Cody Thorn
Despite being low in numbers compared to other teams, Amarillo Tascosa made the most of those who made it to Cypress.
Five of the six wrestlers earned medals and helped the Rebels place third in the 5A finals — a year after winning the title.
Dumas, Canyon Randall and Frisco Centennial are the only programs to repeat as champions in the state’s smallest classification since going to two classes.
Tascoca had a champion for the third year in a row — this one belonging to Thomas Pacheco at 144 pounds.
The No. 3-ranked junior picked up a big win early in the tournament, a 6-5 decision over Carter McLaughlin of Whitehouse. The returning state runner-up was ranked No. 1 and was undefeated prior to the showdown.
Pacheco won in the semifinals and then beat No. 2-ranked Jaden Valdez of Canyon Randall, 7-2, in the finals. Pacheco lost to Valdez, 4-2 in overtime, the week prior at the Region 1-5A meet the week prior. Pacheco was 37-5 this year and three losses came to Arlington Martin’s Nicholas Zamora, the Class 6A 144-pound champ.
Jaxon Johnson (215) was a runner-up for the Rebels after losing a showdown of No. 1 vs. No. 2 wrestlers in the finals.
Johnson, ranked No .1, lost by a 7-5 decision to Lubbock’s Keagan Davis. It was a rematch of the Region 1-5A finals that Johnson won 3-2…
