Klein Collins High School hosted their annual Tiger Classic Invitational Tournament this weekend, with 30 Girls’ teams participating. Within those teams were 200 young ladies putting in the work to get ready for their District championships coming up in two weeks. Out of those 200 wrestlers, were 35 ranked wrestlers, with 21 of them ranked in the top ten in their respective weight class.
All of the teams participating were from the Houston area except for one team that took a road trip to wrestle some new faces: the San Antonio Churchill Chargers, who brought along #1 ranked 130 pounder, Lianna Benitez.
The other #1 ranked wrestler in the tournament was 155 lb. Claire Guydon of The Woodlands HS.
Let’s review the finals:
At 100 lbs. the top two seeds, #8 ranked Elisa Cano (32-13) of Klein Oak and #12 ranked Kelsey Tran (22-6) of Cypress Woods faced off in the finals. Cano had previously pinned Tran in the second period of the consolation finals of the CFISD.
In this final’s match, Cano did not take that long. The Klein Oak came out and pushed Tran back and around the mat before taking her down with an underhook and chin cup and got a quick NF-2. After an out-of-bounds restart, Tran was standing when Cano sunk a deep armbar, and brought her back to the mat. She started walking Tran over when she caught the other armbar, and turned her completely over. After giving up a NF-4,Tran got back to her stomach, but only momentarily, as Cano put her on her back again, this time to stay. The fall was recorded at 1:29.
The 105 lb. lb. finalists, who are both 9th graders, were top-seed and #5 ranked Brynlee Mooney of Conroe The Woodlands, and third seed and #6 ranked Isabella Allen of Conroe Grand Oaks started at the same time as the 100 lb. final match.
Mooney came out aggressively, and dropped down for a cross ankle/single, then slipped around back for three before Allen could effectively defend it. Allen was eventually able to stand and hip-out for an escape, only to be taken down again, but this time Allen defended it well, but lost out on a strong wizard. 6-1 going into the second period, with Allen choosing bottom.
While Allen is standing, Mooney tries an armbar, and slips, and Allen is able to get behind and gets her to the mat with a R-2. Mooney quickly stands and escapes, then executes a smooth fireman’s carry for another takedown. She would ride her out for the rest of the period, holding a 10-3 lead entering the final period.
Mooney chooses top. She uses a leg ride, then uses a power half on the other side to start the turn. Mooney moves to the other side and sinks the half in further for a complete turn. A NF-4 is called after Allen somehow gets out for an escape, but much too little, too late. A 14-4 Major Decision for Mooney
These two will be in the same District championship tournament in two weeks, and for the foreseeable future, or at least three more years if all works out well.
Alia Baker (28-3) the top seed and 6th ranked at 115 lbs., dropped down to 110 lbs. for this tournament, and we’ll see if this is a post-season decision as well. Baker has quietly put together quite an impressive season with titles in the Chicken Wing, Capital Classic, and Doc Hess, as well as a 3rd at the Rumble at the Rock. Baker matched up against the seventh seed, Jacqueline Urbano of Houston Bellaire.
Baker scored her takedown in the first minute with a single, and a half minute later turned Urbano with an armbar at the edge of the mat. The mat was slapped at 1:32 for her fourth tournament title of the season.
The 115 lb. championship brought two wrestlers who are not strangers to each other. Stephanie Lopez (34-4) of Katy Mayde Creek ranked #2, and #5 ranked Aviana Caceres (33-4) of Langham Creek last met in the finals of the CFISD tourney at the beginning of 2026. Lopez won that bout with an 8-2 decision.
As in many matches with wrestlers who know each other’s tendencies, they entered the second period after a scoreless first period. Caceres chose bottom, and scored the only point of the period with an escape in the very last seconds of the period.
Trailing 1-0, Lopez chose bottom to begin the third period. Lopez knotted the score at 1 apiece when she escaped within the first fifteen seconds. After the escape, Caceres circled quickly and caught Lopez off-balance and got around the back of her, Lopez sat out, and Caceres bull-rushed her and put her on her back, getting her T-3 and a NF-4 after Lopez got to her stomach. The whistle blew ending the match and Caceres was the avenging winner in an 8-1 decision.
Sadie Smith (33-7) of San Antonio Churchill, was the top seed and 19th ranked wrestler who met Chloe Casares (23-6) of Jersey Village who is #19 at 120 lbs., in the final match.
Smith would not allow this match to get to the second period. She got the takedown halfway through the first period with a single which Casares tried to defend with a wizard, but when you are on your backside, it’s difficult to do. Casares executed a perfect nearside cradle, received a NF-4, and then after Casares went back to her stomach, Smith turned her again with control of both of Casares’ elbows for the pin at 1:59 for the gold.
At 125 lbs. Kayla Dunn (35-5) of Cy Park, the only ranked wrestler in this weight class, at #8, was also the top seed. She scored four first period pins, including the final matchup with Houston Bellaire’s Manuela Pacheco de Borba Duarte to claim the gold medal. Her second takedown and following strong wizard put her Bellaire opponent on her back, where the fall count was quick.
In a match of unbeaten wrestlers, the 130 lb. top-seed Lianna Benitez (36-0), who is ranked #6 took on #8 ranked Gabriella Martinez (22-1), of Klein Collins. Martinez is the 2024 bronze medalist at 120 lb. She qualified for the finals with a pin over 4th ranked Elliotte Strange of Conroe The Woodlands in the semifinals. Strange is a 2X UIL qualifier, as well as the 2024 bronze medalist in the 126 lb. class. Finally, Benitez is also a 2x state qualifier, finishing 6th at 126 lbs. last season.
Martinez attempted two throws of Benitez , both failed, and the second fail resulted in a Benitez takedown when she slipped her head out of the hold and came behind. Benitez effectively used a double armbar to turn Martinez, and hold her down until the pin was called at 1:38. Very impressive indeed.
In the finals of the 135 lb. bracket, we find Josie Clarke (40-4) facing Amira Grey of Klein (30-4). Clarke ranked #6 was the top seed, while Gray the second seed is ranked #7. This most likely will be a preview of the District 7-6A championship bout. And, this was a very close match, which was decided in the third period when Clarke used a reversal via one of the first moves a beginning wrestler learns, the switch. Clarke rode Grey out for the 2-1 decision victory.
The 140 lb. title match had #12 ranked Gabriela Carrera (29-6) of Jersey Village taking on Alyssa Gomez (26-12) of Cy Park. Gomez chose top to start the second period.
Gomez rode Carrera for three-fourths of the period with one stall call before Carrera was able to reverse while standing and bringing her down to the mat. Carrera chose top for the third period.
Gomez was able to escape before half the period was over, shot at Carrera’s legs, but Carrera flattened out on top of her and spun around for the takedown. The period ended for an 8-2 decision, and Carrera’s first tournament title of the year.
145 lbs. Alyssa Navarro (25-5), the 12th ranked Cypress Springs 145 pounder was another first time 25-26 title winner, as she pinned Jayda Francis (22-11) of Cypress Park in the third period of their finals match. She had built a 9-5 lead before applying the pin at 4:32.
The #1 6A wrestler at 155 lbs. Claire Guydon (30-2) of Conroe The Woodlands met challenger and #3 ranked Elizabeth Castro (11-2) in their title bout. From what I’ve been able to gather, these two wrestlers have gone head-to-head at least six times in their wrestling careers. Guydon is ahead in the series 4-2, with this being the third match occurring at the Tiger Classic. Castro has defeated Guydon in the previous two encounters in this tournament. But Guydon does have the only win between the two this season, with an 8-0 MD in the finals of the Cy Ridge Classic back in November. Castro last wrestled in mid-December. S entered the mat holding her back, that was a little disconcerting.
Guydon first tied up Castro’s hands then her arms, dropped to her knees, bringing Castro with her, then spun behind for three. Guydon took control of Castro’s right wrist, sunk a left armbar and turned her over for a quick pin, timed at 1:47. After the pin, trainers were called to the mat to look at Castro’s left shoulder. I certainly hope she is alright; you hate to see any wrestler injured at any time, let alone this close to the postseason.
At 170 lbs. the #4 6A wrestler, Gabrielle Moore of Cypress Creek (27-4) faced off against Jenesis Hunt (30-10) of Jersey Village. Moore is compiling a great season, with three of her losses coming to the 6A #1 and #2, and 5A #1 ranked wrestlers.
When looking at the scoring, where one point was awarded to Moore at 2:00, and then replaying the video, the match was delayed while the ref seemed to have a problem with the equipment of Hunt, specifically her mouthpiece.
Moore ended up taking Hunt down on the edge of the mat, then restarting and was on the verge of turning her on another edge of the mat when the period ended. Moore chose top, and Hunt struggled to get anything going down below. Moore ended up turning her with a half nelson, and the pin was recorded at 3:24.
Another District 7-6A postseason preview took place at 190 lbs. where 2nd seed and # 13 ranked Ariana Rangel of Klein Oak paired up with fourth seeded, #19 ranked Gensis Mejia.
While Rangel defeated 14th ranked Kaylee Conway in the Semis; Mejia put away #14 at 235 Leyla Allen of Langham Creek in the quarterfinals, and the #16, top seed, Chloe Askins of Cypress Ridge in the semifinals.
Rangel scored first with a takedown, when Mejia tried a back-trip that didn’t work. Mejia worked a reversal when one of Rangel’s moves slipped. Rangel got a point when she escaped at the edge of the mat before the period ended. Mejia started on top in the second period.
Rangel was able to stand and escape before the first minute expired. Mejia had an over-under and tried to throw Rangel, but Rangel landed on top of her, and the match was completed seconds later with the title going to Rangel at 3:05.
Kate Oguntoyinbo (21-1) of Houston Bellaire, was the top seed and 5th ranked at 235 lbs. Her opponent was second seed, J’Niyah Brown (29-7) of Cypress Springs.
Brown started the match as the aggressor, moving Oguntoyinbo backwards off the mat early on with a double underhook, giving the Bellaire wrestler a stall warning. After that, Oguntoyinbo shot a double, and had Brown on her hip, but she couldn’t finish the takedown. Oguntoyinbo went in for another shot, and as Brown tried to circle behind, she was put on her hip, this time Oguntoyinbo finished it and put Brown on her back for the fall at 1:26.
Individual Placements
100 lbs.
1st Place – Elisa Cano of Klein Oak
2nd Place – Kelsey Tran of Cypress Woods
3rd Place – Natalie Moreno of Cypress Park
4th Place – Brooklyn Moore of Cypress Creek
5th Place – Quinn Dutcher of Katy Mayde Creek
6th Place – Lola Lowry of Conroe Grand Oaks
1st Place Match
Elisa Cano (Klein Oak) 32-13, So. over Kelsey Tran (Cypress Woods) 22-6, Jr. (Fall 1:29)
3rd Place Match
Natalie Moreno (Cypress Park) 36-11, Jr. over Brooklyn Moore (Cypress Creek) 14-14, Fr. (Fall 4:34)
5th Place Match
Quinn Dutcher (Katy Mayde Creek) 31-12, Fr. over Lola Lowry (Conroe Grand Oaks) 17-10, Fr. (Fall 1:35)
105 lbs.
1st Place – Brynlee Mooney of Conroe The Woodlands
2nd Place – Isabella Allen of Conroe Grand Oaks
3rd Place – Marlena Messa of Houston Heights
4th Place – Carrie Murrell of Cypress Ridge
5th Place – Mariangel Miranda of Katy Paetow
6th Place – Noella Dutcher of Katy Mayde Creek
1st Place Match
Brynlee Mooney (Conroe The Woodlands) 26-6, Fr. over Isabella Allen (Conroe Grand Oaks) 33-4, Fr. (MD 14-4)
3rd Place Match
Marlena Messa (Houston Heights) 22-2, Sr. over Carrie Murrell (Cypress Ridge) 27-13, Fr. (Dec 4-2)
5th Place Match
Mariangel Miranda (Katy Paetow) 35-11, Jr. over Noella Dutcher (Katy Mayde Creek) 16-10, Jr. (Fall 4:30)
110 lbs.
1st Place – Alia Baker of Klein Cain
2nd Place – Jacqueline Urbano of Houston Bellaire
3rd Place – Mckenna Berryman of Humble Kingwood
4th Place – Sherlyn Ortega of Cypress Park
5th Place – Mia Rodriguez of Katy Morton Ranch
6th Place – Amanda Suarez of Conroe Grand Oaks
1st Place Match
Alia Baker (Klein Cain) 33-3, Jr. over Jacqueline Urbano (Houston Bellaire) 18-6, Sr. (Fall 1:34)
3rd Place Match
Mckenna Berryman (Humble Kingwood) 20-5, Sr. over Sherlyn Ortega (Cypress Park) 9-12, Fr. (Fall 1:44)
5th Place Match
Mia Rodriguez (Katy Morton Ranch) 25-8, Sr. over Amanda Suarez (Conroe Grand Oaks) 15-14, Jr. (Fall 0:40)
115 lbs.
1st Place – Aviana Caceres of Langham Creek
2nd Place – Stephanie Lopez of Katy Mayde Creek
3rd Place – Jicelle Uresti of Katy Morton Ranch
4th Place – Camila Ortiz of Conroe The Woodlands
5th Place – Destiny Salazar of League City Clear Creek
6th Place – Ocean Sanchez of Conroe
1st Place Match
Aviana Caceres (Langham Creek) 33-4, Sr. over Stephanie Lopez (Katy Mayde Creek) 34-4, Jr. (Dec 8-1)
3rd Place Match
Jicelle Uresti (Katy Morton Ranch) 21-7, Sr. over Camila Ortiz (Conroe The Woodlands) 20-9, Sr. (Dec 7-0)
5th Place Match
Destiny Salazar (League City Clear Creek) 15-9, So. over Ocean Sanchez (Conroe) 16-11, Jr. (Fall 4:22)
120 lbs.
Guaranteed Places
1st Place – Sadie Smith of San Antonio Churchill
2nd Place – Chloe Casares of Jersey Village
3rd Place – Anna Le of League City Clear Creek
4th Place – Sara Penate Tercero of Katy Mayde Creek
5th Place – Serenity Duron of Klein
6th Place – Gillian Wisnoski of Cypress Woods
1st Place Match
Sadie Smith (San Antonio Churchill) 33-7, Jr. over Chloe Casares (Jersey Village) 23-6, Sr. (Fall 1:59)
3rd Place Match
Anna Le (League City Clear Creek) 25-4, Jr. over Sara Penate Tercero (Katy Mayde Creek) 27-13, Jr. (Fall 1:35)
5th Place Match
Serenity Duron (Klein) 20-11, So. over Gillian Wisnoski (Cypress Woods) 19-13, So. (Fall 3:38)
125 lbs.
1st Place – Kayla Dunn of Cypress Park
2nd Place – Manuela Pacheco de Borba Duarte of Houston Bellaire
3rd Place – Miley Escalante of Langham Creek
4th Place – Mikaela Martinez of Katy Mayde Creek
5th Place – Brooklyn Denbow of Katy Paetow
6th Place – Jasmine Torres of Klein Forest
1st Place Match
Kayla Dunn (Cypress Park) 35-5, Sr. over Manuela Pacheco de Borba Duarte (Houston Bellaire) 23-7, Jr. (Fall 1:49)
3rd Place Match
Miley Escalante (Langham Creek) 24-13, So. over Mikaela Martinez (Katy Mayde Creek) 19-10, So. (Fall 4:53)
5th Place Match
Brooklyn Denbow (Katy Paetow) 28-10, So. over Jasmine Torres (Klein Forest) 20-11, Jr. (MD 10-2)
130 lbs.
1st Place – Lianna Benitez of San Antonio Churchill
2nd Place – Gabriella Martinez of Klein Collins
3rd Place – Elliotte Strange of Conroe The Woodlands
4th Place – Viranna Newcombe of Humble Kingwood
5th Place – Ruby Fizer of Cypress Lakes
6th Place – Valeria Baez Gonzalez of Katy Paetow
1st Place Match
Lianna Benitez (San Antonio Churchill) 36-0, Jr. over Gabriella Martinez (Klein Collins) 22-1, Jr. (Fall 1:38)
3rd Place Match
Elliotte Strange (Conroe The Woodlands) 23-4, Jr. over Viranna Newcombe (Humble Kingwood) 18-14, So. (Fall 0:34)
5th Place Match
Ruby Fizer (Cypress Lakes) 17-11, So. over Valeria Baez Gonzalez (Katy Paetow) 17-17, Jr. (Fall 0:37)
135 lbs.
1st Place – Josephine Clarke of Klein Oak
2nd Place – Amira Grey of Klein
3rd Place – Desire Ojo of Conroe The Woodlands
4th Place – Kye Carrell of Cypress Springs
5th Place – Aubree Hunter of Conroe Oak Ridge
6th Place – Rafal Mahmood of Langham Creek
1st Place Match
Josephine Clarke (Klein Oak) 40-4, Sr. over Amira Grey (Klein) 30-4, Jr. (Dec 2-1)
3rd Place Match
Desire Ojo (Conroe The Woodlands) 21-8, Sr. over Kye Carrell (Cypress Springs) 22-11, Sr. (Fall 0:57)
5th Place Match
Aubree Hunter (Conroe Oak Ridge) 9-3, Fr. over Rafal Mahmood (Langham Creek) 19-14, So. (Fall 4:03)
140 lbs.
1st Place – Gabriela Carrera of Jersey Village
2nd Place – Alyssa Gomez of Cypress Park
3rd Place – Lucia Iraheta of Langham Creek
4th Place – Krystal Schaefer of Cypress Woods
5th Place – Getsemani Martinez of Klein Collins
6th Place – Cristina Bernal of Klein Cain
1st Place Match
Gabriela Carrera (Jersey Village) 29-6, Sr. over Alyssa Gomez (Cypress Park) 26-12, So. (Dec 8-2)
3rd Place Match
Lucia Iraheta (Langham Creek) 26-14, Sr. over Krystal Schaefer (Cypress Woods) 11-18, So. (Fall 2:42)
5th Place Match
Getsemani Martinez (Klein Collins) 15-5, So. over Cristina Bernal (Klein Cain) 12-13, Sr. (For.)
145 lbs.
1st Place – Alyssa Navarro of Cypress Springs
2nd Place – Jayda Francis of Cypress Park
3rd Place – Mariangel Duarte of Katy Paetow
4th Place – Fabiola Magana of Katy Mayde Creek
5th Place – Erica Mvungi of Langham Creek
6th Place – Isabel Ibarra of League City Clear Creek
1st Place Match
Alyssa Navarro (Cypress Springs) 25-5, Sr. over Jayda Francis (Cypress Park) 22-11, Jr. (Fall 4:32)
3rd Place Match
Mariangel Duarte (Katy Paetow) 17-6, Jr. over Fabiola Magana (Katy Mayde Creek) 9-5, Fr. (Fall 2:09)
5th Place Match
Erica Mvungi (Langham Creek) 10-9, Fr. over Isabel Ibarra (League City Clear Creek) 9-15, Sr. (Fall 2:38)
155 lbs.
1st Place – Claire Guydon of Conroe The Woodlands
2nd Place – Elizabeth Castro of Cypress Ridge
3rd Place – Leila Hurd of Cypress Springs
4th Place – Abigail Taylor of Klein Collins
5th Place – Hailey Villanueva of Cypress Woods
6th Place – Camila Lobos of Cypress Lakes
1st Place Match
Claire Guydon (Conroe The Woodlands) 30-2, Jr. over Elizabeth Castro (Cypress Ridge) 11-3, Sr. (Fall 0:42)
3rd Place Match
Leila Hurd (Cypress Springs) 36-14, Jr. over Abigail Taylor (Klein Collins) 30-10, Sr. (Fall 2:37)
5th Place Match
Hailey Villanueva (Cypress Woods) 18-8, Sr. over Camila Lobos (Cypress Lakes) 29-22, Jr. (Fall 0:40)
170 lbs.
1st Place – Gabrielle Moore of Cypress Creek
2nd Place – Jenesis Hunt of Jersey Village
3rd Place – Jaleyah Hargrove-Davidson of Cypress Ridge
4th Place – Viviane Bueno of Klein
5th Place – Julianna Roman of Houston Heights
6th Place – Kiari Dos santos of Katy Mayde Creek
1st Place Match
Gabrielle Moore (Cypress Creek) 27-4, So. over Jenesis Hunt (Jersey Village) 30-10, Sr. (Fall 3:24)
3rd Place Match
Jaleyah Hargrove-Davidson (Cypress Ridge) 26-11, Jr. over Viviane Bueno (Klein) 16-11, So. (Dec 7-2)
5th Place Match
Julianna Roman (Houston Heights) 22-4, Jr. over Kiari Dos santos (Katy Mayde Creek) 23-15, Fr. (Fall 2:09)
190 lbs.
1st Place – Ariana Rangel of Klein Oak
2nd Place – Gensis Mejia of Klein Forest
3rd Place – Kaylee Conway of Cypress Park
4th Place – Chloe Askins of Cypress Ridge
5th Place – Leyla Allen of Langham Creek
6th Place – Lucanne Robbins of Humble Kingwood
1st Place Match
Ariana Rangel (Klein Oak) 32-7, Sr. over Gensis Mejia (Klein Forest) 20-4, Sr. (Fall 3:05)
3rd Place Match
Kaylee Conway (Cypress Park) 33-10, So. over Chloe Askins (Cypress Ridge) 21-5, Sr. (Fall 1:57)
5th Place Match
Leyla Allen (Langham Creek) 17-17, Jr. over Lucanne Robbins (Humble Kingwood) 20-12, Sr. (Fall 1:43)
235 lbs.
1st Place – Oluwafunke (Kate) Oguntoyinbo of Houston Bellaire
2nd Place – J`niyah Brown of Cypress Springs
3rd Place – Chloe White of Houston Heights
4th Place – Alexandra Pace of Klein Cain
5th Place – Isabella Aguayo of Klein Oak
6th Place – Kelsey Turney of Cypress Woods
1st Place Match
Oluwafunke (Kate) Oguntoyinbo (Houston Bellaire) 21-1, Sr. over J`niyah Brown (Cypress Springs) 29-7, Jr. (Fall 1:26)
3rd Place Match
Chloe White (Houston Heights) 15-6, Jr. over Alexandra Pace (Klein Cain) 4-2, Sr. (Fall 2:20)
5th Place Match
Isabella Aguayo (Klein Oak) 21-15, So. over Kelsey Turney (Cypress Woods) 17-11, Sr. (Fall 0:42)
Team Scores (Top Ten out of 30)
1- Cypress Park 195.0
2- Langham Creek 184.0
3- Katy Mayde Creek 158.0
4- Conroe the Woodlands 146.5
5- Klein Oak 141.5
6- Cypress Springs 127.0
7- Cypress Woods 114.0
8- Houston Bellaire 111.0
9- Jersey Village 107.0
10- Klein 100.5
