TexasWrestling
Cy Ranch, Klein among area wrestling programs primed for state tournament after CFISD Invitational
Xochitl Mota-Pettis (left) of Klein faces Brianna Jones of Klein Oak in the 128-pound championship match at the 17th annual CFISD Invitational on Jan. 5 at the Berry Center. Mota-Pettis placed first in her weight class and is ranked No. 1 nationally at 127 pounds.
The Berry Center in Cypress attracted numerous programs from around Texas for the 17th annual CFISD Invitational earlier this month.
In addition to being the biggest varsity wrestling invitational across the country, the event has become a barometer that lets wrestlers know where they stand in the state.
At the 17th annual CFISD Invitational, 36 wrestlers out of northwest Houston won medals, counting eight who claimed individual championships. The Cypress Ranch girls and Klein boys led the way, each placing in the top four.
“We came into this as a litmus test,” said Cy Ranch wrestling coach, Christopher Potter. “We thought we would do well. I don’t think we did as well as we hoped…but all in all, our kids did step up at the end and we were the highest CFISD team.”
Many of the teams that participated in the event will return at the same venue for the UIL Wrestling State Tournament, Feb. 22-23. The Berry Center will be the setting for the Class 6A and 5A state tournament for the fourth straight year.
Wrestlers that placed in the top eight at the invitational have a good chance to place at the state tournament.
First place winners for the girls included Xochitl Mota-Pettis of Klein, who won the 128-pound weight class. Mota-Pettis is ranked No. 1 nationally at 127 pounds.
Fahydat Bello of Cy Park, CFISD’s newest school, won the 162-pound weight class.
“I really wanted to make my coach proud and my teammates proud, and it really showed,” Bello said. “I’ve been putting in a lot of work to get to where I am.”
Amanda Mcaleavey of Cy Creek won the 110-pound weight class.
Among the first place winners for the boys were Jacob Grogan of Cy Ranch who won the 120-pound weight class.
“It’s nice to win it,” Grogan said. “Last year, I lost to a couple kids I don’t think I should have, so it’s good to come back this year and beat some quality opponents.”
Garrett Orlando of Cy-Fair won the 132-pound weight class.
“I’ve been working for this for four years,” Orlando said. “I’ve come up short every time but now, it’s just feels so surreal to come out on top.”
There was also Isaih Calderon of Cy Falls, who won the 126-pound weight class, Gabriel Palos of Cy Ridge, who won the 138-pound weight class, and Caleb Mendez of Langham Creek, who won the 182-pound weight class.
The Cy Ranch girls team placed fourth with 116 points in the team standings, finishing as the district’s highest-placing representative for the third consecutive year. Katy Morton Ranch placed first (147 points), Keller Timber Creek second (133.5) and Weatherford third (129).
Other area girls’ teams to place among the top 30 were Cy Ridge (10th, 96 points), Langham Creek (13th, 85), Klein (16th, 75), Cy Creek (20th, 63.5), Cy Park and Klein Cain (21st, 62), Cy-Fair (26th, 56) and Klein Collins (27th, 55).
For the boys, Klein had the highest finish at fourth place among northwest Houston teams with 167.5 points. Katy placed first with 237.5 points, Prosper second (212) and Rockwall third (171).
The Cy Ranch boys had the best finish among CFISD teams, finishing ninth with 127.5 points. Cy Ridge finished 15th (104), Cy Falls 17th (97), Cy Lakes 23rd (86.5) and Cy-Fair 29th (73.5).
Cy Ranch’s Xavior Harrell placed second in the 106-pound weight class, Cy Falls’ Ruben Calderon placed third in the 113-pound weight class, Cy Lakes’ Jonathan Wertz placed third in the 152-pound weight class, Klein’s Eli Sheeren placed second in the 170-piund weight class, Klein’s Ben Brown placed third in the 182-pound weight class, Klein’s Colin Clark placed second in the 195-pound weight class and Klein’s Xavier Diaz placed second in the 220-pound weight class.
For the girls, Cy Ranch’s Lydia Ramos placed third in the 110-pound weight class, Cy Ranch’s Olivia Mottley placed third in the 119-pound weight class, Klein Oak’s Brianna Jones placed second in the 128-pound weight class, Cy Ranch’s Nia Miranda placed second in the 148-pound weight class, Cy Ridge’s Destiny Lamb placed second in the 165-pound weight class and Langham Creek’s Ashley Molina placed second in the 185-pound weight class.
For complete results of the 17th annual CFISD Invitational visit Wrestlingtexas.com/results
Teams that took part in the invitational were able to gauge what next month’s event may look like.
Every boys’ and girls’ weight class included several competitors presently in the top-10 rankings in the state, according to Cypress Ridge High School wrestling coach and tournament director Tim Ray.
The David Pruitt Most Outstanding Female Wrestler was The Woodlands College Park’s Brittyn Corbishley, who won the 185-pound weight class, and the David Pruitt Most Outstanding Male Wrestler was Katy’s Daniel Manibog, who won the 160-pound weight class.
On top of having three top-four finishes in the past three years at the invitational, the Cy Ranch girls’ team also placed first in the Class 6A team standings in last year’s UIL State Tournament with 96 points. 2018 graduate Kaitlyn Banas led the way winning the 95-pound weight class.
“I’m really happy with that (CFISD Invitational) but we’re not satisfied,” Potter said.
