TexasWrestling
With the close of the NCAA’s last weekend, one can say folkstyle is officially over, sure there will be the random folkstyle tournaments and duals, but the season is over.
Just a few Notables of the season,
Fresh off our minds is the outstanding season Bo Nickal had, although it didn’t end how we all thought it would end with a National Championship for Texas , but I for one , am very proud of Bo, and I know the whole State shares my feelings, he joins a small group of Texas NCAA Finalist. The Social Media posts this season anytime Bo wrestled was crazy, he had a whole State following his season. So Congrats to Bo Nickal. SUPERSTAR!!
We also saw Allen High School who was supposed to have a down year, win a #8 Dual State Title and a #7 UIL State Title, they qualified all 14 wrestlers from Regionals to State. I heard it said that, its because their Region is weak, which makes a great argument since Region 1 had State Qualifiers and a State Champion not even get out of their Regional Tournament. Never the less Allen Scored the 2nd highest Team points in UIL history, weak region or not, State wasnt weak, if you place you must be good, Right? and they will only lose 3 of the 11 State placers this year, but will be adding Albert Ferrari, and Braxton Brown. It doesn’t look like any decline in the near future.
Also saw Chase Roth of Argyle join the 3x State Champion Club, if you count his Prep Year he is a 4 timer, Congrats on his achievement.
Saw 8 Wrestlers grab their 2nd State Championship
Braedan Redlin, Quincy Monday, Kennedy Monday, Brian Andrews, Dalton Millers, Jerhett Lee, Luke Hodsden and Zach Diaz.
The Girls had some repeat State Champs as well, #1 and still undefeated Rachel Bridges of Keller Timber Creek joins Liles of Allen by picking her 2nd State Championship. Bridges went 33-0 this season winning all by falls, and didn’t give up a single point all year. Liles was undefeated as well last 2 seasons.
We also see some new Alignments in the Districts through out the State, some notable is the 5A Team State Champs Rockwall Heath now will be in the District 7, and Region 2 with Allen, Amarillo goes to 5A, Region 4 6A has 51 schools where as Region 1 has only 23 schools. Region 2 5A has 58 schools.
Jack Mueller won his fourth consecutive National Preps title over 4 different weight classes and also winning Outstanding Wrestler for 2016 Tournament. Jack joins an elite group, he is only the 11th National Prep to win 4 years, Also Jack won the Ironman Tournament, the toughest in the Nation, and won the Major Ray Mendoza Award.
Saw Cy-Fair have one of the largest Tournaments in Texas with over 80 boys HS Teams, not counting the Girls Teams which I believe to be over 34, The Allen Outlaw each year keeps getting tougher, arguably the toughest tournament in the State. Next year will be tougher yet.
Kennedy Monday gets a 3rd place Finish at the Powerade Tournament, Andrew McFarland gets a Championship at the Dixie Nationals, Braedan Redlin took 2nd at the KC Stampede,
Alex Liles was the lone Texas HS wrestler to wrestle in World Competition, she placed 8th in the Cadet Worlds.
I know I missed alot of other worthy stories, am thinking of a few while I type this line, but gotta stop somewhere.
This was WrestlingTexas first year as a website. At times I think I took on more than I can handle, am still a one man show, but had lots of help with reporting this season, I want to give special thanks to those peeps, The Purcels in Trinity, Cory Brandt from Amarillo, Rick Mills who done all the Preps stats and stories this year, The Torres from Amarillo, Will McKinney from 3F wrestling in Austin, Coach Pederson, Chris McFarland, Coach Roark, Adam Venegas who also took allot of photos for me at State, Ian Kruljac, Michelle Robison, Coach Best, and so many more people, sorry if I didn’t mention you, I couldn’t of gotten this far without your help, Most of the Houston Peeps know Tom Dendy, he will be helping out with photos and reporting next year. The forum (formly ITW), has been doing great, not like it used to before social media, but still good. This web site is for the growth of Texas Wrestling and I realize it will take a while for everyone to jump on board, I also realize that with the social media craze everyone has one these days of some sorts which is great, but it spreads out everyone at the same time. I want to use this site to not only be informational, and news stories, but to link all the social media sites to one area, kind of hard of complicating to explain, but this next year I plan on this web site being the biggest wrestling media tool the States ever seen. This can only happen with the continued support from around the State,Coaches and Parents. Most of you who know me know this isn’t my real job, (I wish it was 🙂 ). and some have ask if they could donate or help support financially, I have added a Donation link to PayPal on the front page. Also if anyone knows of advertisers interested in putting ads on website, that would help. Donations are an Essential Part of Our Funding. Used to Offset Travel Expenses needed to Attend Dual Meets and Tournaments. Please Take a Moment to Show Your Support and Make a Donation. Thanks.
Now then, BRING ON GRECO/FREESTYLE SEASON look forward to seeing everyone
Thanks
Ray Shoaf
