TexasWrestling
By Rick Mauch
Special to the Star-Telegram
Lady Trojans are ranked in Top 10; boys are ranked 5th
Both sides return a number of state qualifiers from 2015
Bell also features state qualifier on girls team
There’s no wrestling with the question of who enters the District 5-6A wrestling tournaments on the boys and girls sides.
That would be the Trinity Trojans and Lady Trojans.
Entering this weekend’s tournament at Irving Nimitz High School, the Trojans were 25-3 on the season in dual matches and ranked fifth in the state in Class 6A. The Lady Trojans were also in the top 10 in 6A and are 17-2.
“We should not have much trouble in districts,” Trinity coach Travis Clark said.
The Lady Trojans have won the Arlington Invitational, Coppell Cowgirls Classic, the Trinity Round-Robin and the Trojan Classic this season. They also recently finished fourth in the Texas High School Coaches Association Girls State Duals.
The Trojans won their own two tournaments as well, along with taking first in the Reagan Duals. They were second in the Arlington tourney and third at Frisco Liberty.
The Lady Trojans returned seven state qualifiers from a season ago. The list includes Mack Beggs (34-5), ninth in state in 110 pounds; Savannah Bye (39-7), No. 4 in 128 division; Paisley Zandi (34-3), fifth in 148; and Passion Hollins (18-1), 10th in 165.
Zandi also qualified for state in 2014, and Hollins was also named a 2015 Body Bar All-American.
The Trojans returned two state qualifiers and five others who placed at regionals in 2015.
Two-time state qualifier Nick Purcell (33-2) is ranked ninth in the state in the 120 division. Jadin Winfrey (40-4), competing at 145 pounds, is also hoping to make a return to state.
Regional qualifier Harley Williamson (34-6) is ranked seventh at 106 pounds. Also, 2015 regional qualifier Job Ayala has lost just once in 40 matches.
Ben Bennett, 126 pounds, is 29-1. Alfredo Benevidez (37-4) is one of the top 132-pounders, as is Brooklyn Twomey (36-7) at 195.
“South Grand Prairie boys and girls will be tough, and Irving boys will be tough, but I still expect to win the titles for both groups and advance my entire team to regionals,” Clark said.
The Region II tournament is Feb. 12-13 at Allen High School, and the state tournament is Feb. 19-20 at the Berry Center in Cypress.
New Bell coach excited about district
L.D. Bell will enter the District 5-6A tournaments with a new head coach at the helm, Lute Croy.
The Lady Raiders returned one state qualifier from last season, senior 128-pounder Alexia Pineda.
“She is 10-4 this season and she is getting better and better each week,” Croy said. “She is the leader on our women’s team. The other three girls we have out right now are very inexperienced, but all of them are underclassmen that will be returning next year. We are excited about the future of the women’s program.”
Hurst-Euless-Bedford News
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/hurst-euless-bedford_news/article57718793.html
