The Chaparral and Ellison girls wrestling teams combined to send nine wrestlers into the finals Friday during the District 6-5A meet inside buzzing Mayborn Campus Center at University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Fittingly, the race for the team championship game down to a difference of 1½ points between the two Killeen ISD squads.
Anchored by individual district titles from Ava Milliner (115), Avery Wiltzius (125) and Zy’Aziah Langley (130), the Lady Bobcats edged the Lady Eagles 153.5 to 152 for the team crown at the end of an 8-hour wrestling extravaganza that zapped every ounce of energy from the wrestlers and stole just about every coaches’ voice.
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Burleseon was third with 147 points and Midlothian fourth with 146.5. Also entered into the competition were teams from Arlington Seguin, Belton, Burleson Centennial, Lake Belton, Midlothian Heritage, Brock, Gatesville, Kennedale, Lampasas, Salado.
“The way they go out and compete, the way they find a way to win, it all started at the beginning when we talked about what we wanted to accomplish,” first year CHS wrestling coach Quentin Sterling said. “We preach being united and vertically aligned, and that we were going to build a championship team brick by brick. They bought into every aspect of it, and it’s paying dividends.”
Sterling was voted by his peers as coach of the year and Milliner, a state champion two years ago as a sophomore who missed her junior year with injury, was named female wrestler of the meet.
Desiree Madrid (120) and Kaelyn Reynolds (135) were runners-up for Chaparral, which also placed Roselyn Samaniego (fourth, 100), LillyAnne Diaz (110, fourth), Kiana Heggs (145, fourth), in the top four to give it eight qualifiers for the next step in the chase for state.
The top four finishes in each weight class Friday earned a berth into the Class 5A Region II meet at Dallas ISD’s Ellis David Field House on Feb. 6-7. Another top-four finish next weekend advances wrestlers to the state meet Feb. 13-14 at Cy-Fair ISD’s Berry Center.
District champions Sophia Cooley (100), Italy Angevine (110) and Jaycie Guthrie (140) headline the Lady Eagles regional-qualifying contingent. They’ll be joined by district runner-up Josephine Okribata (115), Breyanah Leyva-Arciniega (105, fourth), Honistie Sims (125, fourth), Emma King-Stewart (130, third) and Katelynn Shooks (190, fourth).
On the boys side of the draw, Chaparral and Ellison sent four and two wrestlers, respectively, into the finals.
Chaparral’s Anthony Morales secured the 150-pound title with a second-period fall (pin) and teammate Deion Miller (157) outlasted Ellison’s Dwane Saunders by fall, while the Eagles’ Kaedin Peredo (126) also wrapped up his district championship via fall.
The Bobcats’ Yariel Flores (106) and Elijah Gordon (132) placed second.
Other Bobcats to advance to regionals were Jadin Hall (fourth, 138) and Logan Collins (third, 165).
Ellison’s additional regional-bound wrestlers were Jaxyn Ramey (113, third), Aiden Angevine (third, 120) and Phillip Swanner (third, 285).
Chaparral finished fourth in the team standings and Ellison was seventh. Burleson claimed the team title.
“Overall, this season, and today really, were have focused on trying to get the kids to understand that wins and losses aren’t what we gauge. I gauge effort. Are you giving me everything you can? Are you trying your best? If you did that, you’re a winner in my eyes. This group is understanding that,” Ellison head coach Michael Christ said. “I’m really excited to continue the season.”