District 8-6A Boys Wrestling Championships

The Boys District 8 Championship tournament was held on Thursday at Grand Oaks High School. Eighty-eight boys from 7 teams participated in the tournament. Those schools consisted of Caney Creek HS, Conroe HS, College Park HS, Grand Oaks HS, Oak Ridge HS, The Woodlands HS, and Willis HS; all schools in Montgomery County, north of Houston.

In the tournament, I identified nineteen wrestlers who were ranked in WrestlingTexas.com’s most recent rankings (Jan. 20), including ten wrestlers rated in the Top 10 of their respective weight class. Let’s get started with the recap.

All Photos by Brian S. Doyle

106 lbs.

With only four wrestlers in the weight class, it would only take two wins to bring home the title, and that’s exactly what College Park ninth grader, Nick Payne (30-4) did. Payne ranked 5^th in the State, secured his second 1^st period pin in the finals against Brayden Spencer (18-12) of Conroe. Payne scored a double leg takedown in the first 0:30, and used an armbar tilt for a NF-4. He then ran the armbar to turn Spencer all the way over for the pin at 1:28.

113 lbs.

The second of College Park’s freshmen, top-seeded Victor Matos (27-12) was up next vs. David Ramos (20-15) of Caney Creek. I am glad that I have video to review of each match as I write the recap, because for some reason, the bout number that you click on Trackwrestling to see the period-by-period points only was only active for the 106lb. match.

Matos took his three points from a first period takedown into a second period lead. He chose bottom, stood, and gained control when Ramos went to his knees trying a front trip. Matos was able to come around, and then worked a near cradle for the pin at 3:18.

120 lbs.

Top seed, Brandon Pattillo (8-3) of College Park and 2^nd seed, Charlie Hempfling (24-13) of The Woodlands met in the 120 finals. Pattillo was last year’s 4^th place finisher at the UIL State tournament at 106 lbs. as a freshman. He did not begin wrestling this season until the second week of January.

At the whistle, Hempfling charged and grabbed a double, lifting Pattillo off the ground and putting him  down for three points.  As he was low on the legs when they landed, he cut him loose to go at it again. Both wrestlers took unsuccessful shots, then blood-time was called to fix a leaky nose. The period ended with another failed shot by Hempfling. It appears that Pattillo would not be caught off-guard again. Optional start by Hempfling, 1 point for Pattillo. Pattillo in with a single, Hempfling counters with a wizard, Pattillo slides up with a deep underhook, Hempfling tries to trip, Pattillo drives into Hempfling bringing him to the mat for 3. Pattillo gets in the leg and is able to pull Hempfling back, when Hempfling makes the mistake of trying to wrap his arm around Pattillo’s head, ensuring that Pattillo would have the guillotine and get the fall at 3:16.  

126 lbs.

#5 Luca Rios (25-6) of College Park and #11 (at 120 lbs.) Derrick Collins (19-1) of Oak Ridge came on the mat next. Rios was 4^th place finisher last season as a freshman. Collins is a 2X UIL qualifier.

Rios was able to get a quick ankle pick for a takedown, and at 1:44, Collins signaled to the ref that something was wrong. Collins came off of the mat with his left arm dangling. After a minute and a half, the decision was made to end the match with a medical forfeit.

I spoke with a medical rep after the tournament and he said he believed he suffered a torn bicep. Time will tell if that is true, or if the 3^rd – 5^th wrestlers move up a spot for the Region tournament.

132 lbs.

A highly anticipated match between two Top 5 wrestlers was up next. #1 Caio Aron of College Park, whose record was 33-0 coming into this final match. Andrew Huerta, a former teammate of Aron’s, who now wrestles for The Woodlands, had a record of 39-1 coming in, as well as a #5 ranking.

Both wrestlers used the first 0:55 trying to set up the other, Aron with his chinstrap and underhook, and Huerta using a head tap and going to a knee. Right before the first minute went by, Huerta tied up, shrugged left and went in for a double. Aron went to his hip and tried to flip Huerta, but Huerta recovered and moved up for the takedown. Aron got the escape and shot for a single that Huerta fought until the end of the period, where it looked like it could go either way, but the Aron takedown was not called. That began a table conference, then a ref conference, then back to the table, then the supervising ref was called over for another ref conference, and after 2:30 had passed, the score remained the same. Onto the second period.