco (Bridgeland) 8-9, Fr. over Elizabeth Castro (Cypress Ridge) 7-3, Sr. (For.)
170
1st Place – Hailey Villanueva of Cypress Woods
2nd Place – Jaleyah Hargrove-Davidson of Cypress Ridge
3rd Place – Aaliyah Bates of Katy Seven Lakes
4th Place – Julianna Roman of Houston Heights
5th Place – Camila Lobos of Cypress Lakes
6th Place – Nayeli Medina of Leander
1st Place Match
Hailey Villanueva (Cypress Woods) 4-1, Sr. over Jaleyah Hargrove-Davidson (Cypress Ridge) 12-6, Jr. (Dec 4-3)
3rd Place Match
Aaliyah Bates (Katy Seven Lakes) 17-6, So. over Julianna Roman (Houston Heights) 2-2, Jr. (Dec 7-2)
5th Place Match
Camila Lobos (Cypress Lakes) 12-10, Jr. over Nayeli Medina (Leander) 1-5, So. (Fall 0:41)
190
1st Place – Chloe Askins of Cypress Ridge
2nd Place – Journey Thompson of Cypress Woods
3rd Place – Vanessa Guedez of Katy Seven Lakes
4th Place – Lily Laser of Leander
5th Place – Genesis Jurado of Houston Lamar
1st Place Match
Chloe Askins (Cypress Ridge) 12-2, Sr. over Journey Thompson (Cypress Woods) 6-8, Jr. (Fall 0:48)
3rd Place Match
Vanessa Guedez (Katy Seven Lakes) 13-8, So. over Lily Laser (Leander) 4-9, Fr. (Dec 6-5)
5th Place Match
Genesis Jurado (Houston Lamar) 0-2, Fr. over (Bye)
235
1st Place – Margot Royston of Houston Lamar
2nd Place – Kelsey Turney of Cypress Woods
3rd Place – Chloe White of Houston Heights
4th Place – Adelynn Herrmann of Katy Seven Lakes
5th Place – Ceasaria Jackson of Cypress Lakes
6th Place – Ana Flores of Rosenberg Terry
1st Place Match
Margot Royston (Houston Lamar) 5-2, Sr. over Kelsey Turney (Cypress Woods) 10-6, Sr. (Fall 1:27)
3rd Place Match
Chloe White (Houston Heights) 4-1, Jr. over Adelynn Herrmann (Katy Seven Lakes) 14-8, Sr. (Fall 0:17)
5th Place Match
Ceasaria Jackson (Cypress Lakes) 3-2, So. over Ana Flores (Rosenberg Terry) 5-12, Sr. (Fall 0:59)
