The highly anticipated dual match between the #2 Arlington ISD James Martin Warriors and the #3 Conroe ISD The Woodlands College Park Cavaliers took place this past Thursday night. Martin made the 223-mile trip to College Park for both team’s first real test of the year. It was a great night for the Cavaliers to hold their Senior Night to honor their student-athletes for their hard work and dedication.
Not only did the Warriors bring their Texas 6A #2 team ranking into the gym with them, they also came packing a #40 National ranking from the Flo 40 rankings. They were in for quite the test this evening.
After some tinkering of the lineups by Coach Dunn of Martin and Coach Spjut to get the most points out of their rosters, the fun began at 165 lbs with returning 175 lb. 6A champion, Grayson Carpenter of AM taking on unranked Ivan Shenkun of the home team CP. Carpenter quickly built a 12-3 lead on the strength of four takedowns, mostly from spinning around the overmatched Shenkun. To his credit, the CP wrestler did not back down, but Carpenter was the winner of this match with a pin at 1:37.
Arlington Martin 6, College Park 0
Up next at 175 lbs. was Martin Robbie Rocha, ranked #6 at 150 lbs. by Wrestling Texas. He would match up with Jaiye Bello, a transfer from Azle, ranked #4 at 165. Rocha scored a double leg takedown within the first thirty seconds. Bello escaped, but left himself vulnerable to another double by Rocha, and the first period ended 6-1. Rocha chose bottom, and after a not so quick issue with the clock, action resumed and on one out of bounds scramble, Bello gave up a point by signaling a neutral restart. The period ended with both still neutral. To start the third, Bello was down, and was able to get up and out. Rocha was able to parry with Bello then get around him for 3. Bello was again able to work up and out for an escape, making it 10-3. Bello again left his legs susceptible, and Rocha took advantage and scored his fourth takedown with a double, ending on top at the final whistle for a 13-3 major decision.
Arlington Martin 10, College Park 0
Arlington Martin’s 190 lb. bronze medalist from last year’s 6A championships, Ryan Rainey, ranked #2, stepped onto the mat to face Cavalier JeVaris Clay. While Rainey clearly had more experience, and outsized Clay, Clay attempted to take their neutral position to Rainey. Unfortunately, a Clay shot came to high and Rainey threw him for the takedown and earned the fall at 0:58.
