Top 5 finishes at state for wrestling teams
With eight mats, the Berry Center in Cypress was the hub of Texas high school wrestling on Friday and Saturday. For the Redhawks, the state tournament resulted in a third place finish for the guys and a fifth place finish for the girls.
Out of the 12 wrestlers that made their way down to Cypress, 7 placed in the 5A state meet on Friday and Saturday with boys’ team making school history with its third place finish and the girls’ team finishing in fifth.
“They won with heart and determination which is all any coach could ask for,” assistant wrestling coach Tim Brennan said via email. “They had our highest boys finish ever with a third place. Putting two girls in the finals was amazing, especially Ashley Cook who had to beat to rivals that had beaten her during the year.”
Her arm raised in victory, junior Savannah West won her first four matches before losing in the championship final.
Redhawks claimed three second place finishes with senior Broderick Green in the 120 lbs weight class, junior Ashley Cook in 148 lbs, and junior Savannah West in 110 lbs. Green took on three time state champion, Johnathon Ortegon from Canyon Randall, falling 8-4.
“Just work hard for what you want,” senior Broderick Green said. “I practiced three times a day everyday, I worked out, ran and just mentally prepared myself.”
Placing fourth in the 132 lbs weight class, junior Precious Essien can’t believe the season is already over.
“This season was definitely the hardest season I’ve had in the last couple years but even so it was still a very fun amazing season,” Essien said via text. “I’m sad it’s come to an end so soon especially since we’re losing so many amazing seniors.”
Losing by two points in the final match and placing second, junior Savannah West is ready for another go at the state title.
Taking on Brady Mistr of Wakeland in the 3rd place final, senior Jonathan Green would lose 2-0 but still gain points to help the boys’ team finish 3rd in the state.
“For next year, my coaches told me to help this fuel my fire so I can win state and make something good come out of getting second and losing the state championship,” West said. “To prepare myself for next year. I’m just trying to use my loss to eventually push myself next year, go out there, and give it my all senior year and try to win.”
The season isn’t completely over as several of the girls will have one last meet at Nationals in Oklahoma City on March 22-25.
“We have a couple of girls that should do well at Nationals,” Brennan said via email. “We will probably send the majority of our girls up to Oklahoma City and the overall benefit for the program will be the valuable experience of competing against the best wrestlers in the nation. Texas somehow looks smaller after that.”
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