Midweek Dual Recap/ Saturday Preview

Russell Pate

Houston saw the start of the wrestling season last night with duals going on all over the area. Here are some of the highlights.

#5 Cinco Ranch took on #15 Friendswood in a great season opener. Cinco proved that just because they graduated a lot, they are not going to go away silently. Friendswood coach Bill Baker commented that, “As usual, Dushane has his kids in great shape and wrestling tough.”

Especially tough were former State Champion Jamie Sheets who has bumped all the way up to 145, and Junior Will McNair who Baker referred to as a real “hammer.” McNair was 3rd in district last year behind a pair of state placers, and has grown into his weight class this year following a Cadet Freestyle State Cadet Title. Friendswood was led by Drake Clickner (wrestling heavyweight but soon to be at 215), Senior Jack Guillory at 171, and Senior TJ Harris who bumped up to wrestle Sheets and looked tough in a 8-0 loss. Sheets carries his size well, and has lost none of his quickness. Look for him to lead Cinco Ranch to the kind of season that we have all come to expect from them.

Cinco Ranch 63 Friendswood 21
160: Cinco Ranch won by forfeit (6-0)
171: Vince DeCarlo/CR Jr Loss 8-2 (6-3)
180: Will McNair/CR Jr Win by Fall (12-3)
189: Mack ?/CR Sr loss by fall (12-9)
215: Matt Stewart/CR So win by forfeit (18-9)
HWT: Blake Stuart/CR Jr loss by fall (18-15)
103: Nick Waltman/CR Jr win by fall (24-15)
112: Tracchio/CR Jr loss by fall (24-21)
119: Will Tarallo/CR Jr win by tech 15-0 (29-21)
125: Brad Bartholomew/CR Jr win by fall (35-21)
130: Nick Tannory/CR Jr win by forfeit (41-21)
135: Josh Allen/CR Sr win by fall (47-21)
140: Ben Jones/CR Sr win by DQ (cautions) (53-21)
145: Jamie Sheets/CR Jr win 8-0 over TJ Harris (57-21)
152: Clay Scott/CR win by fall (63-21)

Meanwhile #7 Klein (and they are way better than that ranking I gave them) was taking on #10 Strake Jesuit in a match that has become a regular season opener for the two teams. Last year’s 5th in State team was nowhere to be found. Klein beat Strake and their new coach 84-0 in a match that announces just how good Klein can be. Matt Castro at 119 should be a force. As a 103 two years ago he consistently wrestled state champions Shane Doughman and Jamie Sheets in tough fought matches. Last year he returned late in the season at 125 and ran into the Region 3 logjam at that weight. At 119 this year he is a real state medal contender.

Klein vs. Strake Jesuit
119: Castro KL pin Vuong SJ 6-0
125: Traver KL pin Lumpkin SJ 12-0
130: Hsu KL pin SJ 18-0
135: Rentfro KL pin SJ 24-0
140: Carstens KL dec. Casino SJ 27-0
145: Schultz KL pin SJ 33-0
152: Couch KL pin SJ 39-0
160: Pearson KL dec. SJ 45-0
171: Thomas KL pin SJ 48-0
180: Christopher KL pin SJ 54-0
189: Ricker KL by forfeit 60-0
215: Miller KL pin Sebastian SJ 66-0
275: Lancaster KL by forfeit 72-0
103: Doran KL pin SJ 78-0
112: Nguyen KL pin SJ 84-0
84-0

Other results

#1 Woodlands 54 #6 Katy 24 (somebody give us details)
#11 Mayde Creek 48 #13 Klein Collins 22
#3 Bryan 48 #12 Taylor 25

This weekends sees most of the top area teams at Klein Collins for the Bearcat invitational. This will go a long way towards fixing my team rankings. Look For Bryan, always a fast starter, to finish ahead of the Woodlands, followed by Klein, Klein Oak, and Cinco.