TexasWrestling
Boys high school wrestler of the year: Camden Fontenot, Clear Lake
Corey Roepken Published 1:37 pm, Sunday, April 17, 2016
Clear Lake wrestler Camden Fontenot became the first wrestler in Clear Creek ISD history to win a state championship. Photographed at Clear Lake High School on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in Houston. Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / © 2016 Houston Chronicle
Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle
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Houston Clear Lake wrestler Camden Fontenot jumps into the arms of his head coach, Shane Zelenski, after beating Keller Central High School wrestler Blaine Martinez 6-5 to win the championship round of the 6A, 132 UIL Wrestling State Championships at the Berry Center Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. ( Michael Ciaglo / Houston Chronicle )
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Clear Lake wrestler Camden Fontenot became the first wrestler in Clear Creek ISD history to win a state championship. Photographed at Clear Lake High School on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in Houston.
Camden Fontenot was out of his element when his family moved to Texas before this school year. By February he was right where he wanted to be all along. The Clear Lake junior took his new state by storm en route to winning the Class 6A title in the 132-pound bracket at the state wrestling tournament.
Q: What was the most difficult thing for you to get acclimated to within the wrestling scene in Texas?
A: Having to put my name out. When I came here nobody knew me. At every tournament I would not have a seed. I usually had to face the top seed in the first round. Early on, I won more easily than I thought I would. At the CFISD tournament, one of the biggest tournaments in Texas, I made it to finals. I think that’s when I got my name put out.
Q: When did you realize you were good enough to win a state title here?
A: I realized that before I even came. I felt like I could win it. I know down here wrestling isn’t as well known. There are not as many wrestlers as there were in Pennsylvania.
Q: You’re new to the school district, but no Clear Creek ISD boy had ever won state. Is that significant to you?
A: I didn’t know that until after I won. That was the coolest thing. A lot of my teachers congratulated me. My friends and people I didn’t even know from other schools congratulated me. It’s cool to be known in the district.
Q: What is next for you?
A: I am trying to get a college scholarship. I’d like to be All-American this summer. I want to go to the junior national duals, the Fargo Nationals and the Super 32 at the end of the summer. That’s the toughest high school tournament in the country.
Q: What has winning the state title done for your confidence?
A: It has boosted it a lot. I know I can go places and my name will be known. I feel like I already have an edge. Kids will say, ‘Hey, that’s the state champ from last year.’ I may have people mentally broken before the match even starts.”
What Falcons coach Shane Zelenski:
“Camden was an instrumental addition to our team. His desire to be the best wrestler was matched by his maturity on and off of the mat.”
ALL-GREATER HOUSTON AREA STATE CHAMPIONS
Class 6A
Boys
132 pounds
Camden Fontenot, Clear Lake
Girls
102 pounds
Allissa Maldonado, Cypress Falls
138 pounds
Kayla De Leon, Cinco Ranch
165 pounds
Kjihla Evans, Klein
185 pounds
Taylor Rosario, Cinco Ranch
Team title
Cinco Ranch
Class 5A
Girls
215 pounds
Nkechinyere Nwankwo, Foister
SPC
113 pounds
Edward Chamblee, Kinkaid
145 pounds
Noah Chan, Kinkaid
152 pounds
Yo Akiyama, St. John’s
195 pounds
Alex Cornell, Episcopal
220 pounds
Joshua Thomas, St. John’s
285 pounds
Gio Pancotti, Episcopal
