Kathy Garza-Gutierrez
In the realm of sports, Brownsville Independent School District (ISD) has recently embraced the world of wrestling, marking a significant addition to its list of sports offerings for the 2023-2024 season. The wrestling journey began at Brownsville Lopez High School and Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School, both seeking expertise from a seasoned coach in the Rio Grande Valley, Coach Ronald Pratt.
Coach Pratt played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for the new wrestling teams. He conducted several clinics with the coaches in Brownsville, imparting his knowledge and experience. Additionally, he organized a long roll session at his campus, where the aspiring wrestlers from Brownsville were bused in to learn the basics before the season officially commenced.
The schools from Brownsville, now part of District 15-5A, have displayed commendable performance in various tournaments and duals throughout the year. The culmination of their efforts was evident when Brownsville Lopez High School hosted the Lobo Tri-Meet, marking the inaugural wrestling event in Brownsville.
A moment of gratitude was extended to Coach Pratt during the event, where he was acknowledged for his guidance and dedication. The gesture was accompanied by the presentation of a plaque in recognition of his valuable contributions to the wrestling program. The Lobo Tri-Meet featured intense and thrilling duals between the Brownsville Lopez Lobos, Brownsville Veterans Memorial, and the Rio Grande City Rattlers, showcasing the growing enthusiasm and skill within the wrestling community in Brownsville.
In the 132-pound category, Emily Rodriguez from Brownsville Veterans Memorial secured a victory over Montserrat Benitez with a fall in just 59 seconds. Continuing the trend, at 138 pounds, Mia Siller of Rio Grande City triumphed over Alymer Salinas Acevedo with a fall in the same duration, displaying a swift and decisive performance.
The 165-pound matchup witnessed Ciara Berrera of Rio Grande City achieving success over Joselyn Velasco with a fall in 1 minute and 29 seconds. The 107-pound bout featured Cassandra De La Pena from Brownsville Veterans Memorial prevailing over Veronica Gonzalez with a fall in 1 minute and 31 seconds….
