By Peter Dewey

Coppell was fresh off an upset victory over Highland Park in District 16. Arlington Bowie was on a high after a dominating performance in tough District 13. Azle had blown through District 12 and also looked ready for a run at a regional title. But the team that once again lifted the Region 2 Championship trophy and advanced the most wrestlers to State was Highland Park.

Highland Park will take 9 wrestlers to State. Coppell and Azle each lost a 4th place finisher in challenge matches and will advance 8 wrestlers to State. It was a tough tournament for Bowie who will bring only 5 wrestlers, with District 13 rivals Arlington and Martin advancing 4 each.

103
Danny Luttrell (Arl) went into Regionals as the #4 seed but came out with the Championship and MOW. In the semi’s he beat #1 seed Chris Wilcox (Heb) 7-5 in OT and then beat #2 Adam Purcell (Tri) by the same 7-5 score this time in regulation.

All 3 of these wrestlers and #4 Sean McCarthy (Azl) have a good chance to place at State but there is some serious competition, including Greg Gogonas (Aus Bow) and so it is likely a couple will fall short.

112
Michael Hortman (Azl) is another #4 seed who stood atop the podium at Regionals. In the semi’s he had an unlikely pin of #1 Jeremy Sandoval (CH) and then won 5-2 over freshman Tyler Lee (Marcus) in the finals. Lee had edged Kevin Schmitt (Arl) 7-6 in the semi’s.

Again all of these wrestlers have a chance to place but Jeremy Sandoval probably has the best shot at reaching the finals. This weight class will be very tough with the likes of Erik Spjut (WDL) Brandon McDonald (Randall) and Greg Gogonas (Aus Bow).

119
Here it was a #3 seed winning when Darren Delacruz (SGP) decisioned
Nick Killip (Azl) in the finals. #1 seed Matt Goolsby (Bow) lost 4-3 to Killip in the semis and took 3rd with a fall over Kegan Joplin (Cop). Isaiah Ortega (Cen) challenged and beat Joplin to earn a State birth.

This weight class is tough as nails outside Region 2 and chances of placing are slim. In fact there are three defending State Champs at this weight: Shane Doughman (KO) (119), Andre Taylor (PE) (112) and Harvey Suarez (Caprock) (103). Yikes!

125
No upsetting the #1 seed here. Josh Sandoval (CH) owned this weight with a fall in every bout including a 29 second pin of Kyle Sturch (Cop) in the finals. The consolation finals saw Vince Hawkins (Lam) take a 4-3 decision from Zack Vick (HP).

Josh Sandoval will be on a mission to get the State crown that he missed last year lossing in a fabulous (but heartbreaking) finals to Shane Doughman (9-8). There are some tough kids with their own prior State credentials to deal with from Region1: Kevin Jury (EP Americas), Danny Caraveo (Franklin) and Mickey Sharpe (Vernon). For Sturch, Hawkins or Vick placing will be a nice accomplishment (Hawkins was 5th last year at 112).

130
#1 Cory Miller (Mar) lived up to his seed with a 5-1 decision of Dillon Horn (Cop) in the finals. Briggs Montgomery (HP) edged Matt Buckbinder 2-1 for 3rd.

Miller has been wrestling very well of late and he should place at State but how high will he stand on the podium? This class is loaded and includes Sean Kitchen (PE) and Pat Blakely (West) and the seldom heralded Joe Quinto (Tascosa). At this same weight last year Quinto lost only to Matt Hobar inh the finals. I’m not sure he has lost to a Texas wrestler since.

135
#1 Chase Gallatin (HP) had an interesting finals match against Clifton Thompson (Mar). Gallatin owned the first period in a big way with a takedown and 5 near fall points to lead 7-0. But Thompson started the 2nd period on his feet and went to shoot and cut. Three takedowns by Thompson (and 2 cuts) and the score after 2 was 9-6. Coach Marzoula was not happy. The third period started with another cut but Gallatin’s defense improved and he fended off some nice shots by Thompson to win 10-6. Hansen (Wea) had a very solid tournament (losing only 2-1 to Thompson) and took 3rd. 4th place Erik Sands (Azl) was challenged and defeated 5-1 by Cameron Couch (Kel) who will join his brother in Austin.

Gallatin will be a key wrestler for the Scots at State. 135 looks to be a very competitive weight class with no prohibitive favorite. Probably about 6-8 kids have a legit shot at the finals including Gallatin. Each of the other region 2 placers has a solid opportunity to place but must take their game up a level. Standing in their way are the likes of Jimmy Peterson (SA Madison), Colin McElroy (WDL) and Austin Cordova (LH).

140
#3 seed Jake Rice (Cop) snuck up on and beat #2 Jordan Couch (Kel) 2-0 and then #1 Shay Lauderdale 5-3 in the finals. Couch decisioned Donnie Dell (SGP) 5-4 and then Whitten White challenged and beat Bell 8-2. What all that means is there is not much separation from the 4 Region 2 kids advancing to State.

Fortunately for the Region 2 boys, placing in the 140 class appears to be very achievable. The finals however look to be out of reach unless there are upsets of Jamie Sheets (CR), Mike Gerber (Randall) and Jacob Valdez (Hanks).

145
The finals match between AJ Forsythe (HP) and Scott Neill (Mar) was as exciting a wrestling display for 3:44 as you will ever see. The first period went like this – takedown, 2-pt near fall, reversal, reversal, reversal, cradle (by Neill) for 3-pt near fall, escape. The round ended where it started both on their feet but the score was 7-7. The second period picked up where the first period left off: 2-pt near fall, reversal, reversal, and finally fall by Forsythe at 3:44. Coach Marzoula summed it up to a grinning Scott Neill “you guys put on quite a show.” McQueen wasn’t there or he might still be applauding that display.

There are two other wrestlers in this weight who are equally exciting and they are also heading for Austin: Brent Rogers (Bow) and Marty Dick (Azl). Rogers won the consolation finals 9-0.

Region 2 wrestlers should dominate at State. Two of these 4 should be in the finals and the other two should also place.

152
Defending State champ at 152 and #1 seed Spencer Jernigan (Arl) is perfecting his game and that is bad news for everyone else in this weight. In the finals Jernigan schooled a very fine wrestler Kyle Anderson (HP) 9-4. All Anderson’s points were cuts. In the consolation final, Ben Robinson (Cop) beat Tommy Clark (Azl) 3-1 in OT.

If the seeding gods are kind, we will see Jernigan and Taylor Torisk (Dumas) on opposite sides of the brackets so we could get treated to a rematch of the sensational 152 finals from last year. Anderson has the tools for an upset to reach the finals or certainly to place 3rd. Behind these three the weight looks to be wide open.

160
Drew Newman (HP) avenged his double OT loss to Hugo Torres (CV) in the district finals with a 4-3 win in the regional finals. Unseeded Erik Parsons (Azl) beat #3 Matt Baker (Mar) 3-1 in the consolation finals.

State wide this is a killer weight class that rivals 119 for the toughest of all. (Toughest meaning hardest to place in, i.e. best quality among top 6 guys.) Start with defending 160 State Champ Jason Logan (Dumas), add two Region 1 studs – Brent Parinek (Austin Bow) and Aaron Pelletier (SA Churchill) and then stir in Matt Harris (CR) and Zack Nichols (West) and there is not much room left on the podium. Either Newman or Torres will do exceptionally well to place.

171
#1 seed Spencer Covey (Cop) stayed undefeated for the year with a 4-1 decision (2-1 before missed desperation takedown attempt) over Chris Corry in the semis and a 7-2 decision over Teddy Gambordella (HP) in the finals. Bennet Hortman (Azl) won 2-0 over Corry for 3rd.
This weight was so tough that Jeff Martz (Arg) (4th in State at 160 last year) could do no better than 5th.

These four are certainly among the elite wrestlers at 171 in the State and on paper they all look to place. Of course in Austin they will have to get it done on the mat.

180
#1 seed Fred Rowsey (HP) had perhaps his best challenge of the year in the finals with Chris Capodagli (TC) but that was a relatively easy major decision 15-5. #3 seed Derick Moore (Bow) teched #4 Logan Laposta (CH) 16-0 in the consolation finals.

Rowsey is in a class by himself. Just below him are Capodagli and Moore who should both place high and one of whom may reach the finals (as 2 and 3 finishers from Region 2 are they guaranteed to be in the opposite bracket from #1 Rowsey?). Watch out for Drew Cox (Randall) and Sergio Garcia (EP Eastwood) from Region 1.

189
#1 seed Josh Mayo (Cop) decisioned Robert Prigmore (Car) 6-5 in the finals. David Baker (HP) wins by injury default over Matt Crook (Cen) in consolation.

The State favorite has to be Austin Johlke (Austin Bow). Behind him it looks to be wide open. This would be a great weight class for either Coppell or HP (or both) to pick up some much needed points from Mayo and Baker.

215
#1 seed Matt Lupardus (Kel) was the class of the field with a 7-2 win over George Lessner (Cop) and a 7-3 decision of Josh Spicer in the finals. In the consolation bracket, Brice Hohenberger (Marcus) held off Lessner 3-1 in OT.

Then about an hour later , after awards, in a nearly empty gym, with the adjoining mats rolled up, there was one solitary challenge match left to wrestle. Cameron Leech (Mol) and Lessner wrestled 5 minutes – no winner. Then a minute of OT – no winner. Lessner chose bottom. Two failed attempts to escape and a final restart with 10 seconds remaining. At this point, the big man had to be dog tired but he hit a beautiful granby for the clean escape and the win. This may prove to be huge for Coppell. Lessner is capable of gobbling up some team points for Coppell in the 215 class and perhaps even placing in Austin.

This weight class is also wide open at State. Shaun has Lupardus ranked #1. All the Region 2 kids have a chance to place but they will be running into any number of virtual unknown hombres from other regions who likewise see a golden opportunity to place.

275
The big upset occurred in the semi finals when #1 seed Chad Bahr (Kel) was leading Evan Benjamin (Cop), got careless, ended up on his back and stuck. Andrew Konkle (SGP) beat Benjamin 3-0 in the finals and Bahr pinned Stephen Speer (Arl) for 3rd place.

275 has to be the most wide open weight class of all. I think the loss at Regional could be a wake up call for Bahr and serve him well in Austin. The others from Region 2 could stand on the podium or be two and done. Predictions at this weight are pure speculation.

Team Outlook for Austin
There will probably be lots predictions on the forum over the next two weeks. I’d have to rate the top 3 teams as Highland Park, Coppell and Canyon Randall . Texas is slowly approaching the point where a team could pull off a State Championship with a few (3 or 4) quality wrestlers and not much else. But I don’t think we are there yet. It is still a numbers game. The more wrestlers scoring for a team the better its chances.

Highland Park
I wouldn’t bet against these guys. They know how to get it done. They will bring 9 wrestlers to State. Four place winners are needed (5 or 6 should win it). Rowsey, Forsythe and Anderson (all place). Gambordella, Gallatin, Baker and Newman (can 2-3 place?). Vick and Montgomery (win some matches, score some points) .

Coppell
They have been overlooked all year. They bring 8 wrestlers to Austin and must get the most out of each one. Covey, Rice, Mayo, Benjamin (can they all place?). Horn, Sturch, Lessner, Robison (another state placer is possible but point scoring is an absolute must). If HP stumbles they may be the beneficiary.

Canyon Randall
These guys look a lot like HP. They bring 9 wrestlers to State and have at least 5 quality wrestlers who are likely to place: McDonald (112), King (119), Gerber (140), Cox (180) and Payne (275). They will be very tough.

Others
The loss of Travis Johkle is likely too much to overcome for Austin Bowie. They have 4 wrestlers very capable of placing – Greg and George Gogonas, Pardinek and Austin Johlke – but not much else. Houston has an ever increasing talent base but it does not appear concentrated enough for any one school to make a serious championship run in 2006.